Nov. 17, 2008
Farmington Hills, Mich. – The Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced today that Notre Dame junior defenseman Brett Blatchford (Temperance, Mich.) has been selected as the CCHA’s defensive player of the week for the week ending Nov. 16.
Blatchford recorded three assists and was even while blocking three shots as Notre Dame extended its unbeaten streak to six games (5-0-1) with a shootout win (4-3) and a regulation win (5-2) against Lake Superior State at the Joyce Center on Nov. 14-15.
In Friday night’s game, Blatchford set up a goal by Ben Ryan (So., Brighton, Mich.) at 5:36 of the second period that tied the game at 2-2. The two teams would trade goals in the third period to end regulation tied at 3-3. After a scoreless overtime, Notre Dame won its first-ever shootout, 2-1, to claim the extra point in CCHA action. Blatchford recorded a pair of blocked shots in the game.
On Saturday night, the junior blueliner set up the game-winning goal by Christian Minella (Jr., Aurora, Colo.) at 12:14 of the second period. His shot from the point was stopped in front and Minella fired the rebound past Laker goaltender Brian Mahoney-Wilson to snap a 2-2 tie and give the Irish their first lead of the game. Blatchford then set up Calle Ridderwall’s (So., Stockholm, Sweden) third-period power-play goal at 17:31 that sealed the 5-2 win.
The victories improved the Irish to 7-3-1 overall and 3-2-1-1 in the CCHA, good for eight points in conference action. Notre Dame is now ranked sixth in the nation in the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine poll and fifth in the USCHO.com/CBS College Sports poll.
On the year, Blatchford is now tied for second on the team in scoring with nine assists, for nine points to tie him for fifth in the CCHA in assists on the season.
Blatchford and his Notre Dame teammates return to action this weekend with a home-and-home series against Bowling Green. On Friday, Nov. 21, the Irish and the Falcons will face off at Notre Dame’s Joyce Center at 7:35 p.m. The following night, the teams will battle at the Bowling Green Ice Arena in Bowling Green, Ohio at 7:05 p.m.