Feb. 7, 2000
Notre Dame junior left wing Dan Carlson (Edina, Minn.) has been named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association player of the week-the first Irish player so honored this season-after factoring in all three Notre Dame goals during the split at Ohio State on Feb. 4-5.
Carlson’s power-play goal in the opening game of the series cut OSU’s lead to 2-1 early in the third period, before the Buckeyes added an empty-netter for the 3-1 win. The next night, Carlson assisted on Michael’s Chin’s power-play goal for an early 1-0 lead before sending home Chin’s deflected shot in overtime-giving the Irish a 2-1 victory with 0:55 left to play.
The three-point weekend leaves Carlson atop Notre Dame’s season charts in points (23), goals (12, six in the last six games), power-play goals (8) and game-winning goals (4, one in each of the past three weeks). His recent heroics include scoring two huge goals in the 4-3 win over Western Michigan on Jan. 21, as he forced OT by scoring with 1:23 left in regulation before netting the 6-on-5 game-winner in the first minute of overtime.
His recent timely play makes Carlson just the second player in Notre Dame hockey history-and the first in 28 years-to score two overtime goals in the same season. Junior winger Paul Regan scored two overtime goals during the 1971-72 season, versus Michigan Tech (6-5) and Cornell (5-4).
Carlson’s goal at OSU held even extra significance, as it marked the first time that the Irish have scored a game-winning goal in the final minute of regulation or overtime in seven years-since Matt Osiecki found the net with 55 seconds left in OT to give the Irish a 5-4 win at Kent State on Feb. 14, 1992. Since that time, Notre Dane has been on the losing end of 12 last-minute, game-winning goals.
Notre Dame players have been recognized in the weekly CCHA awards four times in 1999-2000, with freshmen center Connor Dunlop (Oct. 18) and freshman goaltender Tony Zasowski (Nov. 1, Jan. 24) both earning rookie-of-the-week honors.
Just four CCHA schools have produced more weekly award winners than Notre Dame’s four: Michigan (8), Northern Michigan (7) and Lake Superior State (5).
Carlson-who has scored or assisted on five of Notre Dame’s 12 winning goals this season-suddenly has moved into a tie for 10th all-time at Notre Dame with seven career game-winning goals (just seven players have totaled 10-plus, with Brian Urick and Dave Poulin sharing the record of 13). Carlson’s four GWGs this season are tied for eighth in the Irish record book.
Since Dave Bankoske’s record seven GWGs in 1989-90, only Urick (5, 1997-98) has posted more game-winners in a season that Carlson’s current total.