Feb. 27, 2011
Notre Dame, Ind. – Former Notre Dame greats Brian Walsh, Dave Poulin, Bill Nyrop and Jack Brownschidle team up with recent Irish hockey standouts David Brown and Erik Condra as the six players selected to the All-Joyce Center first team. The first team selections along with the previously announced second and third team members will be honored at the Joyce Center on Saturday, Feb. 26 at the final regular season home game versus Western Michigan.
As part of the celebration of the final full season of hockey at the Joyce Center, former coaches, players, administrators and fans select an 18-man All-Joyce Center team that covers the 43-year history (1968-2011) of the home of Irish hockey.
Earlier this winter, all-decade teams were selected, covering four eras of Irish hockey – 1968-1980, 1980-1990, 1990-2000 and 2000 through 2010. The first and second teams that were selected then went to a ballot that Irish hockey fans were able to vote on from Jan. 24 through Feb. 20 and now the final totals are in.
With the assistance of over 7,000 fan votes that provided full ballots, selecting three goaltenders, six defensemen and nine forwards, the three All-Joyce Center teams were selected.
David Brown ’07 is Notre Dame’s only goaltender to earn All-American honors. He was selected to the All-Joyce Center first team.
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The third team was announced on Tuesday, Feb. 22 and is made up of – goaltender Lance Madson (1986-90), defensemen Jeff Brownschidle (1977-81) and Brett Lebda (2000-04) plus forwards Kirt Bjork (1979-83), Jamie Ling (1992-96) and Dan Carlson (1997-01).
The second team was announced on Thursday, Feb. 24 and those six players named were – goaltender Jordan Pearce (2005-09), defensemen Ian Cole (2007-10) and Benoit Cotnoir (1995-99), along with forwards Greg Meredith (1976-80), Eddie Bumbacco (1970-74) and Mike McNeill (1984-88).
Expected to be on hand at the Joyce Center on Saturday night are Brian Walsh, Greg Meredith and Mike McNeill.
The six players selected to the first team include five All-Americans, including the program’s only two-time All-American – defenseman Jack Brownschidle.
Defenseman Jack Brownschilde ’77 is Notre Dame’s only two-time All-American as he was selected in 1976 and 1977.
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Goaltender David Brown `07, a native of Stoney Creek, Ont., was the top vote getter among goaltenders and was a first team selection on the 2000-10 all-Decade Team. Brown played four seasons with the Irish from 2003-07 and capped his career with the best season ever by an Irish goaltender in 2006-07. A first team All-American selection that season, he was a first team all-CCHA choice, a Hobey Baker finalist, the CCHA goaltender of the year and the most valuable player of the CCHA tournament. He won a school record 30 games that season with a school record 1.58 goals against average and a .930 save percentage. In 111 career games, Brown was 55-38-11 with a 2.32 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. A two-time Monogram Club team most valuable player, Brown was the winner of the first Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award for hockey following the 2006-07 season. He is third in wins at Notre Dame, second in goals-against average, second in save percentage, tied for first in shutouts, sixth in saves and third in minutes played for his career. An eighth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Brown has played professional hockey since 2007 and is currently a member of the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies.
The Irish first team defense is made up of two of the finest defensemen ever to play college hockey in Jack Brownschidle `77 and Bill Nyrop `74.
Bill Nyrop ’74 was one of Notre Dame’s first All-Americans along with teammate Eddie Bumbacco in 1973. He went on to play on three Stanley Cup championship teams with Montreal.
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Jack Brownschidle `77, from East Amherst, N.Y., led all defensemen in votes and was a first team selection on the 1968-1980 all-Decade team. The only two-time All-American in the 43-year history of the program, Brownschidle was selected in 1975-76 and 1976-77. After being an honorable mention all-WCHA selection in his sophomore year, he followed that with first team all-WCHA honors in `75-’76 and `76-’77. The Notre Dame team most valuable player in 1976, Brownschidle is 39th on Notre Dame’s all-time scoring list and third among defensemen with 31 goals and 78 assists for 109 points in 150 career games. In 2002, he was named to the WCHA’s top 50 players in 50 seasons list. A sixth round pick of the St. Louis Blues in 1975, he went on to play eight seasons in the NHL with St. Louis and Hartford.
Joining Brownschidle on the first team is Bill Nyrop `74, from Edina, Minn., and a first team choice on the 1968-1980 all-Decade team. Along with Eddie Bumbacco, Nyrop was the first Irish player selected All-American as he was chosen following the 1972-73 campaign. A two-time honorable mention all-WCHA selection, Nyrop was a second team choice in `72-’73. The Notre Dame rookie of the year in 1971-72, Nyrop played in 132 career games, scoring 17 goals with 72 assists for 89 points and is ninth among Irish defensemen in scoring. He joined Brownschidle on the WCHA’s top 50 players in 50 seasons list that was announced during the 2001-02 season. A fourth round draft choice of the Montreal Canadiens in 1972, Nyrop went on to play three seasons with Montreal and one with Minnesota and was a member of three Stanley Cup championship teams with Montreal. Notre Dame’s top defenseman award – The William Donald Nyrop Award – is named after him. Nyrop died from cancer in December of 1995.
Leading the way at the forward spots are the two top vote getters overall, Brian Walsh `77 and Dave Poulin `82. That duo is joined by recent standout Erik Condra `09.
Dave Poulin ’82 was a Hobey Baker finalist following the 1981-82 season as he helped Notre Dame to the CCHA finals in Detroit in their first year in the league. He would later spend 10 years as coach of the Irish from 1995-2005.
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Brian Walsh `77, a native of Cambridge, Mass., led all vote getters for the All-Joyce Center team and was a first team selection on the 1968-80 all-Decade squad. The talented forward is Notre Dame’s all-time leading point scorer as he racked up 89 goals and 145 assists for 234 points in 140 career games. As a senior in 1976-77, he scored 30 goals with 47 assists for 77 points, the second-highest single-season point total at Notre Dame. Walsh was selected All-American that season, was the WCHA most valuable player and first team all-WCHA. The 1974 WCHA rookie of the year, he owns two of the top six single-season point marks at Notre Dame. The team most valuable player as a senior, Walsh is first in points and tied for first in assists while he is fifth on the all-time goal list and ninth in power-play goals.
Right wing Erik Condra ’09 is Notre Dame’s only hockey player to be named All-American and Academic All-American in the same season (2008-09).
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Dave Poulin `82, from Mississauga, Ont., is Notre Dame’s most well-known player after playing 11 seasons in the National Hockey League. A first team 1980-1990 all-Decade choice, Poulin led the Irish to their first-ever trip to Joe Louis Arena and the CCHA finals as a senior in 1981-82. A three-time honorable mention all-WCHA selection (`78-’81), he was selected second team all-CCHA following the `81-’82 campaign. A Hobey Baker finalist and the team most valuable player as a senior, Poulin finished his Notre Dame career sixth on the all-time points list with 89 goals and 107 assists for 196 points. He is fifth all-time in goals, ninth in assists, second in power-play goals, second in game winners and 10th in short-handed goals. He still holds the Notre Dame rookie scoring mark with 59 points on 28 goals and 31 assists. Following college, he played a year in Europe before signing with the Philadelphia Flyers. He went on to play 13 seasons with Philadelphia, Boston and Washington in his pro career. He returned to Notre Dame in 1995 and served 10 seasons as the head coach of the Irish, leading the team to its first-ever NCAA appearance in 2003-04. Poulin is currently a vice-president of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Rounding out the All-Joyce Center first team is Erik Condra `09, from Livonia, Mich., and a first team selection on the 2000-10 all-Decade team. The talented right wing played on three of the best teams ever to play at Notre Dame, including the 2008 NCAA Frozen Four team. A CCHA all-rookie team selection in 2005-06, Condra was an honorable mention choice in 2006-07 and a second team selection in 2008-09. He was chosen as a second team All-American following the `08-’09 season. A three-time winner of Notre Dame’s offensive player of the year award, Condra joins Jamie Ling `96 as the only two players in Irish hockey history to lead their teams in scoring for four consecutive seasons. He went on to win Notre Dame’s Byron V. Kanaley Award in `09, as well as the Francis Patrick O’Connor Award to honor his work as a student and a leader at Notre Dame. Condra finished his career 13th on the all-time scoring list with 48 goals and 110 assists for 158 career points. Following his senior year, he was chosen as a second team CoSIDA Academic All-American, becoming the first hockey player named both All-American and Academic All-American in the same season. Interestingly, Condra is the nephew of third team All-Joyce team selection Kirt Bjork `83 and was recruited to play at Notre Dame by then coach and first team choice Dave Poulin `82. A seventh round selection of the Ottawa Senators in the 2006 NHL Draft, Condra is currently playing for Ottawa.
The All-Joyce Center Teams1968-2011
First Team
Goaltender - David Brown (2003-07)Defenseman - Jack Brownschidle (1973-77)Defenseman - Bill Nyrop (1970-74)Forward - Brian Walsh (1973-77)Forward - Dave Poulin (1978-82)Forward - Erik Condra (2005-09)
Second Team
Goaltender - Jordan Pearce (2005-09)Defenseman - Ian Cole (2007-10)Defenseman - Benoit Cotnoir (1995-99)Forward - Greg Meredith (1976-80)Forward - Eddie Bumbacco (1970-74)Forward - Mike McNeill (1984-88)
Third Team
Goaltender - Lance Madson (1986-90)Defenseman - Jeff Brownschidle (1977-81)Defenseman - Brett Lebda (2000-04)Forward - Kirt Bjork (1979-83)Forward - Jamie Ling (1992-96)Forward - Dan Carlson (1997-01)