SOUTH BEND, Ind. – A bittersweet weekend for graduate netminder Ryan Bischel of the Notre Dame hockey program just got a bit sweeter after being named the Big Ten Conference’s First Star of the Week for his performance between the pipes against Minnesota in the final regular season home series of his collegiate career.
Bischel started both nights in net, appearing Friday night in his 100th career game for the Irish and backstopping the home team to a 6-1 victory over the visiting Gophers. The Medina, Minnesota native made 31 stops in the contest, including 13 in the final period of regulation to secure the Irish victory.
He then followed up night one’s play with 36 saves in game two, an overtime loss to the Gophers, 3-2. Bischel forced the overtime session following a series of key saves in the final minutes of regulation to keep the game tied. His 14 stops in the third period secured the Irish at least a season series win, clinching a point in the conference standings as overtime loomed. The graduate made one save in the extra period before a defensive screen allowed a Minnesota shot to find twine and sour the team’s senior night.
The Irish goaltender boasted a .969 save percentage on Friday night, holding one of the nation’s hottest offenses to just one goal before finishing the weekend with a .944 save percentage combined, stopping 67 of 71 shots faced. His .944 save percentage between the two game stretch ranked second in the league and led among those who played multiple games on the weekend. He held the Gophers offense, who averaged 3.50 goals per game to just a 1.98 average en route to first star honors.
This is his third honor of the season, having previously been named First Star (Nov. 14) and Third Star (Dec. 5).