Practice on the Pond is scheduled for Jan. 4.

Hockey's Annual Practice on the Pond Slated for Jan. 4

Dec. 15, 2015

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Notre Dame hockey team will return to its outdoor roots on Monday, January 4, 2016, for the ninth annual “Practice on the Pond” at Merrifield Park in Mishawaka, Indiana.

The popular outdoor practice will give fans a chance to meet the Notre Dame hockey team and to get autographs from their favorite players.

Fans are encouraged to begin arriving at 4:30 p.m. with the outdoor practice scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m. The practice is free and open to the public.

WSBT’s Sunny 101.5 FM will be on hand for the event from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and fans will have a chance to win prizes, including team memorabilia and tickets to upcoming home games. Free hot chocolate will also be provided to all fans in attendance.

It will mark the team’s ninth practice outdoors at Merrifield Park, with the first Practice on the Pond taking place in January of the 2007-08 season.

Prior to the outdoor practice, the Irish will open the second semester of the 2015-16 season with a two-game series at 17th-ranked Denver on Jan. 1-2, 2016.

Ranked 16th in the latest USCHO.com national poll, the Irish closed out the first semester with a 9-4-4 record, including a 6-1-2 mark in Hockey East play (14 points, second place). Most recently, Notre Dame posted a dramatic 4-3 win at Boston College (Dec. 10). Dennis Gilbert capped a three-goal third period by the Irish when he scored the game-winning goal with 22 seconds remaining in regulation.

Notre Dame returns to the Compton Family Ice Arena on Jan. 8 to take on Western Michigan at 7:35 p.m. Tickets are still available for that contest and can be purchased at UND.com/buyTickets or by calling (574) 631-7356.

— ND —