NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame hockey program dropped their final contest of 2022, falling at home to the Nanooks of Alaska, 3-2. A late third-period push was not enough for the Irish as they rounded out the end of the calendar year in Game One of the weekend series.
The Nanooks got on the board first, as they picked off an Irish defender following a collision at the blue line. Notre Dame challenged the call on the ice and after a lengthy review, Chase Dubois’ goal stood.
Shortly after the Alaska goal, Jack Adams receives an up-ice feed from Justin Janicke and wraps the puck around the net. The Irish celebrated as if they had scored but the officials rule the puck never crossed the goal line and an offensive zone faceoff ensued.
Despite outshooting the opposition 6-4 through the first period of play, the Irish trailed by a goal through 20 minutes.
The two teams opened the second period with action up and down the ice but it was the Nanooks that capitalized on the play, taking the 2-0 lead at 2:18 of the frame.
A series of penalties amassed for the rest of the period, with each side whistled for multiple infractions but were unable to find twine on the man-advantage and the two teams skated on with the Irish trailing by a pair.
The Nanooks net one more late in the second to extend their lead, as the Irish headed to the locker room for the second intermission looking for at least three in the third.
Notre Dame lit the lamp early in the third period with Hunter Strand finding twine at 2:30 of the final frame. On the goal, the sophomore drew a slashing penalty as well but the team was unable to capitalize on the man-advantage and continued to trail by two.
Nearing the halfway point of the third, the Irish pressed the Nanooks net and despite not being able to cut the lead further, they did draw another penalty, their fifth of the night.
Chayse Primeau cut the lead to one with a goal at 10:47 of the third period after Solag Bakich found him on the doorstep to bat the puck home.
The Irish saw multiple chances late but were unable to connect for the game-tying goal as they fell to the Nanooks by a 3-2 final Saturday night.
GOALS
- Hunter Strand made a diving play early in the third period to get the Irish on the board. After Grant Slianoff’s wraparound attempt, the sophomore center skated through a slash to score his second of the season. Ryder Rolston also tallied an assist on the play.
- Halfway through the third period, Chayse Primeau found the five-hole off his own rebound, standing out front of the Nanooks’ netminder, trying to bat the puck home. Solag Bakich and Jake Boltmann each earned helpers on the goal.
KEY STATS
- The Irish outshot the Nanooks, 34-25, Saturday night, including firing 19 shots on goal in the third stanza.
- Drew Bavaro led the team in shots with six pucks on net while also stepping in defensively with two blocked shots.
- On the night, the Irish blocked 13 pucks, led by Solag Bakich with three.
- Hunter Strand and Chayse Primeau both lit the lamp in the contest, with Primeau’s now-12 points this season being tied for second on the team behind linemate Ryder Rolston.
UP NEXT
The Irish and Nanooks open 2023 with their regular season finale, as the two teams meet for a 5:05 p.m. puck drop Sunday with the Irish looking for the series split.