NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame hockey program opens the 2022-23 season on the road as an invitee of the annual Ice Breaker Tournament. Set for two showdowns in Colorado, the 11th-ranked Irish kick off the season at top-ranked Denver Friday before closing out the tournament with a tilt at Air Force Saturday.
Puck drop at Magness Arena in Denver is set for 9:07 p.m. ET (NCHC.tv) followed by an 8:07 p.m. ET start the following night against the Cadets (FloHockey.tv).
NOTRE DAME vs. DENVER
- The Irish and Pioneers have met 52 times in program history, most recently in 2017-18 when Denver made the trek to the midwest. Notre Dame trails the all-time series, 10-36-6.
- The Irish have won twice in Denver, Colorado, with their last trip to the mile-high city resulting in a pair of ties (1-1, 2-2) in 2015.
NOTRE DAME vs. AIR FORCE
- Saturday marks the 43rd meeting between the Irish and the Air Force Cadets with the Irish holding a 28-12-2 all-time lead over USAFA.
- The two teams last met in the 2019-20 season with the Irish defending home ice with a pair of wins to open the season, 4-3 and 6-1.
- Current Irish defenseman Nick Leivermann recorded the primary assist on the final goal against the Cadets in 2019. The goal came with one second to play in regulation.
QUICK HITS
- The Irish return 19 letterwinners from the 2021-22 season, including six seniors and graduate students.
- The team returns three of its top-five scorers from last season, including Ryder Rolston, Nick Leivermann and Landon Slaggert.
- Leivermann was named captain ahead of the season, with Trevor Janicke and Slaggert serving as alternates.
- In the off-season, the Irish added eight new faces to their program, including four freshmen.
- Last season the Irish went 28-12 and fell in the NCAA Regional Final to Minnesota State.
- In their lone exhibition of the season, the Irish fell to the USNTDP U18 team, 5-3. A series of special team hiccups led to the loss as the U18s scored twice in the waning seconds of an Irish penalty kill and sealed the game with an empty net tally in the final minute.
- The Irish skaters lit the lamp in the contest, including USNTDP alum Ryder Rolston who scored just 59 seconds into the contest.
- Tyler Carpenter and Jack Adams also recorded goals in the exhibition contest.