Feb. 20, 2001
by Tim Connor
Silent, but deadly. That might just be the best description for Notre Dame hockey standout Dan Carlson.
The senior left wing doesn’t waste a lot of time talking about his game. He just lets his actions on the ice and their results do the talking.
In a year that the Irish have struggled as a team, the speedy Carlson is on the verge of his best season ever in a Notre Dame uniform.
Heading into this weekend’s pivotal series at Alaska-Fairbanks, Carlson leads Notre Dame in scoring with 14 goals and 23 assists for 37 points. That ranks him ninth in the CCHA overall.
A hard-working left winger, Carlson shows up to play every night. Since the middle of December he has become a force to be reckoned with in the CCHA.
A slow start – just 12 points in the first 17 games – ended on Dec. 20 when the Edina, Minn., native scored his first career hat trick and a career-best, four-point game in Notre Dame’s 7-3 win at Nebraska-Omaha.
“For me, it was hard to get going in the first half of the season. We never got into a regular flow of games. It seemed like we played one week, then had a week off. When we started playing a normal schedule, things started going well for me,” explained the 21-year old forward.
Since that breakout game, Carlson has 11 goals and 14 assists in 18 games. His recent tear started at the same time he was united on an all-Minnesota line with freshman center Aaron Gill (Rochester, Minn.) and senior right wing Ryan Dolder (Hutchinson, Minn.).
“We really worked well together. They go hard all the time and so do I. We really had a good thing going,” says Carlson.
The trio played together in 14 games, scoring in 11 of them with 19 goals and 25 assists for 44 points. Carlson (9-10-19) led the group followed by Dolder (6-8-14) and Gill (4-7-11).
In an effort to get more offense from his lineup, head coach Dave Poulin split the threesome up at Ohio State on Feb. 3.
The change of linemates didn’t slow Carlson a bit as he has two goals and four assists in four games playing on a line with freshman Rob Globke and sophomore Jake Wiegand.
His biggest point of the season may have come against Bowling Green on Feb. 10 when, with time running out, he found defenseman Evan Nielsen from deep in the Irish zone all alone at center ice. His long pass hit Nielsen right on his stick and the sophomore defenseman scored on a breakaway to give the Irish a 3-2 win and move them into a tie for the final playoff spot.
For the everyday fan, Carlson spells excitement on the ice. He’s one of those players that has the ability to create his own scoring chances and that happens because of his tremendous skating ability.
“I definitely use my speed and quickness to get my scoring chances,” explains Notre Dame’s leading scorer the past two seasons.
“I just try to beat the defenseman wide. If I can get a step on the defender, it usually gives us a good scoring chance. That just opens things up for everyone.”
Carlson’s success this season has come as no surprise to his coach.
“Danny is explosive and relentless when he’s out there. He may be quiet off the ice, but definitely not on the ice. He lets his actions do the talking. He’s really having an outstanding season,” says Poulin.
Five years ago when the Irish bench boss was recruiting Carlson from Edina High School, he knew he had something special in the 5-10, 180-pound winger.
“He was the most dominant player I have ever recruited at that level,” stated Poulin.
Dominate is just what Carlson did in his senior year at Edina scoring 38 goals with 39 assists, while leading his team to the Minnesota state championship.
In that championship game, a 1-0 win over Duluth East High School, Carlson netted the lone goal versus fellow Irish senior and current roommate, goaltender Kyle Kolquist.
“That’s really been the highlight of my hockey career. Kyle really couldn’t do much on that goal. It came off a draw and I don’t think he saw it until it was past him. I really didn’t think much of it at the time, because it was the first period and they were undefeated. I expected them to score a few goals in the game, but we made it stand up,” explained a smiling Carlson.
A finalist that year for Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey Award, Carlson lost out to the University of Minnesota’s Aaron Miskovich.
“I went up against four guys who were going to Minnesota, so I knew I had no chance of winning since I was going to Notre Dame,” said Carlson with a laugh.
“It was still a great experience and great to be recognized.”
A three-time all-city and all-conference selection, Carlson was chosen all-state his senior year. He selected Notre Dame because of its academic reputation and to be part of a hockey program on the rise.
“I decided on Notre Dame because it really gave me the best of both worlds. It’s a great place to get an education and it’s been a great place to play hockey. I remember during my visit, all the players were saying how they liked playing for coach (Poulin) and this program was going to take off over the next few years,” said Carlson.
The finance major has been a part of some pretty good teams at Notre Dame. His sophomore year, the Irish jumped out to a 9-0 start and just missed out on an NCAA bid. Last year, the Irish advanced to the CCHA semifinals at Joe Louis Arena for the first time since 1982.
“I liked the idea of being part of a program that was on the rise. I’ve had a great time playing here. I got a chance to play Division I hockey. My sophomore year we won nine straight to start the year and were one of the best teams in the country. That’s been a highlight for me,” commented Carlson.
Carlson’s contributions to the success of the program have not gone unnoticed either.
After freshman and sophomore seasons of 28 and 27 points, respectively, the 5-10, 180-pound winger had a breakthrough season in 1999-2000.
He scored 17 goals and 18 assists for a team-best 35 points. Among his 17 goals were nine power-play goals and five game-winning goals. For his efforts he was selected as the team’s Most Valuable Player.
During his four years, many of Carlson’s goals have been highlight reel goals. His electrifying end-to-end rushes have a way of bringing a crowd to its feet.
One place where the Academic All-America candidate uses his speed and hockey smarts is when he’s on he ice as a member of Notre Dame’s penalty-killing unit.
He already has two shorthanded goals this season and is tied for fourth all-time at Notre Dame with six, one off the mark of seven held by David Bankoske (1988-93), Mike McNeill (1984-88) and Kevin Humphreys (1977-81).
He has teamed up with Gill to give the Irish a penalty killing duo that loves to go on the offensive.
“Aaron and I work pretty well together shorthanded. Early in the year, I don’t think we took many chances, but now we look for it. I know if I get the puck, he’s jumping. If he gets it, he knows I’m going,” says Carlson.
“We’ve really been effective keeping teams tied up in their zone. When we get on them quick we do a pretty good job of disrupting things.”
Just like his outstanding statistics this season, Carlson is also quietly turning in outstanding career numbers at Notre Dame.
Versus Bowling Green (Feb. 10), Carlson became Notre Dame’s all-time leader in games played when he played in his 153rd game passing former Irish defenseman John Schmidt (1978-82) who played in 152 in his career.
The speedy left wing has career highs in assists (23) and points (37) and leads the Irish with an impressive +7 plus/minus rating.
After assisting on David Inman’s power play goal in Notre Dame’s 4-4 tie last Friday at Michigan, Carlson now is tied for 25th on the all-time scoring list with 49 goals and 78 assists for 127 career points.
The Irish alternate captain is also just one of five players to score over 100 points since Notre Dame returned to the CCHA in 1992-93. He trails Jamie Ling (153) and Ben Simon (130) while bein tied with Brian Urick (127) and ahead of Aniket Dhadphale (105).
Carlson says, “I’m happy with the way things have gone in my career. I expected to be successful when I came here. I just wish that we were having a better season this year.”