By John Fineran
After opening the season last weekend with a pair of losses in the Ice Breaker Tournament hosted by tournament champion Arizona State, Notre Dame is home for the next three weeks beginning with a series against St. Lawrence, an ECAC Hockey member.
WHEN: Thursday at 7 p.m. and Friday at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Charles W. “Lefty” Smith Ice Rink at Compton Family Ice Arena (4,852), South Bend.
TICKETS: Available.
RADIO: WZOC-FM (94.3) and UND.com (Tyler Reidy).
TV/STREAMING: Peacock (Tony Simeone and Steve Konroyd).
RECORDS: St. Lawrence 1-3-0, Notre Dame 0-2-0.
RIVALRY: This will be the fifth and sixth meetings between the two teams with the Irish holding a 3-1 series lead following last season’s 4-1 Notre Dame triumph in upstate New York. … The first two meetings came at Madison Square Garden in New York City with the Irish winning 4-2 on Dec. 21, 1971 in the championship game of the ECAC Holiday Festival and 8-5 in the opening game of the ECAC Holiday Festival on Dec. 19, 1972 . … The Saints then beat the Irish 6-3 in the opening round of the RPI/HSBC Holiday Classic in Troy, N.Y., on Dec. 29, 2000. … Last year’s recap:
Notre Dame 4, St. Lawrence 1: In the Oct. 11, 2024 season opener, Cole Knuble scored two goals while Danny Nelson and Blake Biondi had one each and goaltender Owen Say stopped 32 shots, including 18 in the final period before 1,510 fans at Appleton Arena in Canton, N.Y.
LAST WEEKEND: After a 5-2 exhibition victory over the U.S. Under-18 Team on Oct. 3 in Plymouth, Mich., Notre Dame officially opened its season at the Ice Breaker Tournament hosted by Arizona State in the Mullett Arena at Tempe, Ariz. The Irish lost 5-3 to the host Sun Devils Friday and then 7-2 to Quinnipiac in Saturday’s consolation game. … St. Lawrence split a weekend home-and-home series with Vermont, losing 2-1 Friday in Burlington, Vt., before winning 5-2 Sunday at Canton, N.Y. … The recaps:
Arizona State 5, Notre Dame 3 (Friday): The Irish were penalized six times for 23 minutes including 4 for 19 minutes in the first period when the Sun Devils took a 2-0 lead. The lead grew to 3-0 early in the second period before defensemen Henry Nelson (1:29) and Paul Fischer (12:32) got the Irish back into the game. But the Sun Devils regained control of the game with two goals for a 5-2 lead going into the third period during which Carter Slaggert tallied for the Irish at 12:10. The Irish outshot the Sun Devils 50-38 with goaltender Nicholas Kempf making 33 saves .
Vermont 2, St. Lawrence 1 (Friday): Freshman left wing Rasmus Svartström scored the Saints only goal and junior Mason Kucenski made 37 saves in the loss for the Saints.
Quinnipiac 7, Notre Dame 2 (Saturday): The Irish committed seven penalties totaling 22 minutes, four of the penalties occurring in the first period as the Bobcats skated to a 2-0 lead. Quinnipiac made it 3-0 in the second period before 6-foot-6, 240-pound grad-transfer center (from RPI) Sutter Muzzatti scored the first of his two goals for Notre Dame, the second coming on a third-period power play. Nicholas Kempf made 31 saves, 17 in the first period as the Bobcats outshot the Irish in the game 38-25.
St. Lawrence 5, Vermont 2 (Sunday): Junior left wing Gunnar Thoreson scored a pair of empty-net goals after senior left wing Tyler Cristall, senior defenseman Isack Bandu and senior right wing Frankie Carogioiello netted goals. Kucenski made 37 saves in the victory that snapped a three-game losing streak.
SCOUTING THE SAINTS: Brett Breeke, a 1994 graduate of Western Michigan, is in his seventh season as head coach of St. Lawrence with an overall record of 62-119-23. … This is a rebuilding year for the Saints, who finished last in ECAC Hockey. … Four players share the team scoring lead: senior left wing Tyler Cristall (2-1-3), junior left wing Gunnar Thoreson (2-1-3), sophomore center Cayden Casey (1-2-3) and sophomore center Isaac Tremblay (0-3-3). … Freshman Andrew Brown (0-2-2) and senior-transfer (from Northern Michigan) Isack Bandu (1-0-1) lead the defense in front of junior goaltender Mason Kucenski (1.53 goals-against, .952 saves percentage, 1-1-0 record). … It will be a “homecoming” of sorts for freshman left wing Cooper Pierson (0-1-1), who hails from Noblesville, Ind., and is the brother of center Jackson Pierson, who played for the Irish during the 2022-23 season after a standout career at New Hampshire. … NCAA statistics (nationally through Oct. 12): Scoring offense, 2.50 goals per game (36th); Scoring defense, 3.25 goals per game (32nd); Scoring margin, -0.75 goals per game (37th); Power-play percentage, 0.083 (1 of 12) (46th); Penalty-kill percentage, 0.600 (9 of 15) (52nd); Faceoff win percentage, 0.446 (119-148) (52nd); Penalty minutes per game, 9.00 (29th).
SCOUTING THE FIGHTING IRISH: Brock Sheahan, a 2008 graduate of Notre Dame, is 0-2 in his first season as head coach of the Irish. … Grad-transfer Sutter Muzzatti, a 6-foot-6, 240-pound center who has an undergrad degree from RPI and has two seasons of eligibility remaining after sitting out most of last season with an injury, leads the Irish in scoring with two goals and an assist for three points, one ahead of two defensemen who are alternate captains – junior Paul Fischer (1-1-2) and senior Axel Kumlin (0-2-2). … Freshman center Pano Fimis, who played last year for the Erie Otters of the major Ontario Hockey League, notched an assist in the two games he played and was 21-11 in faceoffs. … The captain duties are shared by junior center Danny Nelson (0-0-0) and senior defenseman Michael Mastrodomenico (0-1-1) with junior right wing Cole Knuble (0-1-1) joining Fischer and Kumlin as alternate captains. … Sophomore Nicholas Kempf, a former USNTDP product and a draft choice of the Washington Capitals in the 2024 NHL Draft, was the starting goaltender both evenings in Arizona and has a 6.05 goals-against average and .842 saves percentage. … NCAA statistics (nationally through Oct. 12): Scoring offense, 2.50 goals per game (36th); Scoring defense, 6.00 goals per game (54th); Scoring margin, -3.50 goals per game (51st); Power-play percentage, 0.200 (2 of 10) (20th); Penalty-kill percentage, 0.909 (10 of 11) (15th); Faceoff win percentage, 0.464 (58-67) (45th); Penalty minutes per game, 22.50 (7th).
QUOTING BROCK SHEAHAN:
(On St. Lawrence) “I’m excited to see where we’re at this weekend against a very good St. Lawrence team. … You’ll hear this from me throughout the year; it’s doesn’t matter who we are playing. We are focused on us here. We’ll watch film on us all week; we’ll prepare to be better in our game and still play our game. Obviously, we scout the opponent – we know what they are doing. Our players get that information. But honestly it’s about us and our game – can we improve? We know where we’re at after (playing) two quality opponents last weekend.”
(On transfer center Sutter Muzzatti) “He’s a 6-foot-6, 240-pound centerman who can skate and he is smart. I think he has the potential to play at the highest level. Not only is he of that physical stature, but he has the game. He is one guy who has picked up our (style of) play pretty quickly, which is nice.”
(On goalie Nicholas Kempf) “He hasn’t had the reps – last year he was limited in his reps (while splitting time with Owen Say). I’ve seen a ton of growth in (Kempf’s) maturity and his poise. We’re going to be patient with him. He’s going to be capable of getting where he’s going to – a kid who can play at the next level. He legitimately has that ability. We have to do a better job in front of him.”
(On returning players) “For the guys coming back – our core guys – I thought they looked good. It’s a matter of putting it all together. Whether it’s Danny Nelson, Cole Knuble or Paul Fischer – they drive the bus for us. Michael Mastrodomenico, Axel Kumlin, Nick Kempf – those guys are going to drive it for us, right? I’m excited to see their response (to the opening losses). For us, it’s a matter of getting used to the way we want to play.”
NEXT UP: The Irish continue their six-game homestand next Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25 against Robert Morris of the Atlantic Hockey Association before opening the Big Ten schedule against visiting Michigan on Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1. … The Saints return home Saturday, Oct. 25 to play an exhibition game against the University of Toronto before hosting CCHA teams Lake Superior State (Oct. 31) and Michigan Tech (Nov. 1).
BIG TEN STANDINGS AND SCHEDULE
(Numbers in parentheses are school’s rankings in this week’s USCHO.com media/USA Hockey-The Rink Live coaches polls):
Conference Overall
GP Pts W-L-T GF-GA W-L-T GF-GA
(4/3) Michigan 0 0 0-0-0 0-0 4-0-0 26-3
(16/15) Ohio State 0 0 0-0-0 0-0 2-0-0 8-3
(17/17) Wisconsin 0 0 0-0-0 0-0 2-0-0 10-2
(6/6) Penn State 0 0 0-0-0 0-0 3-1-0 19-13
(3/4) Michigan State 0 0 0-0-0 0-0 1-1-0 5-4
(13/14) Minnesota 0 0 0-0-0 0-0 1-2-1 12-13
(nr/nr) Notre Dame 0 0 0-0-0 0-0 0-2-0 5-12
Thursday, Oct. 16
St. Lawrence at Notre Dame, 7 p.m.
Robert Morris at Michigan, 7 p.m.
Minnesota State at Wisconsin, 8 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 17
St. Lawrence at Notre Dame, 7 p.m.
Robert Morris at Michigan, 7 p.m.
Michigan State at Boston University, 7 p.m.
Ohio State at Connecticut, 7 p.m.
Long Island at Penn State, 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota at North Dakota, 8 p.m.
Minnesota State at Wisconsin, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 18
Ohio State at Connecticut, 4 p.m.
Long Island at Penn State, 6 p.m.
Minnesota at North Dakota, 7 p.m.
Michigan State at Boston University, 7 p.m.
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE FOR TOP 20 TEAMS IN USCHO.com MEDIA POLL
- Boston University(Hockey East) (2-0-1) vs. No. 3 Michigan State Friday and Saturday.
- Western Michigan(NCHC) (1-1-0) at UMass Lowell Friday and Saturday.
- Michigan State(Big Ten) (1-1-0) at No. 1 Boston University Friday and Saturday.
- Michigan(Big Ten) (4-0-0) vs. Robert Morris Thursday and Friday.
- Denver(NCHC) (1-0-1) at Lindenwood Friday and Saturday.
- Penn State(Big Ten) (3-1-0) vs. Long Island Friday and Saturday.
- Maine(Hockey East) (2-0-0) at No. 10 Quinnipiac Friday and Saturday.
- North Dakota(NCHC) (2-0-0) vs. No. 13 Minnesota Friday and Saturday.
- Boston College(Hockey East) (1-1-1) at RPI Friday.
- Quinnipiac(ECAC) (2-1-0) vs. No. 7 Maine Friday and Saturday.
- Massachusetts(Hockey East) (3-0-0) vs. Northeastern Friday; vs. Bentley Saturday.
- Connecticut(Hockey East) (1-1-0) vs. No. 16 Ohio State Friday and Saturday.
- Minnesota(Big Ten) (1-2-1) at No. 8 North Dakota Friday and Saturday.
- Providence(Hockey East) (0-1-0) at RPI Saturday.
- Arizona State(NCHC) (2-2-0) at Augustana Friday and Saturday.
- Ohio State(Big Ten) (2-0-0) at No. 12 Connecticut Friday and Saturday.
- Wisconsin(Big Ten) (2-0-0) vs. No. 20 Minnesota State Thursday and Friday.
- Cornell(ECAC) (0-0-0) vs. Czech University Selects Friday (exhibition).
- Colorado College(NCHC) (3-1-0) at Northern Michigan Friday and Saturday.
- Minnesota State(CCHA) (1-1-0) at No. 17 Wisconsin Thursday and Friday.
OTHER GAMES THIS WEEK
Tuesday, Oct. 14
Canisius 3, Army 1
Brown 2, Czech University Selects 0 (exhibition)
Wednesday, Oct. 15
Yale 6, Czech University Selects 0 (exhibition)
Friday, Oct. 17
Canisius at Colgate, 7 p.m.
Lake Superior State at U.S. Under-18 Team, 7 p.m. (exhibition)
Canada Under-18 Team at Ferris State, 7 p.m. (exhibition)
Windsor at Bowling Green, 7 p.m. (exhibition)
Niagara at Union, 8 p.m.
Vermont at St. Cloud State, 8 p.m.
Minnesota Duluth at Bemidji State, 8 p.m.
St. Thomas at Air Force, 9 p.m.
Michigan Tech at Alaska Fairbanks, 11 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 18
Simon Fraser at Lake Superior State, 3:30 p.m. (exhibition)
Stonehill at Sacred Heart, 5 p.m.
Holy Cross at Mercyhurst, 5 p.m.
New Hampshire at Merrimack, 6 p.m.
Ferris State at U.S. Under-18 Team, 6 p.m. (exhibition)
Harvard at Northeastern, 7 p.m.
Canisius at Colgate, 7 p.m.
Vermont at St. Cloud State, 7 p.m.
Clarkson at RIT, 7 p.m.
Bemidji State at Minnesota Duluth, 7 p.m.
Niagara at Union, 8 p.m.
St. Thomas at Air Force, 10 p.m.
Michigan Tech at Alaska Fairbanks, 11 p.m.