Oct. 12, 1999
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – After a disappointing first week of play in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (5-3, 6-1 home losses to fifth-ranked Michigan), the Notre Dame hockey team takes a break from league play by participating in the IceBreaker Tournament … the Irish will open the tournament on Friday, Oct. 15 vs. Providence (4:05 mountain time), followed by the game between Union and the host University of Denver … Saturday’s games will be held at 4:05 and 7:35, with DU playing in the final game (regardless of its result on Friday) … both Irish games will be carried live by South Bend’s WJVA radio (1580 AM) and via the internet at www.und.com … all four games will be televised live in the Denver area by KWHD-TV 53 (satellite coordinates will be posted on the Notre Dame website later in the week, if available).
QUICK NOTES: Senior C Ben Simon had a goal and an assist in the Michigan series, giving him 100 career points (32G-68A) in 106 games … freshman C Connor Dunlop scored in the first UM game, becoming the first Irish freshman to score in a CCHA opener since Brian Urick’s four-goal game at UAF in ’95 (7-4 win) … the Irish have opened 0-2 in the CCHA for first time since ’94-’95 (two losses to Lake Superior).
ICEBREAKER NOTES: Notre Dame junior D Ryan Clark is a native of Englewood, Colo., and a graduate of Arapahoe High School … the Irish will be making their first of two visits to DU’s Magness Arena, with the return trip coming during New Year’s for the Denver Norwest Cup (Dec. 31-Jan. 1), with that challenging field to include Colorado College, Maine and DU … Notre Dame has never faced Providence or Union and is an old Western Collegiate Hockey Association rival of Denver … DU is 32-9-2 all-time vs. the Irish, including a 20-1-1 mark at home … Notre Dame was a 10-year member of the WCHA (1971-81), with just one game vs. DU since ’81 (a 6-1 home win for the Pioneers on Dec. 30, 1992) … the Irish were 1-7 vs. DU during the playing career of current ND head coach Dave Poulin (’78-’82) … DU beat the Irish in the first round of the WCHA playoffs in 1972 and ’78 … Notre Dame will play the first official game at the Magness Arena, after beating Wisconsin last season in the Kohl Center dedication game (2-1) … PC and Notre Dame both were on the NCAA bubble last season (neither made the 12-team field) … Irish assistant coach John Micheletto spent past three seasons as the top assistant at Union (Union’s other assistant during that time, and currently, is former Irish player Kevin Patrick).
SCOUTING THE FIELD: Providence opened with an 8-2 exhibition win over Queen’s University, with senior F Fernando Pisani recording three goals while his classmates Doug Sheppard and Josh MacNevin had two goals each … PC returns 19 of 25 letterwinners from a 1998-99 team that went 20-17-1 overall and finished fourth in Hockey East … the Friars led nation with .254 power play last season and was nation’s second-leading scoring team (4.18 gpg) … PC’s top returners include Pisani (14G-37A), defenseman MacNevin (6G-29A) and senior F Jerry Keefe (16G-36A) … junior G Boyd Ballard went 14-12-1 last season, with a 3.64 GAA and .884 save pct. … sixth-year PC head coach Paul Pooley played in the CCHA at Ohio State (1984 graduate) and was associate head coach at Lake Superior in the early 1990s, where he worked with current Notre Dame equipment manager and LSSU graduate Dave Gilbert (the Lakers’ won the NCAA title in 1992 and ’94 and were the NCAA runner-up in ’93) … Denver returns just 13 of 23 letterwinners from a ’98-’99 team that went 26-13-2 overall and finished third in the WCHA before advancing to the NCAAs … DU opened with a 5-4 exhibition loss to Alberta, which scored the game-winner with 0:59 left in overtime … DU’s goals came from Matt Pettinger, Joe Casey, Bryan Vines and Jon Newman while three DU goalies combined for 26 saves … the Pioneer’s top returners include senior G Stephen Wagner (24-13-1, 2.95 GAA, .891 save pct.), junior F Mark Rycroft (19G-18A) and junior C Bjorn Engstrom (16G-18A) … Union returns 20 of 26 letterwinners from last year’s 3-26-3 team, led by senior F Ryan Campbell (5G-6A) and sophomore G Brandon Snee (1-12-3, 3.00 GAA, .892 save pct.) … the Flying Dutchmen roster includes just two seniors.
Notre Dame 1999-2000 Personnel Breakdown
Top Returnees (yr., pos., ht./wt. … 1998-99 stats)
Ben Simon (Sr., C, 6-0/195 … 18G-24A, second team all-CCHA)
Tyson Fraser (Sr., D, 5-11/205 … 1G-17A)
Dan Carlson (Jr., LW, 5-10/190 … 7G-20A)
Nathan Borega (Sr., D, 6-2/225 … 0G-2A, just 13 penalties)
Joe Dusbabek (Sr., RW, 6-1/205 … 4G-10A)
Sean Molina (Sr., D, 6-0/200 … 0G-5A, 108 career games)
David Inman (So., C, 6-1/205 … 10G-10A)
Top Players Lost
Benoit Cotnoir (Sr., D, second team All-American, 7G-18A)
Brian Urick (Sr., RW, career: 57G-69A, ’98-’99: 16G-25A)
Forrest Karr (Sr., G, ND records: 2.92 season GAA, .888 sv pct.)
Aniket Dhadphale (Sr., LW, career: 61G-44A, ’98-’99: 19G-11A)
Top Newcomers (all freshmen)
Connor Dunlop (C, St. Louis, MO/USA Under-18 Team)
Evan Nielsen (D, Evanston, IL/Taft School, Watertown, CT)
Michael Chin (RW, Urbana, IL/Des Moines Buccaneers)
John Wroblewski USA (F, Neenah, Wis./Under-18 Team)
Paul Harris (D, Ridgefield, CT/USA Under-18 Team)
Tony Zasowski (G, Darien, IL/Omaha Lancers)
FRIEND OR FOE?: Several Notre Dame players could face former teammates this week: Irish D Nathan Borega and PC RW Doug Sheppard and D Josh Macniven (Vernon Vipers), Irish D Sean Molina and Union F Jay Varady (Dubuque Fighting Saints), Irish D Andy Jurkowski, DU’s Judd Staus and PC C Jerry Keefe and RW Nick Lent and (Omaha Lancers) … Irish RW Michael Chin and PC C Peter Fregoe (Des Moine Buccaneers), Irish LW Jake Wiegand and PC’s Drew Omicioli (Lincoln Stars), and Irish G Tony Zasowski, PC’s Mike Lucci and DU’s Chris Paradise and James Armstrong.
MICHIGAN SERIES NOTES: Notre Dame’s goals in the 5-3 opener came from senior C Ben Simon, junior C Ryan Dolder and freshman C Connor Dunlop (SHG) … the lone Irish goal in the second game was scored by sophomore LW David Inman … sophomore G Jeremiah Kimento had 47 saves and 7 GA in the series (4.23 GAA, .870 save pct.) while freshman Tony Zasowski played 20 minutes (6 SV, 3 GA) … Michigan was 3-for-16 on the power play in the series, with two other goals in the opener coming just seconds after an Irish penalty had expired … UM sophomore C Mike Comrie had 4G-1A in the series, including a hat trick in the second game (his final two goals were unassisted and came in a 23-second span) … UM owned a combined shooting edge of 31-12 over Notre Dame during the first-period of both games … UM held Notre Dame scoreless for 53:04 of game time during the series … the 6-1 loss was the biggest differential in the last 10 games of the series, since Michigan’s 7-2 win at Notre Dame in the first meeting of 1997-98 (the previous nine games had been decided by 0-2 goals) … Notre Dame was just 1-for-13 on the power play during the series (second in the CCHA last year, at .191 overall) … Dolder has three goals and one assist in nine career games vs. Michigan (6G-3A in 54 games vs. all other teams) … Simon has 11 points (3G-8A) in 14 career games vs. UM
WHO’S BACK: The Irish return several of the principal parts – 18 of 24 letterwinners – from a 1998-99 team that went 19-14-5 overall and finished fourth in the CCHA. The team’s top scorer returns in senior captain Ben Simon, who totaled 18 goals and 24 assists as a junior center and has averaged nearly a point per game during his Irish career (31 goals, 67 assists in 104 games). The Irish are set to return eight other players who totaled 10-plus points in that breakthrough 1998-99 season. After Simon, a handful of other players could emerge as difference makers. Those stars-in-waiting include junior left wings Dan Carlson and Chad Chipchase and sophomore forwards David Inman and Brett Henning. The Irish also will need to compensate for the loss of graduated Brian Urick’s 41 points at right wing, where physical senior Joe Dusbabek and speedy junior Matt Van Arkel will be looking to post the top seasons of their careers. Defensively, seniors Nathan Borega, Tyson Fraser and Sean Molina lead a veteran contingent at the blue line while promising sophomore Jeremiah Kimento is the leading candidate to fill Forrest Karr’s pads between the pipes.
WHO’S GONE: With three of the top five scorers from ’98-’99 lost to graduation, Notre Dame is one of several CCHA teams looking to replace valuable players. The Irish may face the toughest task in terms of replacing quality performers at four different positions. The eight players lost to graduation include RW and team captain Brian Urick (16G-25A in ’98-’99), LW power-play ace Aniket Dhadphale (18-11), All-America D Benoit Cotnoir (7-18) and record-setting G Forrest Karr, who played 94 percent of the minutes while posting an Irish-record 2.58 goals-against average. Urick, Dhadphale and Cotnoir combined to score nearly 40 percent of Notre Dame’s goals in ’98-’99 while factoring in one-third of the total offense. On the other side of the ice, Karr started all 38 games in his first season as the Irish starting goaltender en route to Academic All-America honors, wins over perennial powers Wisconsin, North Dakota and Michigan and an Irish record 2.82 career GAA. In addition to their senior accomplishments, Urick, Dhadphale and Cotnoir ranked among the top Irish players for their entire careers and will be remembered as three of the most accomplished classmates in the history of Notre Dame hockey (they totaled 146 career goals and 173 assists in 430 combined games). Urick logged 146 games while totaling 126 points and tying Poulin’s Irish record with 13 career game-winning goals. Dhadphale’s 105 career points included 25 PPGs – good for fifth in the Irish record book. And Cotnoir departed as the ninth-highest scoring D in the program’s history (28 goals, 60 assists).
WHO’S NEW: Helping to counteract the loss of the class of ’99 is one of the nation’s top freshman classes, a seven-player group that includes four players who spent time with the USA Developmental Program, another who was invited to train with the USA but elected to return to his east-coast boarding school, and the top goaltender in the competitive United States Hockey League during 1998-99.
WJVA (1580 AM) TO CARRY IRISH HOCKEY: Notre Dame hockey games will be broadcast during the 1999-2000 season by South Bend’s WJVA 1580 AM, with live internet broadcasts also available via the Notre Dame Athletic Department’s official website (www.und.com). The broadcasts also are available in an archived form via the real-audio link at und.com … The voice of Notre Dame hockey in 1999-2000 is Dave Mager, whose play-by-play experience includes stints with Colgate and Merrimack. A native of Middletown, N.J., Mager is a graduate of Syracuse University’s highly-respected broadcast journalism program. He was the winner of the 1992 Bob Costas award, which recognizes the top graduating sportscaster at Syracuse. … While at Syracuse, Mager also served as sports director of the school’s nationally-regarded campus station, WAER-FM. He then worked as a sportscaster and producer at WBZ radio in Boston, while also pursuing his college hockey play-by-play experience at Colgate and then Merrimack. … Mager moved to the Midwest in 1997, when he joined CBS Radio’s WBBM (AM 780) in Chicago. He continues on WBBM as an afternoon drive sportscaster and as the station’s primary reporter covering the Chicago Bears and Notre Dame football.
SIMON REACHES 100: Senior C Ben Simon’s registered a goal and assist in last week’s Michigan series, giving him 100 points (32G-68A) in 106 career games … Simon (18G-24A), whose junior-year goal total surpassed his first two seasons combined (13), scored three game-winning goals as a junior while assisting on seven others (including the 3-2 win over Michigan) … he also has scored game-tying goals in ’98-’99 against Michigan and Michigan State (both 2-2) … Simon is the fourth Irish player to reach 100 points during the five-year tenure of head coach Dave Poulin, joining 1996 graduate Jamie Ling (51-102) and ’99 grads Brian Urick (57-69) and Aniket Dhadphale (61-44) … Simon needs 18 more goals to become the 29th Notre Dame player ever to total 50-plus goals and 50-plus assists in his career … he is 31 points shy of cracking Notre Dame’s top-20 career scoring list and needs 29 more assists to crack the top 10 of that list.
PP PERSONNEL: Graduation took its toll on the vaunted Notre Dame power play (the Irish PP was just 1-for-13 in the Michigan series) but three crucial PP performers return while others are poised to boost their contributions. Three 1999 grads – RW Brian Urick (16-25), LW Aniket Dhadphale (18-11) and D Benoit Cotnoir (7-18) – played key roles in the 1998-99 Irish power play that ranked second in the CCHA (19.1 percent), with that trio collecting a combined 42 points on the PP: Cotnoir (3 PPG-8 PPA), Dhadphale (9 PPG-5 PPA) and Urick (6 PPG-11 PPA). Those three combined for nearly half of the Irish power-play goals in ’98-’99 (18 of 38, .474) while totaling 42.9 percent of the PP points (42 of 98). Cotnoir set up power-play scores by 17 different Irish teammates during his career while totaling 36 career PP assists and 10 PPGs (accounting for 53 percent of his 88 career points). Senior C Ben Simon (5 PPG/8 PPA in ’98-’99 is back as the team’s go-to player in man-up situations while two of the top power-play point men in the CCHA also return: senior D Tyson Fraser (0 PPG-8 PPA) and junior LW Dan Carlson (3 PPG-9 PPA). Other players that could play expanded roles on the PP include sophomore F David Inman (4 PPG-3PPA), junior RW Matt Van Arkel (3 PPG-2 PPA) and senior RW Joe Dusbabek (2 PPG-4 PPA). Freshman C Connor Dunlop and freshman RW Michael Chin also should get their chances on the PP.
BRUISE BROTHERS: Notre Dame opened with a bruising defensive pairing for the Wilfrid Laurier game: 6-2, 225-pound senior Nathan Borega and 6-4, 230-pound junior Ryan Clark. The imposing pair previously skated together during the ’98 CCHA playoff series at Michigan, when the Irish trailed for only 14 minutes of the series while allowing just eight goals in the three games. Clark – who missed 24 games last season – made his first appearance since undergoing shoulder surgery in December of ’98. Borega has skated with classmate Tyson Fraser in 67 career games , including the 6-1 loss to Michigan. Fraser also has been paired with highly-touted freshman Evan Nielsen – who is rated No. 76 in Red-Line Report list of 2000 prospects.
PLENTY OF TALENT UP FRONT: Notre Dame’s offense could be the deepest in team history, with nine of the current Irish forwards having NHL draft status and/or experience with USA Hockey on their playing resume. Senior C Ben Simon played on the USA junior national team in ’96-’97 and ’97-’98 and is a ’97 fifth-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks. Senior RW Joe Dusbabek played on the ’97-’98 USA junior national team and is a 1997 seventh-round pick of the San Jose Sharks. Junior LW Dan Carlson played on the ’98-’99 USA junior national team while junior LW Jay Kopischke (8th round, L.A. Kings) was a 1997 draft pick. Two current sophomore forwards – David Inman (2nd round, New York Rangers) and Brett Henning (9th round, N.Y. Islanders) – were selected in the 1999 NHL draft, with Henning playing for the USA Developmental Program in ’97-’98 while Inman has attended several USA tryout camps and could be named to the 1999-2000 junior national team. Three freshmen forwards are products of the USA Development Program: C Connor Dunlop, RW Michael Chin (1997-98) and F John Wroblewski (who joined Dunlop on the team during the past two seasons).
NEW COACHING FACES: The Notre Dame coaching staff has added assistant John Micheletto and volunteer assistant Greg Louder for the 1999-200 season. Micheletto – who shares primary assistant duties with Irish seventh-year assistant coach Andy Slaggert – spent the past three seasons as the top assistant at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. He is Chicago-area native and a 1990 Dartmouth graduate. … Louder currently is enrolled in Notre Dame’s accelerated MBA program and will tutor the Irish goaltenders. An accomplished goaltender during his own Irish career (1990-94), Louder spent the past five years working in Bedford, Mass., for Scitex America Corp., which manufactures digital prepress systems to the graphic arts market. Micheletto replaces Tom Carroll on the Irish staff, with Carroll moving on to a head coaching position in junior hockey with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League.
FRONT & CENTER: Notre Dame’s early solution to its talented four-player crowd at center resulted in the Irish moving sophomore David Inman (who scored in the 6-1 loss to Michigan) to the left wing of the first line, alongside senior center Ben Simon (Shaker Heights, Ohio) and freshman right wing Michael Chin. Another freshman, Connor Dunlop, has centered the second line, with sophomore Brett Henning centering the third line. Inman (Toronto, Ont.) – a second-round New York Rangers draft pick in ’99 – centered the second line for most of ’98-’99 and had moments of brilliance in which he showcased his great vision, strong skating ability and a rifle shot. Henning (Huntington, N.Y.), a ninth-round pick of the N.Y. Islanders in ’99, also turned in a solid freshman season, totaling four goals and six assists as primarily the third-line Irish center. Dunlop (St. Louis, Mo.), the son of 11-year NHL veteran Blake Dunlop, is known as a dynamic center who could contribute in all situations. The 5-10, 185-pound lefthander totaled 46 goals and 56 assists in two seasons (136 games) with the USA Developmental Program, including 23 goals and 42 assists over the course of 70 games in ’98-’99. He scored a shorthanded goal vs. Michigan in his first career CCHA game.
RISING TO THE TOP: Following the departure of MSU’s Mike York and OSU’s Hugo Boisvert to pro hockey, Notre Dame senior C Ben Simon (Shaker Heights, Ohio) enters 1999-2000 as arguably the top returning forward in the CCHA and has earned preseason CCHA ‘player of the year’ honors from Hockey News. As a junior, the clever playmaker elevated his scoring by totaling 18 goals – more than the combined total from his freshman (four) and sophomore (nine) seasons. Many of his 42 points came at crucial junctures, including two game-winning goals, seven game-winning assists and game-tying goals vs. Michigan and MSU. Simon had a goal and asist in the Michigan series, giving him 100 points (32G-68A) in 106 career games.
PRESEASON CCHA POLLS: The annual CCHA preseason coaches and media polls predict that the Notre Dame hockey team again will be in the mix for home ice in the first round of the CCHA Tournament (the top five teams will play host to three-game series following the 1999-2000 season). The league’s 12 coaches picked Notre Dame to finish fourth, edging Ohio State by nine voting points (104-93). The 41-member media poll picked OSU as the fourth-place finisher, just ahead of Notre Dame (356-340). Michigan edged Michigan State (140-131) atop the 1999 preseason coaches poll while the Spartans held a slight edge over the Wolverines (462-453) in the media poll. Northern Michigan was picked third in both polls, with three first-place votes from the media. The final six spots in both polls contained teams in the same order: Bowling Green, Ferris State, Lake Superior, Miami, Western Michigan, newcomer Nebraska-Omaha and Alaska Fairbanks.
1999-2000 CCHA Coaches Poll 1999-2000 CCHA Media Poll 1. Michigan (10) 140 1. Michigan State (18) 462 2. Michigan State (2) 131 2. Michigan (19) 454 3. Northern Michigan 121 3. Northern Michigan (3) 389 4. Notre Dame 104 4. Ohio State (1) 356 5. Ohio State 93 5. Notre Dame 340 6. Bowling Green 89 6. Bowling Green 263 7. Ferris State 67 7. Ferris State 213 8. Lake Superior 56 8. Lake Superior 201 9. Miami 53 9. Miami 188 10. Western Michigan 38 10. Western Michigan 15311. Nebraska Omaha 25 11. Nebraska Omaha 9712. Alaska Fairbanks 19 12. Alaska Fairbanks 82
HEAD COACH DAVE POULIN ON BEN SIMON: “Ben is quite possibly the most exciting player in college hockey, because of his speed, creativity and ability to come through in the clutch. Ben continues to grow as a player, both on and off the ice, and has developed into a dynamic player with excellent all-around skills. The great part is that he still has a huge upside.”
THE LEFT COAST: The Irish appear capable of trying to fill Aniket Dhadphale’s void at left wing, particularly with Inman sliding over from his center spot. Three juniors – Dan Carlson (Edina, Minn.), Chad Chipchase (Clinton, Ont.) and Jay Kopischke (Alexandria, Minn.) – return on the left, with that trio logging 228 combined games during their Irish careers. … Carlson will be looking to boost his goalscoring, after totaling just seven goals (plus 20 assists) as a sophomore. Carlson has the added experience of playing for the USA junior national team in ’98-’99 and again should be a key member of the power-play and penalty-kill units. … Chipchase nearly doubled his point total from his freshman to sophomore seasons, totaling 10 goals and five assists while skating on each of the top three lines. … The 6-3, 215-pound Kopischke owns just nine career points in 70 games but will be looking to cash in his vast potential, after being selected in the ’97 NHL draft by the Los Angeles Kings. … the Irish also have added freshman Jake Wiegand (Northville, Mich.) to the left wing group. Wiegand made a name for himself in junior hockey (most recently with the Lincoln Starts) as an aggressive player and clutch goalscorer.
RIGHTING THE SHIP: The loss of Brian Urick may pose the biggest question at forward, but several players will be looking to step forward with consistent right wing production. Joe Dusbabek (Faribault, Minn.) – a ’97 San Jose Sharks draft pick and member of the ’97-’98 USA junior national team – is a classic power forward, due to his 6-1, 205-pound frame, aggressiveness and scoring ability. The hard-working senior will be hoping to rediscover the magic of his rookie campaign, when he posted 13 goals and 12 assists (he had just five goals and 18 assists over the past two-plus seasons). … Other veteran right wings include Matt Van Arkel (Richton Park, Ill.) and fellow junior Ryan Dolder (Hutchinson, Minn.). The streaky Van Arkel will be looking for more consistent production – particularly in the second half of the season, as just six of his 23 career points have come after New Year’s Day (he totaled eight goals and four assists in ’98-’99). Dolder has shown an uncanny ability for clutch plays – most of his eight career goals have come in timely fashion – and he could be due for bigger contributions (he scored in the first loss to Michigan) … Freshmen Michael Chin (Urbana, Ill.) and John Wroblewski (Neenah, Wis.) round out the right wings. The 6-2, 200-pound Chin spent ’97-’98 as a member of the USA developmental program before playing for the potent Des Moines Buccaneers in ’98-’99. Known for his innate scoring ability, great hands and positioning, Chin ranked as the 12th-leading scorer in the United States Hockey League for the ’98-’99 regular season and went on to total 29 goals and 34 assists in 66 overall games. Wroblewski, a 6-1, 200-pound righthander, brings a grinding, power-forward style and could see time at center or wing. As a winger with the USA Developmental Program, he totaled 32 goals and 25 assists in 135 games over the past two seasons, with a team-best 11 power-play goals in ’98-’99. He had the primary assist on Ben Simon’s goal vs. Michigan.
OH, SO CLOSE: Notre Dame has ended each of the previous two seasons with first-round CCHA playoff series losses, despite winning the first game. The Irish lost at Michigan in 1998 (4-2, 1-2 in OT, 3-4) before dropping a home series to Northern Michigan (3-2, 1-7, 2-3).
DRAFT RECAP: Notre Dame sophomore forwards David Inman (Toronto, Ont.) and Brett Henning (Huntington, N.Y.) were selected in the 1999 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Inman was drafted in the second round by the N.Y. Rangers while Henning went to the crosstown rival N.Y. Islanders in the ninth and final round. … Nine Irish hockey players have been selected in the NHL draft since ’94, including six in the last three years. The selection of Inman and Henning marks the fifth time in Notre Dame history – and just the second time since ’82 – that multiple Irish players have been selected in the first nine rounds. Inman was the 12th college player, the sixth college forward and the fourth player from a CCHA school selected. Four previous Irish players have been drafted higher than Inman, who is the highest-drafted Irish hockey player (in terms of overall pick) since 1976 and is the only Irish played ever selected in the first two rounds.
FIVE SENIORS LEAD VETERAN D: The Irish return a veteran corps of defensemen that includes five seniors who have combined for 410 career games played. Nathan Borega (Wasilla, Alaska) and Tyson Fraser (Surrey, B.C.) are the battle-tested leaders of the defense and have skated together in 67 career games. The pair serve as alternate captains in 1999-2000 – the first time since 1974 that two D have served as captains or alternate captains for the Irish hockey team. … The 6-2, 225-pound Borega has been a disciplined presence throughout his career – totaling just 62 penalty minutes in 101 career games while not sacrificing his aggressive style. … Fraser’s subtle skills and high value finally were recognized after the ’98-’99 season, when he was one of three finalists for the CCHA’s ‘top defensive defenseman’ award. A gritty player who combines uncanny instincts with timely passes, Fraser has totaled 39 career assists while helping the Irish make major defensive improvements during his first three seasons. … Seniors Sean Molina (Skokie, Ill.) and Andy Jurkowski (Madison, Wis.) were two of the unsung heroes in 1998-99 and will help bolster Notre Dame’s deepest position. Molina – who leads all Irish returners with 110 career games played and could become the third Notre Dame player ever to appear in 150 games – rose to the challenge as a junior, turning in the best season of his career while helping the Irish post a team-record 2.60 goals-against average. The 6-2, 200-pound Jurkowski was one of four Irish skaters who appeared in all 38 games in ’98-’99 and has been a valuable option in the Irish lineup as both a defenseman and left wing. … Rounding out the five-man contingent of senior defensemen is Sean Seyferth (Ann Arbor, Mich.), who has made valuable contributions while appearing in 35 career games during the past three seasons.
GOOD TO BE BACK: Hard-hitting junior defenseman Ryan Clark (Littleton, Colo.) has returned from Dec. of 1998 shoulder surgery that sidelined him for the final 24 games of 1998-99 … Clark assisted on Ryan Dolder’s goal in the 5-3 loss to Michigan but did not play in the second game vs. UM (coach’s decision)
ROOKIE BLUELINERS: Notre Dame has added a pair of talented freshmen to what is suddenly a very deep group of defensemen. Evan Nielsen (Evanston, Ill.) – who is ranked among the top 80 prospects for the 2000 NHL draft by Red Line Report – is a skilled defenseman and strong skater who honed his skills at The Taft School in Watertown, Conn. The 6-2, 200-pound Nielsen was named the Midwest team MVP at the annual Hockey Night in Boston and had an invitation to join the USA Developmental Program in ’98-’99 but elected to return to Taft. … Another newcomer, Paul Harris (Ridgefield, Conn.), also returns to the Midwest after spending two years in Ann Arbor, Mich., as a member of the USA Developmental Program. A classic stay-at-home defenseman, the 6-2, 200-pounder is a late bloomer who began playing hockey when he was 10 years old. … Nielsen skated in both Michigan games while Harris was one of seven D who played in the second UM game.
GOALIES READY FOR CHALLENGE: Leadership and quality of play from the veteran D could prove crucial – particularly during the challenging early schedule – as the three Irish goaltenders had just 148 combined minutes of Division I experience and no career starts prior to the start of the 1999-2000 season. The talented trio actually are the same age (20), despite being a junior, sophomore and freshman. … Sophomore Jeremiah Kimento (Palos Hills, Ill.) posted a 2.61 GAA and .914 save pct. in 138 minutes as a freshman, with several impressive outings. Known for his bulldog-like competitiveness during Irish practices, Kimento shed 20 pounds during the offseason while focusing on his chance to be the Irish starter. … Junior Kyle Kolquist (Duluth, Minn.) provides another veteran option but has made just one brief appearance with the Irish. Known for solid technical ability and a stellar prep career, Kolquist could be up to the challenge of contributing during his third season. … Freshman Tony Zasowski (Darien, Ill.) could challenge for playing time, after being named the USHL’s goaltender of the year with the ’98-’99 Omaha Lancers (which lost to the Des Moines squad in the Clark Cup final). Zasowski set a USHL record for regular-season wins (35-11, five shutouts), plus a league-best 1.96 GAA and a .913 save percentage while playing in front of an average home crowd of nearly 6,000 fans. … Kimento had a rocky Michigan series (47 svs, 7 GA, 4.23 GAA, .870 save pct.) while Zasowski logged 20 minutes in the second UM game (6 saves, 3 GA).
IRISH DUE FOR LAST-MINUTE MAGIC: Notre Dame is long overdue to score a game-winner in the last minute, as the Irish are 0-12 since ’91-’92 in games that have seen the game-winner scored in the final minute of regulation or OT… the last time the Irish pulled out a last-minute win was Feb. 14 ,1992, when Matt Osiecki scored with 0:55 left in OT for a 6-5 win at Kent State … Irish head coach Dave Poulin has seen his Irish teams suffer six tough last-minute losses over the past four seasons, including a 2-1 game at Michigan in the 1998 CCHA quarterfinals (Bobby Hayes scored at the 19:00 mark of overtime).
HOMESTANDERS: In its last 22 regular-season home games, Notre Dame is 14-5-3 with a 82-47 scoring edge (two 7-1 wins, one 9-5 win) … Notre Dame’s last 14 home wins have included nine by three goals or more … despite opening the ’98-’99 season with a 10-0-2 mark at home, the Irish are just 2-5-1 in their last eight home games (including the CCHA playoff series with Northern Michigan) and have been outscored 28-15 in those games.
READY TO ROLL: Notre Dame played vs. Michigan with a healthy allotment of defensemen for just the sixth time a 51-game stretch and for the first time since the Dec. 4-5 series at Ohio State in ’98-’99 … the top four Irish D missed a combined 39 games in ’98-’99, yet the Irish set the school record for GAA (2.60) … Notre Dame was 2-2-1 in the five games last season that saw ’99 grad Benoit Cotnoir, current seniors Tyson Fraser and Nathan Borega and junior Ryan Clark all in the lineup … games missed by Irish D in the last 52 include: Cotnoir (2, early in ’98-’99), Fraser (17, 5 last season), Borega (15, 8 to open ’98-’99) and Clark (24, in ’98-’99) … two of those players missed the same game 13 times over the last 52, with the Irish owning a solid 8-4-1 mark in those games … lost in the injury woes last season was the absence of ’98 CCHA rookie of the year Mark Eaton, who passed up the rest of his college eligibility when he signed as a free agent in the summer with the Philadelphia Flyers (he made the Flyers’ 1999-2000 opening-day roster and already has seen ice time).
NEW CCHA FORMAT: League play within the CCHA has taken a new form, following the addition of the conference’s 12th member, Nebraska Omaha. Changes include an expanded CCHA tournament format, some changes in start times and a 28-game conference schedule (down from 30). CCHA teams will compete in three “clusters” of four teams each-Notre Dame is clustered with Alaska Fairbanks, UNO and Michigan State-resulting in an uneven numbers of games vs. league teams (four vs. teams in one’s cluster, two vs. out-of-cluster teams). Due to the new format, four CCHA teams will not visit the Notre Dame Joyce Center in 1999-2000 while the Irish likewise will not play away games vs. four CCHA teams.
TOUGH SLATE: Notre Dame’s 39-game, regular-season schedule includes as many as 21 different opponents, with as many as 14 games vs. teams that qualified for the 12-team NCAAs in 1999. The Irish also will play host to Miami during the week of the Navy football game (Thur., Oct. 28, Fri., Oct. 29). Other remaining home opponents include Michigan State (Dec. 4, March 3), Massachusetts (Dec. 10-11) and Princeton (Dec. 19-20). … The road schedule includes a pair of conference games at MSU (Dec. 5, March 4) and Ohio State (Feb. 4-5), a series at new CCHA member Nebraska-Omaha (Nov. 5-6) and the long trip to Alaska Fairbanks (Jan. 28-29). … The Irish will play several noteworthy tournaments, including two at the University of Denver: the Ice Breaker Tournament (Oct. 15-16) – with a tough opening game vs. Providence – and the Norwest Denver Cup (Dec. 31-Jan. 1), with defending national champ Maine and perennial power Colorado College. Notre Dame will spend Thanksgiving weekend in the northeast, with games at the University of New Hampshire versus UNH and Vermont (Nov. 27-28).
SCHEDULE CLARIFICATIONS: Fans and media should be aware of the following adjustments to earlier, non-official versions of the Irish schedule. … Two home series in Oct. were shifted from Fri-Sat. to a Thur.-Fri. format, due to logistical conflicts with home Notre Dame football games. Notre Dame will close the month at home vs. Miami University, on Thur., Oct. 28, and Fri., Oct. 29. … The road series with Ferris State has been shifted to a Sat.-Sun. format, with the first game at FSU and the second at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich. (Oct. 24, 5:05 p.m.). … Notre Dame will spend the Thanksgiving weekend in the northeast, with a game at New Hampshire on Sat., Nov. 27 (5:00 p.m), followed by a Sun. afternoon game vs. Vermont (at UNH), at 2:00 p.m. … The Irish added a series vs. Princeton, after the end of finals week. Those games will be held at the Joyce Center, on Sunday, Dec. 19, and Monday, Dec. 20. … The Denver Cup is slated for Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 (previous schedules may have indicated earlier dates). The Irish are scheduled to play on New Year’s Eve vs. DU at 7:35 p.m., with a New Year’s Day game vs. Colorado College or Maine (4:35/7:35).
OTHER CCHA SCHEDULE NOTES: The CCHA Tournament will expand from an eight to a 10-team field, with the top five hosting first-round, best-of-three series (Fri.-Sun., March 10-12) … after the remaining teams are re-seeded, the No. 4 team will host the No. 5 team in a “play-in” game (Tues., March 14), with the winner advancing to the championship (March 17-18, at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit) … due to the cluster format, the following teams will not visit the Joyce Center during the 1999-2000 regular season: Northern Michigan, Ferris State, Ohio State and Bowling Green … on the flip side, Notre Dame will not pay regular-season visits in 1999-2000 to Lake Superior, Western Michigan, Miami or Michigan.
IRON MEN: Just four Irish skaters (plus G Forrest Karr) appeared in all 38 games during the ’98-’99 season: current sophomore forwards David Inman and Brett Henning, current junior LW Chad Chipchase and current senior D Andy Jurkowski.
BORN IN THE USA: The Notre Dame hockey program has played a leading role in the USA Hockey junior national program, particularly in recent years. After concluding his Notre Dame career, All-American defenseman Jack Brownschidle was a member of the USA hockey team in 1976-77 and ’78-’79. Twenty years later, a total of eight current Irish players have been part of the USA Hockey, with the junior national team or the under-18 developmental program. Current senior C Ben Simon played on the ’96-’97 team that won the silver medal at the World Junior Championship while current junior RW Joe Dusbabek joined Simon on the ’97-’98 U.S. team that finished fifth. Current junior LW Dan Carlson kept the tradition going, when he earned a spot on the ’98-’99 junior national team (current Irish sophomore F David Inman was one of the final two forwards cut from that team). Four current Irish players – Inman, sophomore C Brett Henning and freshman forwards Connor Dunlop and John Wroblewski – were among 44 invitees to the USA Hockey tryout camp in August of 1999 and will remain among the top candidates for the 1999-2000 junior national team.
FAMILIAR WITH ANN ARBOR: The 1999-2000 Notre Dame hockey team includes five players who are products of the USA Hockey Under-18 Developmental program, which began training in ’97-’98 at The Ice Cube facility in Ann Arbor, Mich. Sophomore center Brett Henning was a member of that inaugural USA developmental program, as were four incoming Irish freshmen: forwards Michael Chin, Connor Dunlop and John Wroblewski and defenseman Paul Harris. Dunlop, Wroblewski and Harris returned to the USA program for the 1998-99 season before each decided to continue their playing careers at Notre Dame. Yet another member of Notre Dame’s current freshman class – defenseman Evan Nielsen – received an invitation to train with the USA developmental program in ’98-’99 but he elected to return for his senior season to The Taft School in Watertown, Conn. … Dunlop ranked second on the ’98-’99 under-18 team with 65 points (23 goals, 42 assists) in 70 games. He also helped the USA post a .213 power-play pct. in the ’98-’99 season. … Wroblewski ranked ninth on the ’98-’99 USA squad with 26 points (team-best 11 power-play goals) … Harris played a leading role on the ’98-’99 USA Under-18 team that posted the best penalty-killing percentage (.882) in the United States Hockey League.
FEELING A DRAFT: Notre Dame and Boston College both had four players selected in the 1997 National Hockey League draft, most by any Division I school. The drafted players included current senior forwards Ben Simon (5th round, Chicago Blackhawks) and Joe Dusbabek (7th round, San Jose Sharks), plus current juniors Jay Kopischke (8th round, Los Angeles Kings) and Ryan Clark (9th round, New York Islanders). Four Notre Dame players have been selected in the first nine rounds of the same NHL draft just once previously, in 1975.
SUPER SIX: The current Notre Dame hockey team includes six players that have been selected in the NHL draft, with five of those players skating on the forward line. In addition to the above four, Notre Dame’s drafted players include a pair of sophomore centers who were selected in the ’99 NHL draft: David Inman (2nd rd, N.Y. Rangers) and Brett Henning (9th round, N.Y. Islanders). Just one other team in the CCHA – Michigan (8) – has more draft picks on its 1999-2000 roster than Notre Dame.
TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL: Six recent members of the Notre Dame hockey program – including ’99 graduates Benoit Cotnoir, Aniket Dhadphale, Forrest Karr and Brian Urick – currently are pursuing their careers in pro hockey. Urick signed with the Edmonton Oilers and reported to the Hamilton (Ont.) Bulldogs of the American Hockey League. As of late September, the other 1999 graduates were pursuing different options in pro hockey while 1998 graduate Matt Eisler was set to embark on his second professional season after spending ’98-’99 in the Calgary Flames organization. Defenseman Mark Eaton – who in the summer of ’98 opted to forego his final three years at Notre Dame and signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Flyers – had a solid ’98-’99 season with the AHL’s Philadelphia Phantoms and is considered to be one of the top young prospects in the Flyers organization (he made the Flyers’ opening-day roster).
FROM ALL CORNERS: The Notre Dame hockey team features players from nine states and two provinces, including two – Nathan Borega (Wasilla, Alaska) and Tyson Fraser (Surrey, B.C.) – who made the journey to Notre Dame from the west coast. Colorado native Ryan Clark (Littleton) is slated to make two trips with the Irish hockey team to his home state, as Notre Dame will play in the Icebreaker Tournament during mid-October before spending New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day at the Norwest Denver Cup (both events will be held at the University of Denver’s new Magness Arena). Borega and his Irish teammates will visit his home state this season, for a January series at Alaska Fairbanks. Ohio native Ben Simon (Shaker Heights) again will play near his hometown, in the Feb. 18-19 series at Bowling Green. The program’s seven Minnesota natives will not have the chance to play in their home state during the 1999-2000 regular season, although the Irish played at Mankato State in ’96-’97 and at the University of Minnesota’s Mariucci Classic in ’97-’98.
ND Hockey – By State or Province: Minnesota (7): Troy Bagne, Dan Carlson, Sam Cornelius, Ryan Dolder, Joe Dusbabek, Kyle Kolquist, Jay Kopischke. Illinois (6): Michael Chin, Jeremiah Kimento, Sean Molina, Evan Nielsen, Matt Van Arkel, Tony Zasowski. Michigan (2): Sean Seyferth, Jake Wiegand. Ontario (2): Chad Chipchase, David Inman. Wisconsin (2): Andy Jurkowski, John Wroblewski. Alaska (1): Nathan Borega. British Columbia (1): Tyson Fraser. Colorado (1): Ryan Clark. Connecticut (1): Paul Harris. New York (1): Brett Henning. Missouri (1): Connor Dunlop. Ohio (1): Ben Simon.
Academics Job One: The Notre Dame hockey team posted a 3.10 team GPA in the spring of ’99 semester while the program held a 3.00 cumulative team GPA at the end of the ’99 spring … nine players on the ’98-’99 team posted at least one Dean’s List semester (3.4 GPA or higher), including two who made the Dean’s List in both the fall of ’98 and the spring of ’99. The four returning players who turned in Dean’s List semesters in ’98-’99 are: senior D Andy Jurkowski (both semesters), sophomore F David Inman (both semesters), junior LW Dan Carlson (spring ’99) and senior D Tyson Fraser (fall ’98). … The six-member class of ’99 graduated with an average cumulative GPA of 3.30, led by Forrest Karr’s Academic All-America showing (3.70 cumulative GPA) and Aniket Dhadphale’s 3.43. Both Karr and Dhadphale were named to the prestigious six-player CCHA all-academic team. … Notre Dame hockey players have combined to post nine perfect 4.0 semesters in the past five years, including one by Jurkowski in the fall of ’97. … Top Academic All-America candidates for 1999-2000 include Jurkowski (3.83 cumulative GPA), Carlson (3.42) and Inman (3.60). … Steve Noble graduated in the spring of ’98 with a 3.956 cumulative GPA (five 4.0 semesters, 34 A’s, three A-‘s, one B+) as a finance major, ranking second in the College of Business Administration. Noble twice earned Academic All-America honors for men’s fall and winter ‘at-large sports’ and was first runner-up for the 1998 national Hockey Humanitarian Award.
SCHEDULE OF CHAMPIONS: Notre Dame’s ’98-’99 schedule included five teams that combined for seven of the NCAA titles in the 1990s: Wisconsin (’90), Northern Michigan (’91), Lake Superior (’92, ’94), Michigan (’96, ’98) and North Dakota (’97) … the Irish did not face recent NCAA champs Maine (’93, ’99) or Boston University (’95) in ’98-’99 but could play Maine this season, at the Denver Cup.
NOTES FROM 1998-99: Notre Dame played host to its first home playoff series since ’81-’82, losing to Northern Michigan (3-2, 1-7, 2-3) … the Irish edged NMU by a point for fourth place in the CCHA … the Irish were ranked in both national top-10 polls for 13 straight weeks (Oct. 19-Feb. 15) … Notre Dame ranked second in the CCHA for regular-season overall power play (.200), fourth in scoring (3.09 goals/gm), fourth in fewest penalty minutes (19.3/gm), fifth in defense (2.51 goals allowed/gm) and seventh in penalty kill (.829) … 10 Irish players had game-winning goals … Notre Dame was 14-2-3 when scoring first in the regular season, 15-0-3 when playing with a 2nd-intermission lead, 12-5-4 when outshooting the opponent, 11-1-3 at home (60-26 scoring edge), 15-3-4 when Ben Simon had at least one point, 9-1-3 when he had two-plus and 2-9-1 when he was held off the scoresheet … the Irish were 13-1-2 when both Simon and Aniket Dhadphale make the scoresheet …the Irish have road wins vs. every CCHA team during the last two years, plus a pair of victories at Wisconsin, a two-game sweep at St. Cloud State and a win at North Dakota … Notre Dame raced out to its best start in 39 years of varsity hockey (6-0-0) and best conference start (5-0-0) in 19 seasons as a member of the WCHA (’71-’81) or CCHA (’81-’83, ’92- ).