IRISH VISIT MERRIMACK FOR PRE-THANKSGIVING HOCKEY WEDNESDAY
By John Fineran
Notre Dame takes a break from the Big Ten Conference this week with a pair of afternoon road games against Hockey East powers from Massachusetts – Merrimack Wednesday and No. 15 Boston College Friday.
Coach Brock Sheahan’s Fighting Irish, coming off 4-1 and 3-1 home losses to then top-ranked Michigan State, were idle last weekend as they prepared for their Wednesday game with the Warriors. Merrimack is coming into the game on a two-game winning streak thanks to a 3-2 home Hockey East victory over then No. 15 Providence on Nov. 15 and last Friday’s 6-2 road victory against independent Long Island.
The Warriors also have a 4-1 non-conference victory over No. 8 Quinnipiac back in October, the same Quinnipiac team which beat Notre Dame 7-2 in the consolation game of the Ice Breaker Tournament in Tempe, Ariz., at the start of the season.
A preview of Friday’s game at Boston College will come Thursday.
WHO: Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-8-1) vs. Merrimack Warriors (5-6-0).
WHEN: Wednesday at 2 p.m.
WHERE: J. Thom Lawler Arena (2,549), North Andover, Mass.
RADIO: WZOC-FM (94.3) and UND.com (Tyler Reidy).
TV/STREAMING: ESPN+
COACHES: Notre Dame, Brock Sheahan (Notre Dame, 2008). Record: 3-8-1 in first season and overall. … Merrimack, Scott Borek (Dartmouth, 1985). Record: 93-130-12 in eighth season at school, 216-284-34 in 17th season overall.
IRISH VS. WARRIORS: This is the 15th meeting between the two schools with Notre Dame holding an 8-5-1 edge. … Notre Dame won the first meeting on Dec. 18, 1969, beating the Warriors 5-1 in the championship game of the Merrimack Tournament held at the Billerica Forum in North Billerica, Mass. … In games played at Merrimack, Notre Dame leads 4-3-0. … The teams last met for a two-game series at Lawler Arena during the 2016-17 season when they were rivals in the Hockey East Association. … Notre Dame won 2-1 on Jan. 13, 2017 before the Warriors scored a 4-2 victory the following night.
LAST TIMES OUT: Notre Dame’s winless streak ran to seven games, the last six losses, as then top-ranked Michigan State swept a Big Ten series in South Bend by scores of 4-1 and 3-1. … Merrimack split a two-game, home-and-home Hockey East series with then No. 15 Providence, losing 4-2 on the road Nov. 14 before scoring a 3-2 victory at home Nov. 15. … The Warriors then won 6-2 last Friday at Long Island.
RANKINGS: Neither team is receiving votes in either the USCHO.com media or USA Hockey/The Rink Live coaches polls.
SCOUTING THE FIGHTING IRISH: Notre Dame is led in scoring by 6-foot-6 graduate-transfer (from RPI) center Sutter Muzzatti (6-4-10) and junior defenseman Paul Fischer (3-7-10) followed by junior right wing Evan Werner (3-5-8) and freshman center Pano Fimis (1-7-8), junior center/captain Danny Nelson (4-3-7), junior left wing Brennan Ali (3-4-7), junior right wing-center Cole Knuble (2-5-7), senior defenseman Axel Kumlin (1-6-7) and senior defenseman/captain Michael Mastrodomenico (3-3-6). … Sophomore goaltender Nicholas Kempf has a 3.00 goals-against average, a saves percentage of .908 and one shutout this season. … Sophomore defenseman Jimmy Jurcev leads in blocked shots with 16 followed by junior Henry Nelson (13) and Mastrodomenico (10). … Danny Nelson leads Irish in faceoff wins with 118 (against 101 losses and win percentage of .539). … Other faceoff leaders include junior center Jayden Davis (34-22, .607), Muzzatti (91-87, .511), Fimis (87-53, .621) and Knuble (41-40, .506). … Danny Nelson, Muzzatti and Fischer each have two power-play goals on the nation’s third-ranked power play. … NCAA statistics (through Nov. 23):Scoring offense, 2.58 goals per game (45th); scoring defense, 3.33 goals per game (44th); scoring margin, -0.75 goals per game (47th); power-play percentage, 0.306 (11 of 36) (3rd); penalty-kill percentage, 0.844 (38 of 45) (12th); faceoff-win percentage, 0.545 (398-332) (5th); penalty minutes per game, 14.75 (7th);shots per game, 31.17; shots allowed per game, 32.92; team blocked shots, 124.
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS: Merrimack, which features 13 newcomers, is led by one of them, sophomore right wing Trevor Hoskin (4-8-12), a transfer from Niagara. … Freshman left wing Justin Gill (4-7-11) played pro hockey last year for Bridgeport (AHL) and Worcester (ECHL). … They are followed by sophomore left wing Nick Pierre (6-2-8), freshman center Parker Lalonde (5-3-8) and junior defenseman Seamus Powell (0-6-6). … Max Lundgren, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound junior from Sweden, has been the goaltender in every game for the Warriors, compiling a 2.48 goals-against average, a saves percentage of .921 and a 5-6-0 record. … Merrimack has 157 blocked shots this season led by junior defenseman Austin Oravetz (20), a transfer from Michigan State, freshman defenseman Filip Nordberg (16), and junior defenseman Cam Kungle (15). … Lalonde leads the Warriors in faceoff-win percentage at 0.519 (97-90). … NCAA statistics (through Nov. 23): Scoring offense, 3.00 goals per game (29th); scoring defense, 3.00 goals per game (33rd); scoring margin, 0.00 goals per game (32nd); power-play percentage, 0.245 (12 of 49) (14th); penalty-kill percentage, 0.830 (36 of 43) (19th); faceoff-win percentage, 0.489 (331-346) (40th); penalty minutes per game, 11.27 (23rd); shots per game, 27.18; shots allowed per game, 31.45; team blocked shots, 157.
WHAT BROCK SHEAHAN HAS TO SAY ABOUT:
(His team’s improvement) “We use the bye weekend to continually grow our game. We’re trying to build our game especially after the Saturday game against Michigan State. Obviously it was not the result we were looking for with the loss, but it was the best hockey consistently we’ve played and the most we’ve played the way I feel we’re capable of playing and want us to play. So that was massively positive. So we’re trying to reinforce those positives into practice. The guys have responded well and we’ve had a good week of practice. We’ve played well against quality opponents (a 2-1 overtime loss to Michigan; the 3-1 loss to Michigan State) throughout the year at times. There’s an understanding that what we’re asking as a staff we’re capable of doing. I do think we’re building confidence in that. I still think we need to be more all the time; it will take getting some results will help with that. Seeing the process, that it’s there more often, is definitely something that is building confidence in our guys.”
(His team’s special teams’ play) “The power play is what I expected it would be. We’ve got talent on our team; we’re out there on the attack executing and we’ve been consistently generating. If you consistently generate, you’re going to score. Our penalty kill has been good since the start of the year. We had a little dip on the Michigan weekend, but some of that was we were in the box way too much against a quality team. I’d like to see the offensive side translate more to what we’re doing 5-on-5 – on the attack, consistently generating, working off the puck, moving the puck. I think we saw that more on Saturday against MSU.”
(Merrimack) “They’re hard and aggressive. They will be a challenge for us. It will be a good building to play in. Things happen fast. … It’s about us. At the end of the day we have to play our game.”
(Warriors’ 6-foot-5 goaltender Max Lundgren) “College goaltending is high quality everywhere. We need to generate, we need to get in front of his eyes, we need second opportunities, and that’s something other than the second game against MSU we haven’t done a lot. We need to continue to do that.”
(Goaltending of Nicholas Kempf) “He’s doing what I ask of our entire group – he’s actually doing it. He’s stuck to his process; he has not let things out of his control affect the way he has played at all. … Working with Coach (Mike) Garman, Nick has matured. I’ve said this since I’ve been in this position – I believe he’s one of the most talented goaltenders in the country.”
NEXT UP: After Thanksgiving dinner Thursday, the Irish travel to Chestnut Hill and meet Boston College in another afternoon game Friday at 1 p.m. at the John “Snooks” Kelley Rink in the Silvio O. Conte Forum.
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-SW-OW-OL GF-GA W-L-T GF-GA
(1/1) Michigan 8 17 6-2-0-0-1-0 37-22 13-3-0 83-34
(2/2) Wisconsin 8 16 6-2-0-0-2-0 33-25 10-2-2 55-34
(9/9) Penn State 8 13 4-4-0-0-0-1 17-25 11-5-0 51-46
(3/3) Michigan St. 6 12 4-2-0-0-1-1 19-10 9-3-0 42-21
(nr/nr) Minnesota 6 9 3-3-0-0-0-0 13-14 6-9-1 41-49
(rv/rv) Ohio State 6 4 1-5-0-0-0-1 18-27 5-7-0 36-37
(nr/nr) Notre Dame 6 1 0-6-0-0-0-1 7-21 3-8-1 31-40
THIS WEEK
Wednesday, Nov. 26
Notre Dame at Merrimack, 2 p.m.
Colgate at Michigan State, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 28
Notre Dame at Boston College, 1 p.m.
Ohio State at Arizona State, 5 p.m.
Michigan at Harvard, 7 p.m.
Colgate at Michigan State, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 29
Ohio State at Arizona State, 7 p.m.
Michigan at Harvard, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Denver, 9 p.m.
UPCOMING
Thursday, Dec. 4
Minnesota at Ohio State, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 5
Wisconsin at Notre Dame, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Ohio State, 6 p.m.
Michigan at Michigan State, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 6
Wisconsin at Notre Dame, 6 p.m.
Michigan State at Michigan, 7 p.m.
SCHEDULES FOR TOP 20 TEAMS IN USCHO.com MEDIA POLL AND OTHERS
1. Michigan (Big Ten) (13-3-0) at Harvard Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 5 at Michigan State, Dec. 6 vs. Michigan State.
2. Wisconsin (Big Ten) (10-2-2) is idle this week. Next: Dec. 5-6 at Notre Dame.
3. Michigan State (Big Ten) (9-3-0) vs. Colgate Wednesday and Friday. Next: Dec. 5 vs. Michigan, Dec. 6 at Michigan.
4. Denver (NCHC) (9-4-1) (OT) vs. Minnesota Saturday. Next: Dec. 5-6 vs. Miami.
5. Minnesota Duluth (NCHC) (12-4-0) is idle this week. Next: Dec. 5-6 at Western Michigan.
6. North Dakota (NCHC) (8-4-0) at Bemidji State Friday, vs. Bemidji State Saturday. Next: Dec. 5-6 at St. Cloud State.
7. Western Michigan (NCHC) (9-5-0) is idle this week. Next: Dec. 5-6 vs. Minnesota Duluth.
8. Quinnipiac (ECAC) (9-3-2) vs. Holy Cross Wednesday, vs. Stonehill Saturday. Next: Dec. 5 at RPI, Dec. 6 at Union.
9. Penn State (Big Ten) (11-5-0) is idle this week. Next: Jan. 3 at RIT, Jan. 4 vs. RIT.
10. Maine (Hockey East) (8-5-1) is idle this week. Next: Dec. 5-6 vs. New Hampshire.
11. Northeastern (Hockey East) (8-4-0) vs. Brown Saturday. Next: Dec. 6-7 vs. Massachusetts.
12. Connecticut (Hockey East) (7-5-2) vs. Stonehill Tuesday, late. Next: Dec. 5 at Merrimack, Dec. 6 vs. Merrimack.
13. Dartmouth (ECAC) (6-0-0) vs. Vermont Friday, vs. Merrimack Saturday. Next: Dec. 5 vs. Brown, Dec. 6 vs. Yale.
14. Minnesota State (CCHA) (8-2-4) at Northern Michigan Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 5-6 vs. Ferris State.
15. Boston College (Hockey East) (7-5-1) vs. Notre Dame Friday. Next: Dec. 5 at UMass Lowell, Dec. 6 vs. UMass Lowell.
16. Providence (Hockey East) (6-5-2) at Colorado College Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 9 at Brown.
17. Cornell (ECAC) (6-2-0) vs. Boston University Saturday at New York (Madison Square Garden). Next: Dec. 5 at Clarkson, Dec. 6 at St. Lawrence.
18. Massachusetts (Hockey East) (8-7-0) at Army Saturday. Next: Dec. 6-7 at Northeastern.
19. Boston University (Hockey East) (6-7-1) vs. Cornell Saturday at New York (Madison Square Garden). Next: Dec. 5-6 vs. Vermont.
20. Union (ECAC) (8-3-2) vs. Sacred Heart Friday in Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland, vs. Miami or RIT Saturday in Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland. Next: Dec. 5 vs. Princeton, Dec. 6 vs. Quinnipiac.
Others
Harvard (ECAC) (5-1-1) vs. Michigan Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 5 vs. Yale, Dec. 6 vs. Brown.
Colorado College (NCHC) (7-6-1) vs. Providence Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 12-13 at Miami.
Michigan Tech (CCHA) (8-5-1) vs. St. Thomas Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 12-13 at Ferris State.
Bemidji State (CCHA) (9-5-2) vs. North Dakota Friday, at North Dakota Saturday. Next: Dec. 5-6 at Augustana.
Miami (NCHC) (8-4-0) vs. RIT Friday in Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland, vs. Union or Sacred Heart Saturday in Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland. Next: Dec. 5-6 at Denver.
Holy Cross (Atlantic Hockey) (9-5-1) beat Alaska Anchorage Sunday, 1-0. Next: Wednesday at Quinnipiac, Dec. 6 vs. Mercyhurst.
RIT (Atlantic Hockey) (9-4-0) vs. Miami Friday in Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland, vs. Union or Sacred Heart Saturday in Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland. Next: Dec. 5 vs. Canisius, Dec. 6 at Canisius.
Omaha (NCHC) (5-7-0) at Yale Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 12-13 at North Dakota.
St. Cloud State (NCHC) (7-7-0) is idle this week. Next: Dec. 5-6 at North Dakota.
Bentley (Atlantic Hockey) (7-4-1) at Army Tuesday, late; Next: Saturday vs. New Hampshire Saturday, Dec. 5-6 vs. Niagara.
Ohio State (Big Ten) (5-7-0) at Arizona State Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 4-5 vs. Minnesota.
Arizona State (NCHC) (5-8-1) vs. Ohio State Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 12-13 at Minnesota Duluth.
Minnesota (Big Ten) (6-9-1) at Denver Saturday. Next: Dec. 4-5 at Ohio State.
Merrimack (Hockey East) (5-6-0) vs. Notre Dame Wednesday, at Dartmouth Saturday. Next: Dec. 5 vs. Connecticut, Dec. 6 at Connecticut.
Augustana (CCHA) (6-4-1) at Lake Superior State Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 5-6 vs. Bemidji State.
Sacred Heart (Atlantic Hockey) (6-5-1) vs. Union Friday in Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland; vs. RIT or Miami Saturday in Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland. Next: Dec. 5-6 vs. Army.
Notre Dame (Big Ten) (3-8-1) at Merrimack Wednesday, at Boston College Friday. Next: Dec. 5-6 vs. Wisconsin.
Lindenwood (Independent) (7-5-0) vs. Long Island Friday and Saturday. Next: Dec. 13-14 at Maine.
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
Sunday, Nov. 23
Non-conference
Holy Cross 1, Alaska Anchorage 0
Tuesday, Nov. 25
Atlantic Hockey America
Bentley at Army, late
Non-conference
Stonehill at Connecticut, late
Wednesday, Nov. 26
Non-conference
Notre Dame at Merrimack, 2 p.m.
Holy Cross at Quinnipiac, 5 p.m.
Colgate at Michigan State, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 28
Non-conference
Notre Dame at Boston College, 1 p.m.
Ohio State at Arizona State, 5 p.m.
Vermont at Dartmouth, 6 p.m.
RPI at Niagara, 6 p.m.
Princeton at Bowling Green, 7 p.m.
Michigan at Harvard, 7 p.m.
Colgate at Michigan State, 7 p.m.
Omaha at Yale, 7 p.m.
Long Island at Lindenwood, 7:40 p.m.
North Dakota at Bemidji State, 8:37 p.m.
Providence at Colorado College, 9 p.m.
Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland
Sacred Heart vs. Union, 9 a.m.
Miami vs. RIT, 2 p.m.
Adirondack Winter Invitational at Lake Placid, N.Y.
Alaska Fairbanks vs. St. Lawrence, 4 p.m.
Clarkson vs. UMass Lowell, 7:30 p.m.
Atlantic Hockey America
Air Force at Canisius, 1 p.m.
Robert Morris at Mercyhurst, 7 p.m.
CCHA
St. Thomas at Michigan Tech, 7:07 p.m.
Minnesota State at Northern Michigan, 7:07 p.m.
Augustana at Lake Superior State, 8:07 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 29
Non-conference
Merrimack at Dartmouth, 4 p.m.
Brown at Northeastern, 4 p.m.
Stonehill at Quinnipiac, 4 p.m.
Massachusetts at Army, 4 p.m.
RPI at Niagara, 5 p.m.
New Hampshire at Bentley, 5 p.m.
Long Island at Lindenwood, 6:10 p.m.
Michigan at Harvard, 7 p.m.
Ohio State at Arizona State, 7 p.m.
Omaha at Yale, 7 p.m.
Princeton at Bowling Green, 7 p.m.
Bemidji State at North Dakota, 7:07 p.m.
Providence at Colorado College, 8 p.m.
Providence vs. Cornell at Notre Dame (Madison Square Garden), 8 p.m.
Minnesota at Denver, 9 p.m.
Atlantic Hockey America
Air Force at Canisius, 1 p.m.
Mercyhurst at Robert Morris, 7 p.m.
CCHA
Minnesota State at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.
St. Thomas at Michigan Tech, 7:07 p.m.
Augustana at Lake Superior State, 7:07 p.m.
Friendship Four at Belfast, Northern Ireland
Sacred Heart/Union loser vs. Miami/RIT loser, 10 a.m.
Sacred Heart/Union winner vs. Miami/RIT winner, 2 p.m.
Adirondack Winter Invitational at Lake Placid, N.Y.
UMass Lowell vs. St. Lawrence, 4 p.m.
Alaska vs. Clarkson, 7:30 p.m.