COLLEGE HOCKEY: FRIENDSHIP FOUR 2024
By JOHN FINERAN
WHO: Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-9-0, 1-7-0 Big Ten), Harvard Crimson (2-3-1, 2-2-1 ECAC Hockey), Merrimack Warriors (3-7-1, 2-4-1 Hockey East) and Boston University Terriers (6-5-1, 3-2-1 Hockey East).
WHAT: The only mid-season college hockey tournament played outside United States.
WHERE: SSE Arena (10,800) in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
WHEN: Friday, Nov. 29 (Merrimack vs. Boston University, 9 a.m. EST and Notre Dame vs. Harvard, 2 p.m. EST) and Saturday, Nov. 30 (consolation at 10 a.m. EST and championship at 2 p.m. EST).
RADIO: WZOC-FM (94.3) and UND.com (Tyler Reidy).
STREAMING: EPSN+
PAIRWISE: In the latest Pairwise Comparison Ratings to predict the 16-team field for the NCAA tournament, Boston University is No. 12, Harvard and Merrimack are tied for No. 33 and Notre Dame is tied for No. 42 with Air Force.
POLLS: In the latest USCHO.com media poll, Boston University is ranked No. 13, Harvard and Notre Dame are receiving votes and Merrimack is unranked. … In the latest USA Hockey/The Rink Live coaches’ poll, Boston University is No. 13, Harvard is receiving votes while Notre Dame and Merrimack are unranked.
PAST CHAMPIONS: 2015, UMass Lowell; 2016, Vermont; 2017, Clarkson; 2018, Union; 2019, Northeastern; 2022, Quinnipiac.
SCOUTING NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
Recap: Lost 6-3 Friday and 5-3 Saturday at home to Minnesota, extending losing streak to seven games since 3-2 overtime victory over Wisconsin on Nov. 1.
Coach: Jeff Jackson (412-275-73 in 20th season at school with NCAA Frozen Four appearances in 2008, 2011, 2017 and 2018; 594-327-98 overall record includes 182-52-25 record in six seasons at Lake Superior State where his teams won national championships in 1992 and 1994 and runners-up in 1993).
Team: Sophomore center-right wing Cole Knuble (6-8-14) and senior wing Justin Janicke (3-8-11) are expected back after missing Saturday’s game with Gophers. … Junior defenseman Axel Kumlin (3-7-10) and sophomore Brennan Ali (4-4-8) each had a goal and two assists Saturday. … Sophomore center Danny Nelson (6-3-9), who leads team with 190 faceoff wins, graduate right wing Blake Biondi (4-5-9) and sophomore defenseman Paul Fischer (0-9-9) are next in scoring. … Graduate defenseman Zach Plucinski, despite missing last week’s series, leads team with 25 blocked shots. … Goaltenders are junior Owen Say (2.72 goals-against average, .926 saves percentage, 4-5-0 record) and freshman Nicholas Kempf (3.08 goals-against average, .909 saves percentage, 1-4-0 record).
Notre Dame is: 2-6-0 vs. Harvard after 4-1 loss (its fourth straight in series) in Shillelagh Tournament at Compton Family Ice Arena on Nov. 27, 2015 … 9-7-2 vs. Boston University after 4-1 victory and 8-2 loss last Oct. 20-21, 2023 at Compton … 8-5-1 vs. Merrimack following 2-1 victory and 4-2 loss on Jan. 13-14, 2017 at Lawler Rink in North Andover, Mass.
NCAA statistics (as of Nov. 25): Scoring offense, 2.71 goals per game (32nd); scoring defense, 3.14 goals per game (45th); scoring margin, -0.43 goals per game (39th); power-play percentage, 0.279 (12 of 43) (7th); penalty-kill percentage, 0.771 (37 of 48) (44th); faceoff win percentage, 0.530 (481-427) (14th); penalty minutes per game, 11.79 (12th).
Next Up: Dec. 13-14 at Ohio State, Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio.
SCOUTING HARVARD CRIMSON
Recap: Lost 5-3 at Massachusetts Friday to extend winless string to 3 (0-2-1).
Coach: Ted Donato (307-262-73 in 20th season at Harvard with NCAA Frozen Four appearance in 2017).
Team: Freshman left wing Mick Thompson (2-5-7) leads Crimson in scoring followed by sophomore left wing Ben MacDonald (2-2-4), junior right wing Marek Hejduk (2-1-3), junior right wing Joe Miller (2-1-3), sophomore right wing Ryan Fine (1-2-3), junior center Casey Severo (1-2-3), freshman defenseman Lucas St. Louis (1-2-3) and senior defenseman Ian Moore (0-3-3). … Severo leads team with faceoff wins with 53 and Moore leads in blocked shots with nine. … Goaltender is 6-foot-4 junior Aku Koskenvuo of Finland, who has 2.65 goals-against average, .906 saves percentage and 2-3-1 record with one shutout (3-0 at Quinnipiac).
Harvard is: 6-2-0 vs. Notre Dame after 4-1 victory in Shillelagh Tournament at Compton Family Ice Arena on Nov. 27, 2015 … 70-83-7 vs. Boston University following 2-1 overtime loss Dec. 30, 2022 at Boston … 0-2-1 vs. Merrimack following 2-2 overtime tie Dec. 7, 2012 at Merrimack.
NCAA statistics (as of Nov. 25): Scoring offense, 2.50 goals per game (36th); scoring defense, 2.67 goals per game (24th); scoring margin, -0.17 goals per game (34th); power-play percentage, 0.211 (4 of 19) (23rd); penalty-kill percentage, 0.833 (15 of 18) (23rd); faceoff win percentage, 0.446 (170-211) (59th); penalty minutes per game, 6.67 (59th).
Next Up: Dec. 6 vs. Clarkson at Bright-Landry Hockey Center, Cambridge, Mass.
SCOUTING MERRIMACK WARRIORS
Recap: Lost 6-3 Friday at Boston University to extend losing streak to two.
Coach: Scott Borek (79-110-12 in seventh season at Merrimack; 202-264-34 in 16th season overall).
Team: Sophomore center Ethan Bono (3-2-5) and junior defenseman Zach Bookman (1-4-5) lead Merrimack in scoring followed by freshman center Caelan Fitzpatrick (3-1-4), graduate left wing Antonio Venuto (3-1-4), junior forward Tyler Young (2-2-4) and graduate center Harrison Roy (0-4-4). … Roy (72) and Fitzpatrick (70) lead Merrimack in faceoff wins while graduate defenseman Josef Mysak leads in blocked shots with 22. … Borek has started four different goaltenders with a pair of sophomores from Sweden, Max Lundgren (3.49 goals-against average, .880 saves percentage, 2-3-0 record, 1-0 shutout at Minnesota State) and Nils Wallstrom (3.69 goals-against average, .868 saves percentage, 1-2-0 record) seeing most of the action.
Merrimack is: 25-97-8 vs. Boston University following 6-3 loss last Friday at Agganis Arena in Boston; 2-0-1 vs. Harvard following 2-2 overtime tie Dec. 7, 2012 at Merrimack; 5-8-1 vs. Notre Dame following 2-1 loss and 4-2 victory on Jan. 13-14, 2017 at Lawler Rink in North Andover, Mass.
NCAA statistics (as of Nov. 25): Scoring offense, 2.00 goals per game (55th); scoring defense, 3.36 goals per game (53rd); scoring margin, -1.36 goals per game (58th); power-play percentage, 0.136 (3 of 22) (52nd); penalty-kill percentage, 0.676 (23 of 34) (63rd); faceoff win percentage, 0.468 (289-328) (52nd); penalty minutes per game, 10.18 (29th).
Next Up: Dec. 6-7 vs. Alaska Anchorage at Lawler Rink, North Andover, Mass.
SCOUTING BOSTON UNIVERSITY TERRIERS
Recap: Won 6-3 Friday vs. Merrimack to run unbeaten string to two (1-0-1).
Coach: Jay Pandolfo (63-26-3 in third season with NCAA Frozen Four appearances in 2023 and 2024).
Team: Freshman left wing Cole Eiserman (9-4-13) and sophomore left wing Shane Lachance (5-8-13) lead Terriers in scoring followed by senior center Matt Copponi (4-6-10), junior center Ryan Greene (4-6-10), junior forward Quinn Hutson (3-7-10), sophomore defenseman Tom Willander (2-7-9), sophomore right wing Jack Harvey (3-5-8) and freshman defenseman Cole Hutson (2-6-8). … Greene leads team in faceoff wins with 114 while sophomore defenseman Gavin McCarthy leads team in blocked shots with 26. … Goaltenders are senior Mathieu Caron (3.35 goals-against average, .892 saves percentage, 5-4-1 record) and sophomore Max Lacroix (3.23 goals-against average, .888 saves percentage, 1-1-0 record).
Boston University is: 97-25-8 vs. Merrimack following 6-3 victory last Friday at Agganis Arena in Boston; 7-9-2 vs. Notre Dame after 4-1 loss and 8-2 victory last Oct. 20-21, 2023 at Compton Family Ice Arena at Notre Dame; 83-70-7 vs. Harvard following 2-1 overtime victory Dec. 30, 2022 at Agganis Arena in Boston.
NCAA statistics (as of Nov. 25): Scoring offense, 3.50 goals per game (11th); scoring defense, 3.50 goals per game (58th); scoring margin, 0.00 goals per game (31st); power-play percentage, 0.239 (11 of 46) (15th); penalty-kill percentage, 0.698 (30 of 43) (60th); faceoff win percentage, 0.500 (375-375) (31st); penalty minutes per game, 16.42 (1st).
Next Up: Dec. 7 vs. Massachusetts at Agganis Arena, Boston.
BIG TEN STANDINGS: (Numbers in parenthesis are school’s rankings in this week’s USCHO.com media/USA Hockey-The Rink Live coaches polls):
- (3/4) MINNESOTA 6-0-0, 17 points (12-2-0 overall)
- (1/1) MICHIGAN STATE 4-0-0, 12 points (9-1-0 overall)
T3. (6/6) MICHIGAN 4-0-0, 11 points (9-2-1 overall)
T3. (nr/nr) WISCONSIN 3-5-0, 11 points (4-8-0 overall)
- (12/12) OHIO STATE 2-2-0, 5 points (9-2-1 overall)
- (rv/nr) NOTRE DAME 1-7-0, 3 points (5-9-0 overall)
- (rv/nr) PENN STATE 0-6-0, 1 point (4-7-0 overall)
Tuesday, Nov. 26: Colgate at Penn State, 6 p.m. (non-conference).
Wednesday, Nov. 27: Colgate at Penn State, 4:30 p.m. (non-conference).
Friday, Nov. 29: Harvard vs. Notre Dame, 2 p.m. (Friendship Four Tournament at SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland); Ohio State at Princeton, 7 p.m. (non-conference); Michigan at Western Michigan, 7 p.m. (non-conference); Lindenwood at Michigan State, 7 p.m. (non-conference); Alaska at Minnesota, 8 p.m. (non-conference); Alaska Anchorage at Wisconsin, 8 p.m. (non-conference).
Saturday, Nov. 30: Notre Dame vs. Merrimack or Boston University, 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. (Friendship Four Tournament at SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland); Ohio State at Princeton, 4 p.m. (non-conference); Alaska at Minnesota, 6 p.m. (non-conference); Western Michigan at Michigan, 7 p.m. (non-conference); Alaska Anchorage at Wisconsin, 8 p.m. (non-conference).
Sunday, Dec. 1: Lindenwood at Michigan State, 4 p.m. (non-conference).
JEFF JACKSON ON:
(Tournament) “Our guys will have a little chance to do some sightseeing, a little touring of Ireland. It’s going to be a unique experience for all of us.”
(Notre Dame) “Even though the young guys played well, we’re only going to go as far as the guys who have a little experience take us.”
THIS WEEK’S USCHO.com MEDIA POLL TEAMS AND GAMES THIS WEEK
- Michigan State (Big Ten) (9-1-0) vs. Lindenwood Friday and Saturday.
- Denver (NCHC) (12-2-0) is idle. Next: Dec. 6-7 at No. 7 Western Michigan.
- Minnesota (Big Ten) (12-2-0) vs. Alaska Friday and Saturday.
- Boston College (Hockey East) (9-3-0) vs. No. 15 Dartmouth Friday.
- Maine (Hockey East) (8-2-2) at Rensselaer Saturday and Sunday.
- Michigan (Big Ten) (9-2-1) at No. 7 Western Michigan Friday, vs. No. 7 Western Michigan Saturday.
- Western Michigan (NCHC) (8-1-1) vs. No. 6 Michigan Friday, at No. 6 Michigan Saturday.
- Colorado College (NCHC) (9-2-1) is idle. Next: Dec. 6-7 at No. 10 Providence.
- St. Cloud State (NCHC) (9-4-0) is idle. Next: Dec. 6-7 vs. Omaha.
- Providence (Hockey East) (8-3-2) vs. Clarkson Friday and St. Lawrence Saturday in Adirondack Winter Invitational at 1980 Rink Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, N.Y.
- Cornell (ECAC) (4-2-2) vs. No. 18 Quinnipiac Saturday in The Frozen Apple at Madison Square Garden in New York.
- Ohio State (Big Ten) (9-2-1) at Princeton Friday and Saturday.
- Boston University (Hockey East) (6-5-1) vs. Merrimack Friday and either Notre Dame or Harvard Saturday in the Friendship Four Tournament at SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
- North Dakota (NCHC) (7-6-0) at Bemidji State Friday, vs. Bemidji State Saturday.
- Dartmouth (ECAC) (5-0-1) at No. 4 Boston College Friday.
- UMass Lowell (Hockey East) (9-3-0) vs. St. Lawrence Friday and Clarkson Saturday in Adirondak Winter Invitational at 1980 Rink Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, N.Y.
- Minnesota State (CCHA) (10-4-2) is idle. Next: Dec. 6-7 at Bowling Green.
- Quinnipiac (ECAC) (6-6-0) vs. No. 11 Cornell Saturday in The Frozen Apple at Madison Square Garden in New York.
- Arizona State (NCHC) (6-7-1) is idle. Next: Dec. 6-7 vs. Minnesota Duluth.
- Clarkson (ECAC) (9-4-1) vs. No. 10 Providence Friday and No. 16 UMass Lowell Saturday at Adirondack Winter Invitational at 1980 Rink Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placide, N.Y.
Others receiving votes
Union (ECAC) (7-3-1) at Niagara Friday and Saturday.
Massachusetts (Hockey East) (6-6-2) vs. Vermont Sunday.
Bentley (Atlantic Hockey) (9-4-1) at Northeastern Sunday.
Harvard (ECAC) (2-3-1) vs. Notre Dame Friday and either Merrimack or Boston University Saturday in Friendship Four Tournament at SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Connecticut (Hockey East) (7-6-1) is idle. Next: Dec. 4 vs. No. 4 Boston College.
Notre Dame (Big Ten) (5-9-0) vs. Harvard Friday and either Merrimack or Boston University Saturday in Friendship Four Tournament at SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Penn State (Big Ten) (4-7-0) vs. Colgate Tuesday and Wednesday.
Northeastern (Hockey East) (2-6-3) vs. Bentley Sunday.
Bemidji State (CCHA) (6-6-1) vs. North Dakota Friday, at North Dakota Saturday.
Michigan Tech (CCHA) (6-4-0) at Bowling Green Friday and Saturday.
New Hampshire (Hockey East) (4-4-2) vs. RIT Friday and Saturday.
Colgate (ECAC) (7-5-2) at Penn State Tuesday and Wednesday.
Niagara (Atlantic Hockey) (7-5-3) vs. Union Friday and Saturday.
OTHER GAMES THIS WEEK
Tuesday
Army at Stonehill, 7 p.m. (non-conference)
Friday
American International at Robert Morris, 5 p.m. (Atlantic Hockey)
Air Force at Brown, 7 p.m. (non-conference)
Sacred Heart at Holy Cross, 7 p.m. (Atlantic Hockey)
Yale at Long Island, 7:30 p.m. (non-conference)
Alaska Anchorage at Wisconsin, 8 p.m. (non-conference)
Lake Superior State at St. Thomas, 8:07 p.m. (CCHA)
Northern Michigan at Augustana, 8:07 p.m. (CCHA)
Saturday
Air Force at Brown, 4 p.m. (non-conference)
American International at Robert Morris, 5 p.m. (Atlantic Hockey)
Sacred Heart at Holy Cross, 7 p.m. (Atlantic Hockey)
Lake Superior State at St. Thomas, 7:07 p.m. (CCHA)
Northern Michigan at Augustana, 7:07 p.m. (CCHA)
Yale at Long Island, 7:30 p.m. (non-conference)
Alaska Anchorage at Wisconsin, 8 p.m. (non-conference)
