Cal Petersen

Petersen Makes NHL Debut With Los Angeles

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Former Notre Dame goaltender Cal Petersen made his National Hockey League debut with the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night (Nov. 13).
 
Petersen, who was called up from the Ontario Reign (AHL) on Nov. 12, came in during the second period in relief of Kings starter Peter Budaj. In 35:27 of work he stopped 15 of the 16 shots he faced, with Toronto’s goal against Petersen coming on the power play.
 
Petersen was recalled after Jack Campbell suffered an injury and with Jonathan Quick already on IR.
 
Petersen became the first former Notre Dame goaltender to play an NHL game. He is the 19th Irish skater to play for Jeff Jackson and then make it to the NHL and the program’s 33rd overall NHLer. He’s the first former Notre Dame player to debut since April 7, 2018, when Steven Fogarty suited up for the New York Rangers.

 
Last season, his first as a pro, Petersen played in 41 AHL contests and registered 23 wins. Among AHL rookies he ranked first in wins, fourth in goals-against-average, fifth in save percentage, tied for first in shutouts (tied for seventh overall) and second in minutes played (2,330). He also appeared in four postseason games with the Reign.
 
Petersen, who played for the Irish from 2014-17, turned pro after his junior season when he lead the Irish to the Frozen Four. In 2016-17, he became the first goaltender to serve as team captain in Notre Dame hockey history.
 
One of five finalists for the 2017 Mike Richter Award, Petersen was selected to the NCAA Northeast Regional All-Tournament team after posting wins over Minnesota and UMass Lowell. He finished the season with a 23-12-5 record to go along with a 2.22 goals against average, a .926 save percentage and six shutouts. His save percentage ranked third in Hockey East and 11th nationally, while his six shutouts tied for the NCAA lead. Petersen’s 2016-17 numbers were compiled against a tough schedule that included 18 games against top-20 offenses (teams who finished the season ranked in the top-20 nationally in goals per game).
 
A 2017 First Team Hockey East All-Star, Petersen led the Irish to a weekend sweep of Providence College in the Hockey East quarterfinals (March 10-11). In the two games versus the Friars, Petersen posted a 1.00 goals against average and a .973 save percentage to go along with a 43-save, game one shutout. He earned Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week honors following the series.
 
Petersen also was named the Hockey East Co-Defensive Player of the Week following back-to-back shutouts versus Alaska (Dec. 31 and Jan. 1), including a 34-save performance in game one of that series. From Dec. 10 to Jan. 6, Petersen went 207:10 without allowing a goal, which is the second-longest shutout streak in program history.
 
Following the 2016-17 NCAA season, Petersen joined classmate and current Boston Bruins forward Anders Bjork and Irish alum and current New York Islanders team captain Anders Lee as part of the U.S. Men’s National Team for the 2017 IIHF Men’s World Championship, which took place on May 5-21 in Cologne, Germany, and Paris, France.
 
Petersen closed his Irish career by starting 90 consecutive games, which ranks as the fourth-longest streak in NCAA history. In his three-year tenure at Notre Dame, he graduated ranked first in career save percentage (.924), second in minutes played (6498:02), third in saves (3,042) and goals against average (2.30), tied for third in victories (55) as well as fourth in shutouts (11) and in games played (110). He made an NCAA record 87 saves during a five-overtime loss to the University of Massachusetts in the Hockey East playoffs as a freshman.
 
LET’S TAKE THIS OUTSIDE

  • Notre Dame and Michigan will meet at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019 in an outdoor game at Notre Dame Stadium.
  • The rivals will meet four days following the 2019 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® featuring the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins, on January 1, 2019.
  • Just four months after Notre Dame and Michigan met in a football game at Notre Dame Stadium that saw the Irish post a 24-17 victory, the rivalry will take to the ice in the House That Rockne Built in a game that will be televised by the NBC Sports Network.
  • Tickets for the game are on sale now, visit und.com/buytickets or call 833-ND-IRISH and keep up to date with all ticketing information by following us on Twitter @NDtix

— ND —