Oct. 17, 2007
Notre Dame, Ind. –
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• The Series: #11/#11 Notre Dame (1-1-0) vs. #5/#5 Denver (2-0-0)
• Date/Site/Time: Thur.-Fri., October 18-19 • Joyce Center (2,763)• 7:35 p.m. both nights.
• Broadcast Information:Radio: Notre Dame hockey can be heard live on ESPN Radio 1490South Bend's SportsCenter. Mike Lockert will call theaction for the Irish.
• Television: Thursday night's game will be televised live byComcast Local with Ben Holden and Lyle Phair handling theplay-by-play and color commentary. The game can be seen inSouth Bend on Comcast Channel 3
• Internet: Irish hockey can be heard on the internet at the Notre Dame website - www.und.com.All Notre Dame home games and all CCHA games are available via gametracker. Friday's game will bestreamed live on und.com and is free of charge.
THE PIONEERS RETURN: Notre Dame and the University of Denver renew the series that began on Jan. 15, 1971 at Denver and has seen 45 games played between the two schools. The Pioneers lead the all-time series with a 33-9-3 record and will be making their first appearance at the Joyce Center since Jan. 24, 1981. Since then, the teams have met just three times with Denver holding a 2-0-1 edge. The two teams were members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) from 1971-1981 before the Irish left for the CCHA. At the Joyce Center, Denver has an 11-7-1 edge in the series and has not lost at the Joyce since Nov. 3, 1978 and has a five-game winning streak since that night. The last time the two teams met was Oct. 25, 2005 with the Pioneers taking a 6-3 win at Magness Arena. Denver is 9-0-1 versus Notre Dame in the last 10 meetings.
THE PIONEERS: The Denver Pioneers come into the series with the Irish with a 2-0-0 record after sweeping the University of Maine at home last weekend by 2-0 and 3-1 scores. Goaltender Peter Mannino was between the pipes in both games, stopping 54 of 55 Black Bear shots in the two games. Sophomore Tyler Ruegsegger leads the team in scoring with a goal and two assists for three points. Junior defenseman Chris Butler is second with a pair of assists.
A BANNER NIGHT: Notre Dame will raise its’ CCHA Championship banner to the rafters of the Joyce Center prior to the start of Thursday night’s game with Denver. The Irish now fly three banners at the Joyce Center – the 2006-07 CCHA regular-season championship banner that was raised at last season’s final home game plus the NCAA Tournament banner that recognizes the team’s two trips to the tournament in 2004 and 2007.
CCHA OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Senior center Mark Van Guilder (Roseville, Minn.) has been named the CCHA offensive player of the week for the week ending Oct. 14. Van Guilder scored three goals in Notre Dame’s two games at the Lefty McFadden Invitational last week. In the 4-1 loss to Wisconsin in the opening game, Van Guilder scored a second-period, power-play goal to tie the game at 1-1. In Saturday’s 4-0 victory versus Mercyhurst, Van Guilder scored a pair of goals, including one on the power play and one for the game winner. In the game, he set a career high with 12 shots on goal and was +2 in the win.
HE’S THE MAN: For two seasons, goaltender Jordan Pearce (Jr., Anchorage, Alaska) sat and watched as David Brown’s back up in goal. Last weekend was Pearce’s turn and he showed his stuff. Versus Wisconsin, he kept the Irish in the game through the first 50 minutes, finishing with 21 saves in the 4-1 loss. Against Mercyhurst, he recorded his third career shutout in just his 11th start, making 25 saves in the game. The back-to-back starts were the first of his career.
LEFTY WRAP UP: Notre Dame finished third at the Lefty McFadden Invitational held at the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio last weekend. The Irish dropped the opening game to Wisconsin by a 4-1 margin. The Irish fell behind, 1-0, in the first period as they were out shot by a 13-3 margin. In the second period, Notre Dame got a power-play goal from Mark Van Guilder to tie the score at 2:20 when he converted a Ben Ryan (Fr., Brighton, Mich.) centering pass. The score would stay that way until the middle of the third period when the Badgers scored three times in the final 9:28 for the 4-1 win. Wisconsin out scored the Irish by a 25-24 margin. Jordan Pearce finished with 21 saves. Notre Dame faced Mercyhurst in the third-place game and got off to a fast start with 17 shots in the first period but could not score. The Irish finally broke through in the second period on goals by Van Guilder (ppg), Ryan Thang (So., Edina, Minn.) (ppg) and Garrett Regan (Hastings, Minn.) for the 3-0 lead. Van Guilder added his second of the game 20 seconds into the third period for a 4-0 edge on the Lakers. Freshman Ben Ryan (Brighton, Mich.) had a pair of assists in the game and three on the weekend for the Irish. Notre Dame out shot Mercyhurst by a 37-25 margin. Pearce recorded his third shutout of his career in just his 11th start. The Irish were 2-for-8 on the power play in the game.
OCTOBER BLANKINGS: Junior goaltender Jordan Pearce has now appeared in 14 career games, making 11 starts. In three of those starts, he has recorded a shutout, getting one each season. His first career shutout came versus Princeton (a 2-0 win) in his second career start on Oct. 29, 2005. The second was a 3-0 blanking of Army on Oct. 27, 2006 and the third, a 4-0 shutout of Mercyhurst on Oct. 12, 2007. Only David Brown `07 recorded three shutouts in fewer starts as he had three of them in his first five starts as a freshman. Brown also recorded four shutouts in the first 13 starts of his career. Pearce made his first career start against Denver on Oct. 22, 2005, making 17 saves in a 6-3 loss at Denver.
FAST START: Freshman right wing Ben Ryan got his Notre Dame career off to a fast start at the Lefty McFadden Invitational, picking up three assists in the two games, including the first multiple-point game of his career. In the 4-1 loss to Wisconsin, Ryan set up Mark Van Guilder’s power-play goal in the second period for his first collegiate point. In the third-place game against Mercyhurst, Ryan set up another Van Guilder power-play goal and then assisted on Garrett Regan’s first goal of the season that made it a 3-0 game.
FAST STARTER: For the second season in a row, Irish center Mark Van Guilder has gotten his year off to a fast start. His three-goal weekend at the Lefty McFadden Invitational last weekend has him tied for first in the nation in goals scored through the first weekend. Last season, the Roseville, Minn., native opened the year with a three-point game (2g, 1a) versus Minnesota State, then followed with a hat trick at Boston College and a two-assist night at Providence. After four games in 2006-07, Van Guilder had five goals and three assists for eight points.
POWER-PLAY PERFORMER: Sophomore left wing Ryan Thang has proven to be a premier player on the Notre Dame power play during his career. As a freshmen, he scored 10 times with the extra man and he got his first of this season against Mercyhurst (Oct. 13). That gives him 11 power-play goals among his first 21 career goals at Notre Dame. He has done that in 44 career games.
NEW KIDS: Six of Notre Dame’s freshmen made their Irish debuts last weekend in the Lefty McFadden Invitational. Leading the way was right wing Ben Ryan who recorded three assists in his first two games. Also playing in both games were forwards Robin Bergman (Stockholm, Sweden) and Calle Ridderwall (Stockholm, Sweden) along with defensemen Ian Cole (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and Teddy Ruth (Naperville, Ill.). Joining those five was right wing Ryan Guentzel (Woodbury, Minn.) who played his first game against Mercyhurst in the second game of the weekend. Only goaltender Brad Phillips (Farmington Hills, Mich.) has yet to play among the freshman class.
CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT: Notre Dame’s most improved player for 2006-07, Garrett Regan, picked up where he left off this season. Regan finished fifth on the team last year with 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points. He scored in the second game of this year versus Mercyhurst to get the 2007-08 campaign off to a strong start.
CONGRATS: Congratulations to Notre Damehockey athletic trainer Kevin Ricks and his wife, Cheryl, on the birth of their first child. Hunter James Ricks was born on Tues., October 9 and checked in at seven pounds, 15 ounces.
IRON MAN: Senior center Mark Van Guilder has his sights set on Notre Dame’s all-time record for most consecutive games played. The record of 153 straight games was set by Tim Wallace `06 who played in every game of his career – 153 straight. Van Guilder has now played in every game of his career – 118 consecutive games played.
MR PRESIDENT: Senior defenseman Dan VeNard has been named president of Notre Dame’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for the 2007-08 school year. VeNard served as hockey’s representative to the group last season and was selected president by the group in M. The committee represents Notre Dame’s student-athletes with the Irish athletic department.
CAPTAINS: Senior right wing Mark Van Guilder will serve as Notre Dame’s captain for the 2007-08 season. Joining Van Guilder as alternate captains in `07-’08, are senior defensemen Brock Sheahan (Lethbridge, Alb.) and Dan VeNard (Vernon Hills, Ill.). They will be joined by junior forward Erik Condra (Livonia, Mich.). This is the first season for all four players to serve as captains at Notre Dame.
DROP THE PUCK: For the third season in a row, the Irish opened the year with the “Drop The Puck Reception” at the Joyce Center. This year’s event took place on Oct. 10 with former Detroit Red Wings’ great and current team vice-president Steve Yzerman serving as guest speaker. This year’s reception took place prior to the annual Blue/Gold intrasquad scrimmage. Yzerman joins Chicago Blackhawk TV analyst Ed Olczyk and Scotty Bowman who were guest speakers in 2006 and 2005 respectively. Bowman, who won nine Stanley Cups in his illustrious coaching career, also was invited by Notre Dame head football coach Charlie Weis to address his team at practice, just four days prior to the upset win at Michigan in 2005.
TOP CLASSES: Notre Dame’s incoming freshman class of seven has been ranked among the best for the 2007-08 season. Inside College Hockey.com ranked the group fourth in it’s preseason rankings while Red Line Report ranked the group fifth in the nation last spring. Inside College Hockey.com rankings:
1. Wisconsin2. Boston University3. New Hampshire4. Notre Dame5. Michigan6. Michigan State7. Miami8. Boston College9. Denver10. Minnesota
Red Line Report rankings had Wisconsin first, followed by Boston University, Michigan, Boston College, Notre Dame, Minnesota, Ohio State and North Dakota. Four of Notre Dame’s seven freshmen were drafted – Ian Cole (first round, St. Louis), Teddy Ruth (second round, Washington), Ben Ryan (fourth round, Nashville) and Brad Phillips (seventh round, Philadelphia).
THE KIDS WERE ALRIGHT: Notre Dame placed three players on the CCHA all-rookie team in 2007. Forwards Kevin Deeth (Gig Harbor, Wash.) and Ryan Thang (Edina, Minn.) were joined by defenseman Kyle Lawson (New Hudson, Mich.). Notre Dame became the third school in CCHA history to have three players on the all-rookie team, joining Michigan (five times) and Michigan State (once). The 1993-94 Michigan team set the record with four freshmen named to that team. Thang became the first Irish freshman to score 20 or more goals in a season since Dave Poulin `82 had 28 in his rookie year of 1978-79. His 20 goals were the sixth most by a Notre Dame freshman while his 41 points tied for eighth best. Deeth’s 17 goals tied him for the eighth-best total and his 39 points tied him for 10th among Irish freshmen.
LEADER OF THE PACK: Notre Dame head coach Jeff Jackson begins his third season behind the Irish bench in 2007-08. In his first two years he compiled a 45-26-7 (.622) record, highlighted by last season’s 32-7-3 campaign. He was named the CCHA coach-of-the-year and followed that with the Spencer Penrose Award as the national coach-of-the-year. Jackson enters the `07-’08 season with the best winning percentage among Division I coaches with five or more years. His current overall record stands at 227-78-32 for a .721 winning percentage. His 227 wins rank him 21st on the all-time active list. In six seasons at his previous collegiate stop – Lake Superior State (1990-96) – Jackson’s teams were 182-52-25 with two national championships, two CCHA regular-season titles and four CCHA tournament championships. Included in his 227 career wins are 41 postseason victories and a .804 winning percentage (41-10 in postseason). In eight trips to the CCHA postseason, Jackson’s teams are 28-4 (.875). Those totals include a 24-2 mark at Lake Superior and a 4-2 record at Notre Dame. In those eight seasons, Jackson has seen his teams advance to the CCHA finals seven times, winning five tournament championships (four at Lake Superior and one at Notre Dame).
SWEDISH CONNECTION: For the first time in the 40-year history of the Notre Dame hockey program, the Irish will have two natives of Sweden on the roster. Freshmen Robin Bergman (Stockholm) and Calle Ridderwall (Stockholm) join the roster this season. Both played last year in the USHL; Bergman for Cedar Rapids and Ridderwall for Tri-City. Bergman had 26 goals and 17 assists for 43 points. His 17 power-play goals were second in the league. Ridderwall led Tri-City in scoring with 27 goals and 35 assists for 62 points. He had 14 power-play goals and seven game winners, the most in the league in that category.
NHL DRAFTEES: The Irish have seven players on the 2007-08 roster who have been selected in the National Hockey League’s Entry Draft. Last June, a total of five Notre Dame players were selected. Leading the way was freshman defenseman Ian Cole (Ann Arbor, Mich.) who was a first-round selection of the St. Louis Blues who took him with the 18th pick overall. Cole became the first Irish player ever selected in the first round and was selected earlier than any other Notre Dame player (Rob Globke `04 was the previous highest selection when he was picked 40th overall by Florida in 2002). Cole was followed by fellow freshman defenseman Teddy Ruth (Naperville, Ill.) who went in the second round, 46th overall to the Washington Capitals. Sophomore Ryan Thang (Edina, Minn.) was selected in the third round, 81st overall by the Nashville Predators. Incoming freshman Ben Ryan (Brighton, Mich.) joined Thang when the Predators made him the 114th pick (fourth round). Freshman goaltender Brad Phillips (Farmington Hills, Mich.) rounded out the Notre Dame selections in the last draft when the Philadelphia Flyers selected him in the seventh round, 182nd overall. Those five join junior right wing Erik Condra (Livonia, Mich.) who was selected in the seventh round, 211th overall by the Ottawa Senators in 2006 and sophomore defenseman Kyle Lawson (New Hudson, Mich.) who was selected in the 2005 NHL Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes in the seventh round, 198th overall.
IN THE SHOW: Three former Notre Dame players opened the season on National Hockey League rosters. Defensemen Mark Eaton and Brett Lebda `04 opened the season on the blue lines for Pittsburgh and Detroit respectively. Forward Rob Globke `04 started the year with the Florida Panthers.
HOME SWEET HOME: Notre Dame was 13-2-2 at home in 2006-07 for an .824 winning percentage. That was the best mark since the 2003-04 season when the Irish were 14-2-2 at the Joyce Center for an .833 winning percentage. Only two other Irish teams have had better home records – 1987-88 team was 18-2-0 (.900) and the 1969-70 team was 12-1-1 (.893).
BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE: Notre Dame hockey games became a tough ticket during the 2006-07 season as the Irish closed out their home schedule last year with eight consecutive sellouts. From Dec. 10 until the end of the year, Notre Dame played in front of capacity crowds in 10 of its’ 11 games. For the year, the Irish had 11 sellouts (2,763) in 17 home dates and averaged 2,478 fans per game.