Sept. 16, 2008
Notre Dame, Ind. – Anaheim Duck Executive Vice-President and General Manager Brian Burke will be the guest speaker at Notre Dame hockey’s annual “Drop The Puck” season-opening function. This year’s “Drop The Puck” will be held on Monday, Oct. 6 at the Joyce Center Field House beginning at 7:00 p.m. Fans will have a chance to meet the 2008-09 Notre Dame hockey team’s players and staff with the event free and open to the public. Bonefish Grill will serve as the sponsor of the 2008 “Drop The Puck” event and Notre Dame’s new hockey radio station – Cat Country 99.9 FM – will do a live remote from the Joyce Center that evening.
This season-opening event will give Irish hockey fans a chance to look back and celebrate the 2007-08 season and the team’s magnificent run to the Frozen Four in Denver, Colo., before turning attention to the start of the 2008-09 season. The 2008-09 team will be available beginning at 7:00 p.m. with the speaking portion of the program to begin at 7:45 p.m. Food, refreshments and a variety of interactive activities will be available at that time.
This year’s guest speaker, Brian Burke, has had a highly successful career in hockey, dating back to his days as a collegiate player at Providence College. Now in his fourth year as executive vice-president of the Anaheim Ducks, Burke will also serve as the general manager of the 2010 U.S. Olympic hockey team that will play in Vancouver, B.C.
Burke was seen a little bit of everything during his career in hockey. He has played professionally, got his law degree and became a player agent, worked for the National Hockey League office and spent time with three teams in their front office – Hartford, Vancouver and Anaheim. In 2006-07, he was instrumental building the Ducks into a Stanley Cup championship team.
The reception is free and open to all Irish hockey fans but they must RSVP for the “Drop The Puck” reception. To register online, go to alumni.nd.edu/dropthepuck08. Reservations also can be made by calling 574-631-9910 or by email at dottavia@nd.edu.
The Irish open the 2008-09 regular season on Saturday, Oct. 11 when they travel to the University of Denver to face the Pioneers in the Hall of Fame game. Notre Dame opens the home schedule on Oct. 17-18 when the Irish play host to Sacred Heart in a weekend series at the Joyce Center.