NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The #18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish will open the 2021-22 season with a home exhibition game at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 3 inside Compton Family Ice Arena.
Sunday’s game will mark Notre Dame’s lone exhibition contest as the Irish are set to officially open the season against Long Island University on Saturday, Oct. 9 at the Compton Family Ice Arena.
HISTORY VS. THE USNTDP
- Sunday’s game will mark Notre Dame’s 10th contest against the USNTDP with the Irish holding a 5-2-2 mark all-time in the series.
- The teams met from five consecutive seasons from 2015-2019, including three games at Compton Family Ice Arena and one matchup at USA Hockey Arena.
- The Irish last met the USNTDP ahead of the 2019-20 season and earned a 4-2 comeback victory in Plymouth, Michigan, on October 6, 2019.
- That contest opened with Graham Slaggert winning the opening faceoff against his brother, Landon, who is now a sophomore forward for the Irish.
- Ryan Bischel made 17 saves to earn the win in that 2019 matchup.
USNTDP CONNECTIONS
- Notre Dame head coach Jeff Jackson was one of the masterminds behind the U.S. National Team Development Program as he laid out the plan for what would become the USNTDP while interviewing with USA Hockey.
- Jackson then served as the first head coach of the USNTDP from 1996-2000.
- In addition to the Jackson connection, 44 Notre Dame hockey players have come through the U.S. National Development Program, including eight current players in Justin Janicke, Trevor Janicke, Jake Pivonka, Graham Slaggert, Landon Slaggert, Hunter Strand, Ryder Rolston and Spencer Stastney.
B1G PRESEASON HONORS
- Graham Slaggert was named Second Team All-Big Ten and Spencer Stastney was tabbed a Honorable Mention honoree (Sept. 24).
- The Fighting Irish were picked to finish fourth in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll.
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