COLLEGE HOCKEY: NOTRE DAME AT NO. 3 MINNESOTA
By JOHN FINERAN
A “new” season begins for the Notre Dame hockey team this weekend when the Fighting Irish travel to No. 3 Minnesota for the Big Ten Tournament best-of-three quarterfinal series. It’s win or go home for the season for the Irish. The Golden Gophers, who tied for the regular-season title with the idle Michigan State Spartans, took three of four games in the regular season from retiring coach Jeff Jackson’s Irish. Notre Dame’s lone victory, 4-3, came on Jan. 18 in Minneapolis when Blake Biondi scored the overtime winner.
WHAT: Big Ten Tournament best-of-three quarterfinal series.
WHERE: 3M Arena at Mariucci (10,257) in Minneapolis, Minn.
WHEN: Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m.
RADIO: WSBT-AM (960), WSBT-FM (96.1) and UND.com (Tyler Reidy).
TV/STREAMING: B1G+
SCOUTING THE FIGHTING IRISH: Notre Dame enters the Big Ten Tournament at 10-23-1 and on two-game losing streak. … Sophomore forward Cole Knuble leads Irish in scoring with 11 goals and 26 assists for 37 points in 30 games followed by team captain and senior left wing Justin Janicke, who has a team-high 15 goals and 18 assists for 33 points in 33 games played. … They are followed by sophomore center Danny Nelson (13-13-26), graduate right wing Blake Biondi (12-14-26), junior defenseman Axel Kumlin (5-14-19), sophomore defenseman Paul Fischer (2-17-19), sophomore left wing Brennan Ali (6-12-18), senior center Hunter Strand (6-7-13), junior defenseman Michael Mastrodomenico (3-10-13) and graduate forward Ian Murphy (4-6-10). … Janicke has scored five goals in last five games – four on power plays against Wisconsin (Feb. 21 and 22) and Michigan State (Feb. 28 and March 1) and one shorthanded against Penn State (Feb. 15). … Kumlin has one goal and four assists for five points in his four games against the Gophers this season. … The Irish have scored 25 power-play goals with Janicke leading with eight, one more than Biondi. … Goaltending duties have been shared by junior Owen Say (3.02 goals-against average, .913 saves percentage, 8-13-0 record) and freshman Nicholas Kempf (3.74 goals-against average, .895 saves percentage, 2-10-1 record). … Fischer leads the team in blocked shots with 50, one more than graduate defenseman Zach Plucinski and 12 more than sophomore defenseman Henry Nelson. … The faceoff leaders are Danny Nelson (422 wins, 307 losses, .579 percentage), Strand (236-220, .518) and Knuble (178-166, .517).
NCAA statistics: Scoring offense, 2.74 goals per game (38th); scoring defense, 3.50 goals per game (59th); scoring margin, -0.76 goals per game (53rd); power-play percentage, 0.238 (25 of 105) (14th); penalty-kill percentage, 0.786 (81 of 103) (39th); faceoff-win percentage, 0.518 (1088-1012) (19th); penalty minutes per game, 10.21 (21st).
Coach: Jeff Jackson, who owns two degrees from Michigan State, is 417-289-74 in his 20th and final season at Notre Dame with NCAA Frozen Four appearances in 2008, 2011, 2017 and 2018 and eight conference titles. … His 599-341-99 overall record includes a 182-52-25 record in six seasons at Lake Superior State where his teams won national championships in 1992 and 1994 and finished runner-up in 1993. … Jackson also was the first coach and senior director of the United States National Team Development Program when it was formed in 1996, leading Team USA to the silver medal at the 1997 World Junior Championships, then the team’s best finish ever.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GOPHERS: Minnesota enters the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals with a 24-8-4 record and a one-game winning streak. … The Gophers’ lineup last Saturday at Penn State featured 16 forwards and defensemen who have been drafted by teams in the National Hockey League, including four first-round picks in junior right wing Jimmy Snuggerud (St. Louis Blues), junior right wing Matthew Wood (Nashville Predators), sophomore center Oliver Moore (Chicago Blackhawks) and sophomore defenseman Sam Rinzel (Chicago Blackhawks). … Snuggerud leads team in goals (22), assists (23) and points (45). … He is followed in scoring by junior left wing Connor Kurth (16-20-36), Wood (14-21-35), Moore (11-19-30), Rinzel (9-18-27), junior right wing Brody Lamb (16-9-25), freshman left wing Brodie Ziemer (11-10-21), sophomore center Jimmy Clark (5-15-20), junior defenseman Ryan Chesley (8-11-19), senior center Aaron Huglen (5-14-19) and graduate defenseman Mike Koster (4-15-19). … Graduate-transfer (from Penn State) goaltender Liam Souliere (2.18 goals-against average, .922 saves percentage, 13-6-2 record, two shutouts) has emerged as the Gophers’ top goaltender over sophomore Nathan Airey (2.50 goals-against average, .901 saves percentage, 11-2-2 record, one shutout). … Chesley leads team in blocked shots with 64 followed by Koster (51) and junior defenseman Luke Mittelstadt (46). … Moore (305-283, .519), Huglen (260-233, .527) and Clark (217-241, .474) are the leading faceoff men.
NCAA statistics: Scoring offense, 3.97 goals per game (1st); scoring defense, 2.42 goals per game (14th); scoring margin, 1.56 goals per game (4th); power-play percentage, 0.234 (26 of 111) (15th); penalty-kill percentage, 0.750 (57 of 76) (53rd); faceoff-win percentage, 0.479 (1111-1022) (50th); penalty minutes per game, 6.97 (61st).
Coach: Bob Motzko, a 1987 graduate of St. Cloud State, is in his seventh season as head coach of Minnesota with a record of 160-79-21 and four NCAA appearances including Frozen Fours in 2021-22 and 2022-23 (runner-up). … In 20 seasons as a head coach his record is 436-271-70. … Spent his first 13 seasons at St. Cloud State where he compiled a 276-192-49 record and took the 2012-13 team to the Frozen Four.
QUOTING IRISH COACH JEFF JACKSON
(Last weekend’s 5-2 losses to Michigan State) “They weren’t the outcomes we were looking for. We played better on Friday than Saturday, the reversal of what we’ve been doing over the last several weeks. … From my perspective, we haven’t done of a good enough job defending and creating offense from defense transitionally. On the Saturday against Wisconsin, I thought we did a pretty good job of possessing the puck and making good plays on our breakout, leading to transitional chances, and we did a better job maintaining possession in the offensive zone. … For me, it’s about doing a better job on the back end – both our goaltending and defense have got to make sure that we’re better than we were this past weekend. That’s where it all starts, from the back end.”
(Success in the “new” season) “We have to be diligent with our puck decisions and our puck support. You can’t make mistakes against teams like Michigan State and Minnesota. You can’t throw away pucks errantly where they can come back at you. Because the strengths of their games are transition. We have to minimize that with what we do with the puck and also minimize it by defending well. There’s been times where we’ve done that well this year, but there’s been times when we haven’t. At this point, there are no more tomorrows. So we have to find a way to execute not only for one game but for two or maybe even three. Right now, it’s just about Friday night. It’s a new season for us, a fresh start. Anything that has happened in the past is behind us. I’m hoping some of the lessons we’ve learned through the ups and downs of the last year can be put together to make a playoff run.”
(Similarities between Michigan State and Minnesota) “Minnesota is maybe a little more of a transitional team. They have great skill and speed and their defense is very active. I think Michigan State is good on transition, but I think Michigan State is a team more comparable what Penn State used to be – puck possession and shot volume. With Minnesota, it’s going to be more of a track meet.”
(What players have made good steps the last couple of weeks) “For us, it starts with Danny Nelson and Cole Knuble. Their lines have to be productive for us. I thought on Saturday (left wing) Grant Silianoff had a good game. There have been games in which Hunter Strand’s line (with Silianoff and Carter Slaggert) has been very effective for us. But everything stems from our top two lines, generating offense from Knuble and (Justin) Janicke or potentially Nelson and whoever’s playing wing for him on the right side (Blake Biondi or Knuble) and Brennan Ali on the left.”
(Knuble and Nelson) “For me, Cole has been playing extremely well. He’s tried to put the team on his shoulders sometimes and maybe tried to do a little too much. And that’s what happens sometimes when you don’t score as much as you want to. Players sometimes try to do it on their own and it’s not selfishness – they do it because they think it’s their responsibility to try and generate offense and score goals. And Danny (Nelson) has done that at times, too. Cole has played extremely well – he’s been healthy here in the second half.”
(The defense) “On the back end, both Paul Fischer and Axel Kumlin have been pretty consistent throughout the year. That’s going to be critical for us. The way our defense played the second night at Wisconsin, if we could bottle that, it would certainly make a big, big difference for us. You need guys who can elevate their game to the next level. Henry Nelson played well in that second game (at Wisconsin) as well but was up and down last weekend. Michael Mastrodomenico … same thing. Ryan Helliwell has had a comeback year for himself, but he has to be consistent in his puck decisions and the same with Zach Plucinski. If anything, Jimmy Jurcev has played well as a freshman for us. He’s pretty raw because he needs to develop physically – he’s such a tall (6-foot-5) kid. He does a really good job with his puck decisions.”
(Goaltending) “For me, it’s frustrating because we get some good games out of them (Owen Say and Nicholas Kempf). I was really hoping that Owen would take a step here in the last month, and there have been times he has. But I didn’t think he was as sharp as he needed to be on Friday (against Michigan State). There were a couple of goals I think he would like to have back. Nick, on the same thing Saturday, made some great saves when we didn’t play so well in front of him. He also had a few goals that maybe he’d want to have back. We need to get to the point where there are no soft goals in a game.”
THE RIVALRY: Minnesota leads 46-28-6 in the series which began with a pair of 2-1 victories over Notre Dame on Feb. 9-10, 1925 at the Minneapolis Arena. … In games played in Minneapolis, Gophers lead Earlier this season at Compton Family Ice Arena, the Gophers swept the Irish, winning 6-3 on Nov. 22 and 5-3 on Nov. 23. … Then at 3M Arena at Mariucci, the Gophers skated to a 5-2 victory on Jan. 17 but the Irish rebounded with a 4-3 overtime triumph on Jan. 18. … The recaps:
Minnesota 6, Notre Dame 3 (Nov. 22): After Hunter Strand gave Irish 1-0 lead at 2:56 of first period, Brody Lamb of Gophers tied it at 6:30. … Sam Rinzel scored on power play 38 seconds into second period and Gophers never trailed again, finishing 3-of-5 on power play (Rinzel added another and Aaron Huglen had other). … Oliver Moore and Connor Kurth added the other Gopher goals while Jack Larrigan and Blake Biondi scored for Irish. … Irish goalie Owen Say made 32 saves, seven more than his Minnesota counterpart Nathan Airey as Gophers outshot Irish 38-28.
Minnesota 5, Notre Dame 3 (Nov. 23): Irish jumped out to 1-0 lead in first on power-play goal by Axel Kumlin (who later added two assists) at 8:10. … Gophers tied it on goal by Oliver Moore (18:43) and then got two second-period goals by Jimmy Snuggerud (1:45 on power play; 7:59) to take 3-1 lead. … But Irish responded on goals by Danny Nelson (14:48) and Brennan Ali (19:38) to send game into third period tied at 3-3. … It remained that way until 13:15 when Brodie Ziemer scored game-winner and Mike Koster closed out scoring at 19:49 into empty net. … Irish goalie Nicholas Kempf made 34 saves while counterpart Nathan Airey made 20 as Gophers outshot Irish 39-23.
Minnesota 5, Notre Dame 2 (Jan. 17): Paul Fischer gave Irish 1-0 lead 4:02 into game. … Gophers then blitzed Irish with five straight first-period goals against starting goaltender Nicholas Kempf – Jimmy Snuggerud (4:24), Cal Thomas (8:43), John Mittelstadt (9:12), Snuggerud (17:50) and Mason Nevers (18:04) – while outshooting Irish 24-5 in period. … Jimmy Jurcev of Notre Dame completed scoring at 6:35 of the second period. … Owen Say took over in goal for Irish in second period and made 22 saves as Minnesota outshot Notre Dame 46-15 for winning goalie Nathan Airey, who made 13 saves.
Notre Dame 4, Minnesota 3 (OT) (Jan. 18): Ian Murphy gave Notre Dame 1-0 lead at 7:43 but Jimmy Snuggerud tied game at 12:33 as the first period ended 1-1. … Carter Slaggert scored at 2:25 of the second period before Luke Mittelstadt tied game at 5:30. … But Cole Knuble gave Irish a 3-2 lead after two periods with his goal at 10:54. … The Gophers would tie the game at 7:14 on goal by Matthew Wood, and it remained 3-3 going into overtime. … That’s when Irish dominated the 3-on-3 period and Blake Biondi scored the game-winner at 3:46 off feeds from Knuble and Axel Kumlin. … Owen Say made 30 saves for Notre Dame while Liam Souliere at 27 for the Gophers who outshot Irish 33-31.
LAST TIMES OUT: The Irish come in after dropping a pair of 5-2 decisions to Michigan State last weekend in South Bend. … The Golden Gophers rebounded from a 4-3 overtime loss to win 5-3 Saturday night at Penn State. … The recaps:
Michigan State 5, Notre Dame 2 (Feb. 28): Spartans spoiled Senior Night for Irish when defenseman David Gucciardi (11:55) and Matt Basgall (14:12) gave MSU 2-0 lead after first period. … Justin Janicke answered with a power-play goal at 14:59 of the second period for the Irish, but Karsen Dorwart (18:05) put MSU up 3-1 entering the third period. … Maxim Štrbák made it 4-1 at 8:37 before Axel Kumlin of Notre Dame (9:20) and Isaac Howard of Michigan State (8:42 empty net) closed out scoring. … MSU outshot Notre Dame 38-24. … Trey Augustine made 22 saves for Spartans while Owen Say had 33 saves for Irish.
Penn State 4, Minnesota 3 (OT) (Feb. 28): Mason Nevers scored at 2:40 to give the Gophers a 1-0 lead after the first period. … Penn State then scored twice within 46 seconds on goals by Matt DiMarsico (10:09) and JJ Wiebusch (10:55) to take a 2-1 lead before Minnesota’s Connor Kurth (17:56) sent the game into the third period tied at 2-2. … The teams then exchanged goals in the third period – Penn State’s Danny Dzhaniyev (9:22) and Minnesota’s Jimmy Snuggerud (11:44) to send the game into overtime tied at 3-3. … Simon Mack scored at 3:09 to win it for the Nittany Lions against their former goaltender Liam Souliere, who had 28 saves, three fewer than Penn State’s Arsenii Sergeev.
Michigan State 5, Notre Dame 2 (March 1): Spartans ruined Alumni Night and Jeff Jackson’s final night behind Irish bench in Compton by outshooting Irish 50-31. … After Shane Vansaghi (2:25) gave MSU a 1-0 first-period lead, Notre Dame’s Grant Silianoff tied it 32 seconds into the second period. … But Tiernan Shoudy (4:23) and Vansaghi (6:15) sent the Spartans into the third period with a 3-1 lead. … Justin Janicke scored a power-play goal for Notre Dame at 9:11, but Michigan State added goals by Tanner Kelly (11:57) and Shoudy (17:31, empty net) for the final score. … Nicholas Kempf made 45 saves for Notre Dame while Trey Augustine had 29 for Michigan State.
Minnesota 5, Penn State 3 (March 1): After a scoreless first period, Penn State’s Simon Mack opened the scoring at 6:01. … Minnesota then took 2-1 lead on goals by Matthew Wood (9:45) and Mason Nevers (15:11). … But Matt DiMarsico’s power-play goals for Penn State at 18:26 sent the game into the third period tied 2-2. … Wood’s second goal of game at 3:44 made it 3-2 Minnesota but Charlie Cerrato tied the game again 59 seconds later. … The Gophers broke the tie on Mike Koster’s power-play goal at 16:56 and Oliver Moore scored an empty-net goal at 19:34.5 to make a winner of goalie Liam Souliere, who had 30 saves to the 27 made by Penn State goalie Arsenii Sergeev.
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
Best-of-three quarterfinals
Friday, March 7
No. 7 Notre Dame (10-23-1) at No. 2 Minnesota (24-8-4), 8 p.m. (B1G+)
No. 6 Wisconsin (12-19-3) at No. 3 Ohio State (21-11-2), 7 p.m. (B1G+)
No. 5 Penn State (18-12-4) at No. 4 Michigan (18-13-3), 7 p.m. (B1G+)
Saturday, March 8
No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 2 Minnesota, 8 p.m. (B1G+)
No. 6 Wisconsin at No. 3 Ohio State, 7 p.m. (B1G+)
No. 5 Penn State at No. 4 Michigan, 7 p.m. (B1G+)
Sunday, March 9 (if necessary)
No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 2 Minnesota, 7 p.m. (B1G+)
No. 6 Wisconsin at No. 3 Ohio State, 7 p.m. (B1G+)
No. 5 Penn State at No. 4 Michigan, 7 p.m. (B1G+)
Single-elimination semifinals
Saturday, March 15
Lowest remaining seed at No. 1 Michigan State (24-6-4), TBD (Big Ten Network)
Second-lowest remaining seed at Highest remaining seed, TBD (Big Ten Network)
Single-elimination championship
Lowest remaining seed at Highest remaining seed, 7:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
FINAL BIG TEN STANDINGS: (Numbers in parentheses before school are its standings in this week’s USCHO.com media poll, this week’s USA Hockey-The Rink Live coaches poll and its current PairWise rating)
1t. (2/2/2) Michigan State 15-5-4, 50 points (24-6-4 overall, 121 GF, 70 GA)
1t. (3/3/3) Minnesota 15-6-3, 50 points (24-8-4 overall, 143 GF, 83 GA)
3. (9/10/9) Ohio State 14-9-1, 42 points (21-11-2 overall, 110 GF, 83 GA)
4. (11/11/11) Michigan 12-10-2, 36 points (18-13-3 overall, 105 GF, 107 GA)
5. (15/15/14) Penn State 9-11-4, 33 points (18-12-4 overall, 116 GF, 103 GA)
6. (rv/nr/29) Wisconsin 7-16-1, 27 points (12-19-3 overall, 100 GF, 103 GA)
7. (nr/nr/45) Notre Dame 4-19-1, 14 points (10-23-1 overall, 93 GF, 119 GA)
SCHEDULES FOR USCHO.com MEDIA POLL TEAMS AND OTHERS
1. Boston College (Hockey East) (25-6-2) vs. Merrimack Saturday. Next: Hockey East Tournament.
2. Michigan State (Big Ten) (24-6-4) is idle this week. Next: Saturday, March 15 vs. team to be determined in Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
3. Minnesota (Big Ten) (24-8-4) vs. Notre Dame Friday in Big Ten Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday vs. Notre Dame; Sunday (if necessary) vs. Notre Dame.
4. Western Michigan (NCHC) (24-7-1) at Miami Friday. Next: Saturday at Miami; NCHC Tournament.
5. Maine (Hockey East) (21-6-5) at No. 16 Massachusetts Friday. Next: Saturday at No 16 Massachusetts; Hockey East Tournament.
6. Providence (Hockey East) (20-8-5) at No. 10 Boston University Thursday. Next: Saturday at Northeastern; Hockey East Tournament.
7. Denver (NCHC) (24-9-1) vs. No. 20 Colorado College Friday. Next: Saturday at No. 20 Colorado College; NCHC Tournament.
8. Connecticut (Hockey East) (19-10-4) at Vermont Thursday. Next: Hockey East Tournament.
9. Ohio State (Big Ten) (21-11-2) vs. Wisconsin Friday in Big Ten Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday vs. Wisconsin; Sunday (if necessary) vs. Wisconsin.
10. Boston University (Hockey East) (18-12-2) vs. No. 6 Providence Thursday. Next: Saturday at Vermont; Hockey East Tournament.
11. Michigan (Big Ten) (18-13-3) vs. No. 15 Penn State Friday in Big Ten Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday vs. No. 15 Penn State; Sunday (if necessary) vs. No. 15 Penn State.
12. Arizona State (NCHC) (19-13-2) is idle this week. Next: NCHC Tournament.
13. Quinnipiac (ECAC) (22-10-2) is idle this week. Next: March 14-16 ECAC Tournament quarterfinals.
14. Minnesota State (CCHA) (23-8-3) vs. Lake Superior State Friday in CCHA Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Friday vs. Lake Superior State; Saturday (if necessary) vs. Lake Superior State.
15. Penn State (Big Ten) (18-12-4) at No. 11 Michigan Friday in Big Ten Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday at No. 11 Michigan; Sunday (if necessary) at No. 11 Michigan.
16. Massachusetts (Hockey East) (18-12-4) vs. No. 5 Maine Friday. Next: Saturday vs. No. 5 Maine; Hockey East Tournament.
17. UMass Lowell (Hockey East) (15-13-4) vs. New Hampshire Friday. Saturday at New Hampshire; Hockey East Tournament.
18. North Dakota (NCHC) (18-13-2) vs. Omaha Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Omaha; NCHC Tournament.
19. Clarkson (ECAC) (21-10-3) is idle this week. Next: March 14-16 ECAC Tournament quarterfinals.
20T. Colorado College (NCHC) (17-14-1) at No. 7 Denver Friday. Next: Saturday vs. No. 7 Denver; NCHC Tournament.
20T. Holy Cross (Atlantic Hockey) (20-12-2) vs. American International Friday in Atlantic Hockey Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday vs. American International; Sunday (if necessary) vs. American International.
Also receiving votes
Omaha (NCHC) (17-14-1) at No. 18 North Dakota Friday. Next: Saturday at No. 18 North Dakota; NCHC Tournament.
Sacred Heart (Atlantic Hockey) (19-10-5) vs, Air Force Friday in Atlantic Hockey Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday vs. Air Force; Sunday (if necessary) vs. Air Force.
New Hampshire (Hockey East) (11-15-6) at No. 17 UMass Lowell Friday. Next: Saturday vs. No. 17 UMass Lowell; Hockey East Tournament.
Colgate (ECAC) (18-13-3) is idle this week. Next: March 14-16 ECAC Tournament quarterfinals.
Merrimack (Hockey East) (13-18-1) vs. Northeastern Thursday. Next: Saturday at No. 1 Boston College; Hockey East Tournament.
Dartmouth (ECAC) (15-12-2) vs. St. Lawrence Saturday in ECAC Tournament.
Long Island (Independent) (20-12-2) is idle this week: Next: NCAA tournament announcement.
Wisconsin (Big Ten) (12-19-3) at No. 9 Ohio State Friday in Big Ten Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday at No. 9 Ohio State; Sunday (if necessary) at No. 9 Ohio State.
Others
Notre Dame (Big Ten) (10-23-1) at No. 3 Minnesota Friday in Big Ten Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday at No. 3 Minnesota; Sunday (if necessary) at No. 3 Minnesota.
Northeastern (Hockey East) (11-18-3) at Merrimack Thursday. Next: Saturday vs. No. 6 Providence; Hockey East Tournament.
Vermont (Hockey East) (11-18-3) vs. No. 8 Connecticut Thursday. Next: Saturday vs. No. 10 Boston University; Hockey East Tournament.
Miami (NCHC) (3-26-3) vs. No. 4 Western Michigan Friday. Next: Saturday vs. No. 4 Western Michigan; NCHC Tournament.
St. Cloud State (NCHC) (13-18-1) vs. Minnesota Duluth Friday. Next: Saturday vs. Minnesota Duluth; NCHC Tournament.
Minnesota Duluth (NCHC) (12-17-3) at St. Cloud State Friday. Next: Saturday at St. Cloud State; NCHC Tournament.
Lake Superior State (CCHA) (12-20-2) at No. 14 Minnesota State Friday in CCHA Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday at No. 14 Minnesota State; Sunday (if necessary) at No. 14 Minnesota State.
Augustana (CCHA) (17-11-4) vs. Bemidji State Friday in CCHA Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday vs. Bemidji State; Sunday (if necessary) vs. Bemidji State.
Bemidji State (CCHA) (13-16-5) at Augustine Friday in CCHA Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday at Augustine; Sunday (if necessary) at Augustine.
Michigan Tech (CCHA) (16-15-3) at Bowling Green Friday in CCHA Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday at Bowling Green; Sunday (if necessary) at Bowling Green.
Bowling Green (CCHA) (16-13-4) vs. Michigan Tech Friday in CCHA Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday vs. Michigan Tech; Sunday (if necessary) vs. Michigan Tech.
St. Thomas (CCHA) (16-13-5) vs. Ferris State Friday in CCHA Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday vs. Ferris State; Sunday (if necessary) vs. Ferris State.
Ferris State (CCHA) (13-18-3) at St. Thomas Friday in CCHA Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday at St. Thomas; Sunday (if necessary) at St. Thomas.
Union (ECAC) (19-12-3) is idle this week. Next: March 14-16 ECAC Tournament quarterfinals.
St. Lawrence (ECAC) (9-23-2) at Dartmouth Saturday in ECAC Tournament.
Cornell (ECAC) (13-10-6) vs. Yale Friday in ECAC Tournament.
Yale (ECAC) (6-20-3) at Cornell Friday in ECAC Tournament.
Princeton (ECAC) (12-14-3) at Brown Friday in ECAC Tournament.
Brown (ECAC) (13-13-3) vs. Princeton Friday in ECAC Tournament.
Harvard (ECAC) (11-15-3) vs. Rensselaer Friday in ECAC Tournament.
Rensselaer (ECAC) (12-20-2) at Harvard Friday in ECAC Tournament.
American International (Atlantic Hockey) (12-21-2) at No. 20 Holy Cross Friday in Atlantic Hockey Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday at No. 20 Holy Cross; Sunday (if necessary) at No. 20 Holy Cross.
Air Force (Atlantic Hockey) (15-19-3) at Sacred Heart Friday in Atlantic Hockey Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday at Sacred Heart; Sunday (if necessary) at Sacred Heart.
Bentley (Atlantic Hockey) (18-14-2) vs. Canisius Friday in Atlantic Hockey Tournament best-of-three quarterfinals. Next: Saturday vs. Canisius; Sunday (if necessary) vs. Canisius.
Canisius (Atlantic Hockey) (12-21-2) at Bentley Friday in American Hockey Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday at Bentley; Sunday (if necessary) at Bentley.
Niagara (Atlantic Hockey) (17-14-3) vs. Army Friday in Atlantic Hockey Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday vs. Army; Sunday (if needed) vs. Army.
Army (Atlantic Hockey) (14-17-2) at Niagara Friday in Atlantic Hockey Tournament best-of-3 quarterfinals. Next: Saturday at Niagara; Sunday (if necessary) at Niagara.
Season completed
Alaska (Independent) (12-14-6)
Lindenwood (Independent) (8-22-2)
Robert Morris (Atlantic Hockey) (10-20-5)
Alaska Anchorage (Independent) (6-23-5)
RIT (Atlantic Hockey) (10-23-2)
Stonehill (Independent) (12-22-0)
Northern Michigan (CCHA) (5-27-2)
Mercyhurst (Atlantic Hockey (4-27-4)
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FIGHTING IRISH MEDIA
In the top photo, Notre Dame center Cole Knuble maneuvers with the puck in front of the Minnesota bench during the teams’ series Jan. 18-19 in Minneapolis. Irish coach Jeff Jackson, right, congratulates associate head coach Brock Sheahan as the Irish celebrate their 4-3 overtime victory over the Golden Gophers on Jan. 19. Notre Dame and Minnesota meet in the first round of the best-of-three Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals in Minneapolis beginning Friday night.