Dec. 21, 2001
Notre Dame, Ind. – Senior left wing David Inman scored two goals and added an assist while senior goaltender Jeremiah Kimento kicked out 32 of 34 shots to lead Notre Dame to a 3-2 win over the United States National Under-18 team. The exhibition game was played at the Joyce Center Friday night and was the last action for the Irish prior to the Christmas holidays.
Playing versus the top players in the United States under the age of 18 was a great way for the Irish to get back to hockey after the end of finals on Wednesday.
“This game served its purpose for us,” said head coach Dave Poulin.
“It’s always hard to get back into hockey after finals. This game gave us a chance to shake off some of the rust against good competition. We ended a good first half tonight and it gets us started in the second half on a positive note.”
Inman didn’t look like he hadn’t played in two weeks as he scored the first goal of the game, picked up a shorthanded goal late in the first and then helped set up Aaron Gill’s power play game-winner in the third.
“David had a great game for us. He was the best player on the ice I thought,” said Poulin.
The senior from Toronto, Ont., scored at 1:34 on Notre Dame’s first shot of the game as he snapped a centering pass from Michael Chin past USA goaltender Tim Roth.
Patrick Eaves, the USA Under-18 team’s top scorer tied the game at 8:42 with a power play goal as he carried the puck off the left wing boards and beat Kimento with a low, hard shot.
Inman put the Irish ahead to stay with a shorthanded goal at 16:47 of the first. With Connor Dunlop off for cross checking, the Irish dumped the puck behind the USA goal. Roth came out to clear the puck from the forechecking Inman but mishandled the biscuit. Inman took it away and tucked it inside the left post for his second goal of the night.
The Irish would take a 3-1 lead just 54 seconds into the second period on Gill’s power play goal. Tom Galvin’s shot from the point was stopped in front by Roth, but Gill was there to jam the rebound in.
The USA team would make it a tight game in the third when Ryan Kesler scored as he took a two-on-one pass from Greg Moore and beat Kimento at 2:41 to make the game 3-2.
Kimento, making his first start of the season, held on for the Irish making several spectacular saves as the Team USA outshot the Irish 34-24 in the game.
“Jeremiah had an outstanding game for us. He won the game for us with several big saves late in the game,” said Poulin.
Roth made 21 saves for the Under-18 team as their record went to 12-12-4 on the season.
Notre Dame returns to regular-season action on Friday, Dec. 28 when the Irish travel to Princeton to face the Tigers at Hobey Baker Rink in a 7:05 p.m. start.
IRISH HOCKEY NOTES:
The Irish were without the services of center Rob Globke and defenseman Brett Lebda who are playing with the United States National Junior Team at the World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic. They will also miss the Princeton series and the home series with Michigan (Jan. 4-5).
Notre Dame has nine former players of the USA National Under-18 team on their roster. They are: injured senior Brett Henning, juniors Michael Chin, Connor Dunlop, Paul Harris and John Wroblewski, sophomores Globke, Neil Komadoski and Lebda and freshman Derek Smith. The Developmental team is based in Ann Arbor, Mich.
SCORING SUMMARY
USA Under-18 Team (12-12-4) 1 0 1 – 2
Notre Dame (5-7-4) 2 1 0 – 3
Scoring
First Period: ND: David Inman (Michael Chin, Yan Stastny), 1:34, USA: Patrick Eaves (Greg Moore, Ryan Kesler), PPG, 8:42, ND: Inman (unassisted), SHG, 16:47.
Penalties: USA: 1 for 2 minutes, ND: 3 for 6 minutes.
Second Period: ND: Aaron Gill (Tom Galvin, Inman), PPG, 00:54.
Penalties: USA: 1 for 2 minutes, ND: 1 for 2 minutes.
Third Period: USA: Kesler (Moore, Eaves), 2:41.
Penalties: USA: 1 for 2 minutes, ND: 1 for 2 minutes.
Shots On Goal:
USA Under-18 Team 10 -14 – 10 – 34
Notre Dame 6 -10 – 8 – 24
Goaltender Saves:
USA – Tim Roth (59:22) 4 – 9 – 8 – 21
Notre Dame – Jeremiah Kimento (60:00) 9 -14 – 9 – 32
Power Plays: USA: 1 for 5, ND: 1 for 3
Attendance: 1,504