IRISH SWEEP ST. LAWRENCE WITH KEMPF’S FIRST CAREER SHUTOUT, 3-0
By John Fineran
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – For first-year Notre Dame head hockey coach Brock Sheahan, there was a lot to like about his team’s second weekend of the season.
After losing a pair of games to Top 20 teams Arizona State and Quinnipiac in the Ice Breaker Tournament last weekend in Tempe, Ariz., the Irish returned home to the Compton Family Ice Arena seeking a lot of answers before their Thursday-Friday series with St. Lawrence.
Friday night, Sheahan liked Notre Dame’s new uniform look – a skating Irish leprechaun with a stick in his hand – and liked his team’s play for the second straight night. But he really liked the 26-save performance of sophomore goaltender Nicholas Kempf as the Irish blanked the Saints, 3-0, before a sellout crowd of 5,077 watching at the Lefty Smith Rink.
Kempf, who played for the USNTDP program and was a fourth-round pick of the Washington Capitals in the 2024 NHL Draft, struggled his freshman season in 2024-25 and got off to a rough start last weekend in Arizona, finishing with a 6.05 goals-against average and a saves percentage of .842 in the two losses.
But the 6-foot-2, 196-pound sophomore from Morton Grove, Ill., clearly has settled down after giving up two breakaway goals (not his fault) to the Saints in Thursday’s 8-2 Irish victory and then registered his first career shutout with a 26-save performance in Friday’s victory.
With the two games, Kempf has seen his goals-against average drop to 3.52, his saves percentage rise to .886 and his confidence soaring even more. But then, his coach and his teammates have always believed in Kempf and encouraged him.
“I think it goes both ways,” said Kempf of the support he has received since the end of last season. “I know they have a lot of confidence in me just as I have in them. I am comfortable having those guys in front of me. Look at yesterday after they scored those two quick ones – we scratched and clawed back to get the sweep this weekend.”
Sheahan and new associate head coach and goaltender mentor Mike Garman have retooled Kempf’s mental and physical games, that’s for sure.
“We have always had this philosophy – younger players have more room to develop,” said Sheahan of the . “As I said yesterday (after Notre Dame victory), Nick is the most talented (19-year-old) goalie in the country, no question. It’s a matter of reps, guidance and confidence for him.”
His teammates sure have confidence in Kempf.
“It’s so easy to play having a guy like Nick on the back end,” said junior defenseman and alternate captain Paul Fischer, whose second-period goal began with an assist from the Irish goaltender. “I’ve played with a lot of great goaltenders. It’s kind of easy to play in front of Nick knowing he has your back.”
Notre Dame also got goals from Fischer’s defensive partner Michael Mastrodomenico (a power-play goal at 8:52 of the first period) and junior right wing (and Michigan transfer) Evan Werner (at 12:02 of the third period). Freshman left wing Cole Brown had an assist on each of the three goals for the Irish, who improved to 2-2.
Coach Brent Brekke’s 1-5 Saints, who were outshot 47-21 while surrendering eight straight Irish goals Thursday night, had the early shot lead against Notre Dame in Friday’s penalty-marred game that saw the Irish whistled for 11 minors and the Saints for eight. The Irish penalty-kill, with Kempf showing his athletic ability, managed to shut down all seven St. Lawrence power plays.
It was Notre Dame which scored the game’s first goal. Though outshot 12-10 by St. Lawrence in the first period, the Irish had the better chances, including on their only power play with St. Lawrence’s Gabe Westling off for cross checking Carter Slaggert in front of the Saints’ bench at 12:25.
When play resumed, Kucenski made two saves and his teammates blocked two shots, the last one by Irish left wing Cole Brown. But the puck came loose just in front of the goal, allowing Mastrodomenico to swoop in at 8:52 and bury the puck in the net behind Kucenski, who finished with 37 saves, two fewer than he had Thursday evening.
The first period ended with Irish defenseman Henry Nelson launching a shot from the point after the final horn that incensed the Saints. Nelson had to be separated from two Saints. Meanwhile, Will Belle came in to exchange pleasantries with St. Lawrence defenseman Isack Bandu.
The two players got tangled up, with the 6-4, 235-pound Belle landing on top of Bandu as they went to the ice. Belle eventually lost his helmet and somehow received three minors – four minutes for roughing and one for a two-minute misconduct. Bandu got two minors for roughing, giving the Saints a 5-on-4 power play to start the second period.
But the Irish managed to kill off the penalties to start the second period, allowing just one shot at Kempf while managing one at Kucenski.
The only goal came with the teams skating four-aside with Notre Dame’s Jayden Davis and St. Lawrence’s Luke Santilli off for roughing in the Saints’ zone. When play resumed, the Saints sent the puck into the Irish zone and Kempf steered it over to Brown who immediately got it to Fischer. The Irish junior defenseman skated out of his zone and then past two Saints defenders before beating Kucenski from in close at 7:03 for the 2-0 lead that Notre Dame maintained into the second-period intermission.
Notre Dame closed out the scoring in the third period at 12:02 when freshmen Brown and Pano Fimis started up ice on a 2-on-1 break. Fimis’ shot was blocked by the Saints – one of their 21 in the game – and Werner got the rebound and fired it quickly into the net.
Kucenski was pulled for an extra attacker at 17:50, but the Irish managed to kill off the remaining time to assure Kempf of his shutout. It was Notre Dame’s first shutout since All-American Ryan Bischel blanked Ohio State 3-0 on Nov. 11, 2023.
The Irish entertain Robert Morris of the Atlantic Hockey Association next Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 6 p.m. The Colonials will enter the series sporting a 0-2 record after falling 4-2 and 10-2 in their series at No. 4 Michigan Thursday and Friday. Notre Dame will open its Big Ten season Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in the Compton against the Wolverines.
NOTRE DAME 3, ST. LAWRENCE 0
At Lefty Smith Rink in Compton Family Ice Arena, South Bend, Ind.
St. Lawrence 0 0 0—0
Notre Dame 1 1 1—3
First Period—Scoring: 1. Notre Dame, Michael Mastrodomenico 1 (Cole Brown, Axel Kumlin) PP 8:52.. Penalties: St. Lawrence 3-6, Notre Dame 5-10.
Second Period—Scoring: 2. Notre Dame, Paul Fischer 2 (Cole Brown, Nicholas Kempf) EV (4-4) 7:03. Penalties: St. Lawrence 4-8 (7-14), Notre Dame 3-6 (8-16).
Third Period—Scoring: 3. Notre Dame, Evan Werner 2 (Pano Fimis, Cole Brown) EV 12:02. Penalties: St. Lawrence 1-2 (8-16), Notre Dame 3-6 (11-22).
Shots on goal: St. Lawrence 26 (12-9-5), Notre Dame 40 (10-18-12).
Goalie saves: St. Lawrence, Mason Kucenski 37 (9-17-11); Notre Dame, Nicholas Kempf 26 (12-9-5).
Power-play opportunities: St. Lawrence 0 of 7, Notre Dame 1 of 4.
Faceoffs won: St. Lawrence 27 (9-6-12), Notre Dame 31 (12-8-11).
Blocked shots: St. Lawrence 21 (9-9-3), Notre Dame 10 (1-5-4).
Referees: Brian Hankes and Anthony Vikhter. Linesmen: Pat Richardson and Matthew Heinen. Attendance: 5,077 (4,852c). Records: St. Lawrence 1-5, Notre Dame 2-2.
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 6-0-0 40-7
(3/4) Michigan State 0 0 0-0-0 0-0 2-1-0 9-6
(16/15) Ohio State 0 0 0-0-0 0-0 2-1-0 10-6
(17/17) Wisconsin 0 0 0-0-0 0-0 2-0-2 13-5
(6/6) Penn State 0 0 0-0-0 0-0 4-1-0 24-17
(13/14) Minnesota 0 0 0-0-0 0-0 1-3-1 14-18
(nr/nr) Notre Dame 0 0 0-0-0 0-0 2-2-0 16-14
Thursday, Oct. 16 games
Notre Dame 8, St. Lawrence 2
Michigan 4, Robert Morris 2
Wisconsin 1, Minnesota State 1 (OT)
Friday, Oct. 17 games
Notre Dame 3, St. Lawrence 0
Michigan State 4, Boston University 2
Michigan 10, Robert Morris 2
Connecticut 3, Ohio State 2
Penn State 5, Long Island 4 (OT)
North Dakota 5, Minnesota 2
Wisconsin 2, Minnesota State 2 (OT)
Saturday, Oct. 18 games
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) (2-1-1) lost to No. 3 Michigan State Friday, 4-2. Next: Saturday vs. No. 3 Michigan State.
- Western Michigan(NCHC) (2-1-0) won at UMass Lowell Friday, 2-1. Next: Saturday at UMass Lowell.
- Michigan State(Big Ten) (2-1-0) won at No. 1 Boston University Friday, 4-2. Next: Saturday at No. 1 Boston University.
- Michigan (Big Ten) (6-0-0) beat Robert Morris Thursday, 10-2; beat Robert Morris Friday, 10-2. Next: Thursday, Oct. 23 vs. No. 2 Western Michigan; Friday, Oct. 24 at No. 2 Western Michigan.
- Denver (NCHC) (1-1-1)lost at Lindenwood Friday, 4-3. Next: Friday at Lindenwood.
- Penn State(Big Ten) (4-1-0) beat Long Island Friday, 5-4 (OT). Next: Saturday vs Long Island.
- Maine(Hockey East) (2-0-1) tied at No. 10 Quinnipiac Friday, 4-4 (OT). Next: Saturday at No. 10 Quinnipiac.
- North Dakota (NCHC) (3-0-0) beat No. 13 Minnesota Friday, 5-2. Next: Saturday vs. No. 13 Minnesota.
- Boston College(Hockey East) (2-1-1) won at RPI Friday, 5-1. Next: Friday, Oct. 24 vs. No. 5 Denver.
- Quinnipiac(ECAC) (2-1-1) tied No. 7 Maine Friday, 4-4 (OT). Next: Saturday vs. No. 7 Maine.
- Massachusetts(Hockey East) (3-1-0) lost to Northeastern Friday, 4-2. Next: Saturday vs. Bentley.
- Connecticut(Hockey East) (2-1-0) beat No. 16 Ohio State Friday, 3-2. Next: Saturday vs. No. 16 Ohio State.
- Minnesota (Big Ten) (1-3-1) lost at No. 8 North Dakota Friday, 5-2. Next: Saturday at No. 8 North Dakota.
- Providence(Hockey East) (0-1-0) did not play Friday; Saturday at RPI. Next: Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25 at St. Thomas.
- Arizona State (NCHC) (2-3-0) lost at Augustana Friday, 4-2. Next: Saturday at Augustana.
- Ohio State(Big Ten) (2-1-0) lost at No. 12 Connecticut Friday, 3-2. Saturday at No. 12 Connecticut.
- Wisconsin(Big Ten) (2-0-2) tied No. 20 Minnesota State Thursday, 1-1 (OT); tied No. 20 Minnesota State Friday, 2-2 (OT). Next: Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. Alaska Fairbanks.
- Cornell (ECAC) (0-0-0) beat Czech University Selects Friday, 7-2. (exhibition). Next: Saturday., Oct. 25 vs. U.S. Under-18 Team (exhibition).
- Colorado College(NCHC) (4-1-0) won at Northern Michigan Friday, 2-1 (OT). Next: Saturday at Northern Michigan.
- Minnesota State (CCHA) (1-1-2) tied at No. 17 Wisconsin Thursday, 1-1 (OT); tied at No. 17 Wisconsin Friday, 2-2 (OT). Next: Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. RPI.
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 4, Colgate 2
Lake Superior State 6, U.S. Under-18 Team 2 (exhibition)
Ferris State 3, Simon Fraser 2 (OT) (exhibition)
Bowling Green 6, Windsor 3 (exhibition)
Union 3, Niagara 2
Vermont 2, St. Cloud State 1 (OT)
Minnesota Duluth 7, Bemidji State 3
St. Thomas 11, Air Force 2
Michigan Tech at Alaska Fairbanks, late
Saturday, Oct. 18
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.