March 21, 2012
Notre Dame, Ind. – Notre Dame sophomore left wing Anders Lee (Edina, Minn.) announced on Tuesday that he would be returning to Notre Dame to continue his collegiate hockey career during the 2012-13 season.
In making the announcement, Lee said, “I look forward to returning to Notre Dame next season to work towards my degree while pursuing a championship on the ice with my teammates. I plan to continue to develop all aspects of my game and hope to someday pursue a career in the National Hockey League with the New York Islanders.”
Irish head coach Jeff Jackson wasn’t surprised by Lee’s decision to return to Notre Dame.
“I know that when we recruited Anders he expressed how important getting a degree from Notre Dame was to him and his family,” said Jackson. “I expected him to complete his junior year and to be one of our team leaders for the 2012-13 season.”
Lee, an alternate captain with the Irish this past season is enrolled in Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. He has led the Irish in goals in each of the last two seasons, scoring 24 as a freshman and 17 this past year while finishing second on the squad with 34 points. Among his 17 goals were seven power-play goals and one game winner.
The Irish finished the season with a 19-18-3 overall record and saw their season come to an end with a CCHA Quarterfinal loss to Michigan.
In two seasons at Notre Dame, Lee has played in 84 career games and has 41 goals and 37 assists for 78 points. He owns 13 power-play goals, one short-handed tally and eight game-winning goals.
A second team all-CCHA selection as a freshman, Lee was an honorable mention choice in 2011-12. He was selected to the 2010 CCHA all-rookie team and was Notre Dame’s co-rookie of the year as a freshman.
The New York Islanders drafted Lee in the sixth round, 152nd overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.