FOR STARTERS
- The Irish start their 2018-19 season at the Ice Breaker tournament hosted by Mercyhurst University.
- Four teams are set to compete at the tournament. Notre Dame and Mercyhurst will play in the second game of the day, following a 4 p.m. bout between Providence and Miami University.
- The Irish will then face either Miami (OH) or Providence on Saturday in the championship or consolation game.
- The Irish are 7-6-0 in season openers under Head Coach Jeff Jackson.
- Notre Dame has made four previous appearances in the Ice Breaker tournament with their most recent being when it hosted in 2014.
- The Irish have won one Ice Breaker tournament title in 2012 when they defeated Nebraska Omaha 3-2 after topping Maine in game one, 1-0.
- The team also competed in the event in 1999 (third) and 2010 (second).
- The tournament started in 1997 as an exhibition precursor to the college hockey season and has grown into one of the most anticipated tournaments of the regular season.
- Generally featuring top-ranked teams from different conferences, the annual event typically takes place the first or second weekend of the regular season.
- 2018 marks the first time the tournament has been played in Pennsylvania, having most recently been played in Minnesota at the home of Minnesota Duluth (2017).
SERIES HISTORY
- Notre Dame and Mercyhurst have met four times in program history, with the Irish winning all four games.
- The last time the two teams faced off was at the Lefty McFadden Invitational on neutral ice in Dayton, Ohio.
- Notre Dame skated off with a 4-0 victory in the day two consolation game.
- In four games played, the Irish have outscored the Lakers 25-12, including a shutout in their most recent meeting.
- Their first three contests featured Notre Dame posting seven goals against Mercyhurst, including two wins of 7-3.