Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Alex Steeves Named Team MVP

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Fighting Irish hockey team announced its year-end awards on Friday, with junior forward Alex Steeves claiming the team’s Monogram Club Team MVP Award. 

All told, nine awards were handed out as the team capped their 2020-21 season. 

After leading the Irish in scoring with 32 points on team-high 15 goals and 17 assists, Steeves earned MVP and Brian “Duke” Walsh Offensive Player of the Year accolades. The junior forward ended the season on a seven-game point streak (5-5-10) and he posted at least one point in 22 of 29 games. Steeves had six multi-point efforts on the season, including a four point game (1-3-4) in Notre Dame’s 6-1 win at Ohio State (Feb. 5). He finished the regular season tied for fifth nationally with 15 goals, while his 14 goals in Big Ten play ranked second only to Cole Caufield (24). 

An accounting major in the Mendoza College of Business, Steeves also earned the team’s Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley’s Rockne Student-Athlete award. He was an Academic All-Big Ten selection each of the past two seasons and earned Second Team All-Big Ten Honors following the 2020-21 season. After the season, Steeves signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs beginning with the 2021-22 season (March 28).

Notre Dame’s other 2020-21 Second Team All-Big Ten selection, Spencer Stastney, also earned a season-ending team award, picking up William Donald Nyrop Defensive Player of the Year honors. 

Stasney has skated in all 29 games for the Irish, scoring a career-high five goals and adding seven assists for 12 points. A fifth round selection (131st overall) by the Nashville Predators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Stastney’s five goals were tied with teammate Nick Leivermann and Michigan’s Nick Blankenburg for the most by a Big Ten defenseman.

A Mequon, Wisconsin native, Stastney has now played in 104 career games while scoring nine goals and adding 27 assists for 36 points. He was an Academic All-Big Ten selection each of the past two seasons.

Freshman forward Landon Slaggert was honored as the team’s Rookie of the Year. He played in 25 games, while tying for second on the team with eight goals and adding 14 assists for 22 points. His 22 points ranked third on the team, while his 17 points in Big Ten play (5-12-17) ranked tied for fourth among freshmen. 

Slaggert was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round (79th overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He missed the last four games of the first semester while helping Team USA win gold at the 2021 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Alberta, Canada. He became the first Fighting Irish player to medal at the event since 2018 when current Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Andrew Peeke helped the U.S. secure the bronze in Buffalo in 2018 and Notre Dame’s seventh medalist overall. 

Sophomore forward Max Ellis was named the team’s Most Improved Player. He skated in 24 games, scoring five goals and adding 11 assists for 16 points — all of which marked career high totals. His 11 assists and 16 points both ranked fifth on the team, while he was forced to miss five games with an injury. Last season as a freshman, the Canton, Michigan native had one goal in eight games. 

Senior captain Nate Clurman earned the Compton Family Leadership in Service Award, particularly for his efforts in helping organize an alumni fundraiser for Notre Dame Hockey’s Fighting Irish Fight for Life teammate Rudy Chapman. On the ice, the junior defenseman skated in 27 games in 2020-21, while scoring a career-high four goals and adding three assists for seven points. His four goals ranked third among Irish defensemen and he also finished with a team-high 10 penalties on the season (31 minutes). He notched his first career goal in Notre Dame’s 3-2 win at fourth-ranked Michigan on Nov. 27. After the season the Boulder, Colorado native signed a two-year entry-level contract, with the Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club (April 5). He was originally selected by Colorado in the sixth round (161st overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and he has since made his professional debut with the Colorado Eagles (AHL).

Senior forward Pierce Crawford was selected as the Charles “Lefty” Smith Coaches Award recipient. Serving as an alternate captain, Crawford was a leader on and off the ice for the Irish. On the ice, he played 27 games while scoring a goal and adding three assists for four points. Always willing to go the extra miles for his teammates, Crawford was a major contributor to the team’s culture throughout his four seasons with the Irish.  

Additionally, the team presented an Honorary Alumni Award to Dr. Kevin McAward, longtime Irish hockey team doctor who was especially impactful in leading the Irish through the unique circumstances of the 2020-21 season. 

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