It’s HOCKEY NIGHT in South Bend!!!!
The 2017-18 season gets underway with a Jake Evans face off win! pic.twitter.com/ILBUv2GtkF
— Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey) October 1, 2017
Well folks, it’s finally here!!! The Notre Dame Fighting Irish Hockey 2017-2018 season has kicked off.
The team will be quite a bit different different from last season as they will need to adopt “next man in” mentality with the vacancies left behind by Goalie Captain Cal Petersen and Anders Bjork, who signed a three-year deal with the Boston Bruins this past May. This season, the Irish are led by Senior Captain Jake Evans and the two alternates, Senior Jordan Gross and Junior Bobby Nardella.
2,697 Irish faithful came out this evening to see their Fighting Irish take on the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP). The exhibition definitely is a dress rehearsal for everyone. Both teams can kick off the rust and hit on others versus teammates. The media settles in to try out what to do, where to go, and meet their new colleagues. And the coaching staff has a chance to see where everyone is at, which is a welcome change from what we’re used to in college football as it’s off to win a National Championship from the first snap.
Finally, there is the challenge of starting in a new conference as well. Yes, the Fighting Irish are joining the BIG 10 Conference, which is composed of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, and Michigan State. Yes, your favorite rivals will be playing your Notre Dame Fighting Irish in hockey this season.
First Period: Shaking of the Rust
The starting line-up for your Notre Dame Fighting Irish was as follows:
Goal: Cale Morris
Defensemen: Bobby Nardella and Andrew Peeke
Wingers: Cam Morrison and Colin Theisen
Center: Captain Jake Evans.
The starting line-up for the USNTDP was as follows:
Goal: Drew Deriddier
Defensemen: K’Andre Miller and Spencer Stastney
Forwards: Erik Middendorf, Jake Pivonka and Trevor Janicke.
The first period was a bit of a sluggish start for both teams. The teams exchanged runs in the opposing zones, but nothing of much consequence.
At 7:42 that all changed.
Morrison and Evans hooked up for a 2-on-1 rush and Morrision lit the lamp for his first goal of the season and Evans got the assist.
At 17:24 the USNTDP went on the power play after Nardella was cited for high sticking. During the ensuing power play, the Irish dug themselves a hole as Crawford was called for hooking, giving the USNTDP a 5-on-3 advantage. Six seconds before the first power play expired, USNTDP’s Wahlstrom scored the game’s first power play goal assisted by Samuelsson and Wilde.
The period would end with 26 seconds remaining on the second power play, forcing the Irish to start the second on the kill.
Final stats for the first period:
USNTDP: Faceoffs 13-9, 2 Power plays 1 goal (26 seconds remains), 11 saves, 1 Goal Allowed, 0 penalty minutes.
ND: Faceoffs 9-13, 7 saves, 1 Goal Allowed, 2 penalties for 4 minutes.
Score 1-1
Cam Morrison gets the Irish on the board!
The sophomore finished off a nice 2-on-1 rush w/ Jake Evans, scored at 7:42 of the 1st pic.twitter.com/Av7LVDTfFH
— Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey) October 1, 2017
Second Period: Let It All Fly
The Irish started the second killing the remaining 26 seconds of USNTDP’s power play, which tallied no shots on goal. After the power play, the period started similarly to the first, with both teams looking sluggish.
At 4:07 into the period, Gruden sent a one timer between the pipes assisted by Wilde and Stastney, giving USNTDP its first lead of the game 2-1.
The Irish quickly countered with their own goal 28 seconds later. Dello lit the lamp for the Irish, assisted by Evans and Morrison.
Dello ties the game at 2-2!
His shot through traffic beat Deridder, w/ assists to Evans & Morrison at 4:35 of the 2nd. pic.twitter.com/5NhCyZ2972
— Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey) October 1, 2017
The Irish got a crack at a power play as USNTDP’s Weiss went to the penalty box for 2 minutes for slashing at 8:46, but were unable to convert.
Shortly after, near the midway point of the period, the Irish placed Dylan St. Cyr in goal for the remainder of the game.
The Irish got another crack with the man advantage, but failed to cash in on four shots. USNTDP found themselves on the power play soon, but the highlight was a short-handed attempt by Jenkins who rang a shot off the pipe.
The shot off the pipe would be the closest either team came to lighting the lamp as the period ended with no further scoring. The other key note in this period was Pierce Crawford going off the ice and straight to the locker room with an apparent injury.
Final stats for the second period:
USNTDP: Faceoffs 8-12, 2 Power plays, 0 goals,11 saves, 1 Goal Allowed, 2 penalties for 4 minutes
ND: Faceoffs 12-8, 10 saves, 1 Goal Allowed, 1 penalty for 2 minutes.
Score: 2-2.
The Third Period: The Irish Come Out On Fire
The Fighting Irish lived up to their name in the final period, launching five shots out of the gate, four of which were on goal. The persistence paid off at 1:32 as the Irish were rewarded with a Joe Wegwerth goal, assisted by Burke and Gross, giving the Irish a 3-2 lead.
The Irish scoring continued as they dug a little deeper and scored their final goal at 3:11. Theisen lit the lamp for the Irish with Eisenmenger and Holmberg on the assist to put the Irish up 4-2.
After both squads failed to convert on their respective power plays, and time running out, USNTDP called a time out and pulled their goalie to draw up a last ditch effort. Oglevie and Evans both missed the empty net to completely put the game out of reach, but USNTDP took the puck back up the ice and made something happen
With just over a minute remaining, USNTDP’s Samuelsson put the puck past St. Cyr for the score, cutting the Irish lead to 4-3.
With just under 30 seconds remaining, USNTDP pulled their goalie once again, but this time the extra attacker didn’t bear fruit and the Irish hold on for a 4-3 victory.
Final stats for the third period:
USNTDP: Faceoffs 10-8, 1 Power play 0 goals, 14 saves, 2 Goals Allowed, 3 penalties for 6 minutes (DeRidder – Loss)
ND: Faceoffs 8-10, 6 saves, 1 Goal Allowed, 1 penalty for 2 minutes. (St. Cyr – Win)
The Irish take today's exhibition game, 4-3!
ND Goals: Morrison, Dello, Wegwerth (GWG) & Theisen pic.twitter.com/gDaaBtGC6l
— Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey) October 1, 2017
Post Game Conference With Coach Jackson
Coach Jackson had it easy on Sunday night as only three members of the media guys were in attendance. Plus, it was a nice way for me to ease into my first presser of the season as well!
His overall take on the game was “I thought the positives were just working on some of our system. A negative I thought we were a little sluggish at the start.”
I asked how Crawford was after the injury in the second period and Jackson responded, “He while be out for a while, and I feel bad, and its an upper injury.” I then asked him about moving ahead without Peterson and Bjork and is Evans ready for the lead. “He is very ready to lead, worked close with Cal and he enjoys the challenge.”
In regards to the goalie change, “I believe the both did good and changing off and on may occur.” And finally, when asked about the energy in the locker room. Coach responded “They are excited to play.”
The Irish return to the ice at Compton Family Ice Arena on Friday Oct 6 at 7:35 PM and Saturday Oct 7 at 7:05 PM for a non-conference two game set against Alabama-Huntsville.
Cheers and Go Irish!
- Notre Dame Hockey: Pre-Game Thoughts - April 7, 2018
- Notre Dame Women’s Basketball: Mission Accomplished! - April 5, 2018
- Notre Dame Women’s Basketball: Through Adversity To The “FINAL” - April 1, 2018