NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The No. 19/19 University of Notre Dame hockey team is set to close out the fall semester with a top-20 matchup as they host No. 5/5 Penn State University, Dec. 9-10.
Following Friday’s 7:05 p.m. start time, fans are encouraged to participate in the team’s annual teddy bear toss, with stuffed animals being donated to local charities ahead of the holiday season. The toss will take place at the conclusion of the game.
Saturday’s 6:05 p.m. tilt will feature an ugly sweater contest with prizes awarded to fans donning holiday sweaters at the intermission breaks. Students in ugly sweaters can claim their free t-shirt at the top of the student section while supplies last.
Fans are invited to stick around Saturday night for a post-game skate with the team and Santa. Participation is free and fans can bring their own skates or rent from the skate counter located in the lower level of Compton Family Ice Arena.
QUICK HITS
- Notre Dame completed its 2022 road slate with a pair of tilts in Boston, facing off against Boston University and Boston College over the Thanksgiving holiday.
- After falling to BU in a Wednesday evening contest, the Irish bounced back to a 5-2 victory at Conte Forum Arena when they took on BC Friday afternoon to round out November.
- Two individuals scored their first goals of the season in the 5-2 loss to the Terriers. Ben Brinkman net his first with the Irish to get the scoring started Nov. 21, before Landon Slaggert lit the lamp for his first of the season later in the contest. Six Irish skaters highlighted the box score in the loss.
- In the 5-2 win against rival BC, the Irish saw 11 individuals cement their names on the final box, including Tyler Carpenter with his first multi-goal and multi-point night (2-1-3). The sophomore tied the game up just 1:15 after the Golden Eagles took the lead early in the second period. His goal at 2:22 of the second stanza was his second of the season. Carpenter then had the lone assist on Jesse Lansdell’s eventual game-winner, intercepting a clear attempt by BC in the attacking zone and firing a shot on net from the blue line. Lansdell’s tip redirected the puck into the back of the net and was his second game-winning tally of the season.
- Michael Mastrodomenico tallied his first collegiate point in the win, registering an assist on Carpenter’s second of the night.
- The Irish have faced off against top-12 teams for four consecutive weeks heading into their fall semester finale with No. 5/5 Penn State.
NOTRE DAME vs. PENN STATE
- Last year the Irish swept the Nittany Lions, picking up four convincing wins in the regular season.
- The last time the two teams met in Indiana, the Irish skated off with a 3-0 victory to complete the series sweep with goals from current ND forwards, Tyler Carpenter and Jesse Lansdell. Scoring the first goal of the night, Carpenter net the first of his career in the team’s tilt with PSU (Feb. 5, 2022).
- Justin Janicke lit the lamp for the first time of his collegiate career the night prior in a 7-2 victory over the Nittany Lions en route to a then-career best two point night (1-1-2).
- Thirteen current Irish icers highlighted the box score against Penn State in 2021-22, including three individuals with four points over the season series. Landon Slaggert led with two goals and two assists while Lansdell’s goal and three assists and Jake Boltmann’s four assists all tied for the team-high four points.
- With three assists in Notre Dame’s 7-2 win at home, Boltmann set a career high in both assists (three) and points (three).
- Nick Leivermann’s goal and two assists in State College, Pennsylvania, was a career best for the now-captain (1/8/22).
- Ryder Rolston and Zach Plucinski have memorable nights against Penn State, having both scored their first career goals against the Nittany Lions in March 2021.
- All-time, the Irish own a 12-4-1 record against the Nittany Lions on home ice while boasting a 20-7-4 record overall in 31 career meetings between the two programs.
TEAM LEADERS
- Ryder Rolston’s four goals and seven assists leads the Irish with 11 points.
- With a goal at Boston College Nick Leivermann’s five goals is a team best while Primeau and Rolston’s seven assists lead the Irish.
- With game-winning goals against Northern Michigan and Boston College, Jesse Lansdell leads the Irish with two.
- Always willing to jump in front of a shot, Jake Boltmann’s 33 blocks leads the team and is 13th nationally.