SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame hockey team is set to make their international debut as they participate in the 2024 Friendship Four. The Irish face off against the Harvard Crimson on night one of the two-day tournament and will face either Boston University or Merrimack on day two.
The annual tournament is held inside SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland and features four teams, historically from Hockey East and ECAC. The 2024 tournament marks the first time a Big Ten Conference team has participated.
SERIES OVERVIEW
Opponent: Friendship Four | Nov. 29-30
Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland | SSE Arena
Schedule: Fri. 7pm GMT/2pm ET | Sat. TBD
TV: NESN/ESPN+ (USA) | TSN+ (Canada)
Live Stats: FightingIrish.com
Radio: fightingirish.com/radioaffiliates/
Game Notes: Notre Dame
QUICK HITS
- Notre Dame is headed overseas for the first time in program history as they are set to take part in the 2024 Friendship Four alongside Boston University, Harvard, and Merrimack.
- The team has spent the past week outside of North America, exploring Dublin and Belfast, learning the history of both cities, and enjoying some time as a team bonding over the experience.
- Notre Dame unveiled a speciality jersey to be worn for both games, paying homage to the land they’ve traveled to and the history of both Ireland and Northern Ireland. The navy jersey with gold detailing reflects the University’s colors while the numbers and letters took inspiration from the centuries old Book of Kells.
- A unique celtic knot adorns both shoulders of the sweater. Celebrating the location of the game, “Notre Dame in Belfast” sits atop the knot. The knot is twisted into the shape of hockey sticks and faceoff circles, representing the face-off of two opponents.
- The historically Hockey East/ECAC tournament will feature its first Big Ten Conference team when Notre Dame competes.
- ND is set to face Harvard on night one of the tournament with puck drop set for 7pm with the winner advancing to play the winner of BU/Merrimack the following night. The loser of both games will face off in a matinee consolation game Saturday afternoon.
- In just eight all-time meetings between Notre Dame and Harvard, the Irish own two wins. The two teams are set for just their second meeting of this millennia, with the other coming at home during the 2015-16 season. Friday’s game will mark their third meeting at a neutral site.
- The Irish and Terriers have met 18 times in program history prior to this tournament, including a split a season ago. All-time, Notre Dame leads 9-7-2. If the teams were to meet on day two of the tournament, it would mark the third meeting at a neutral site venue.
- Notre Dame and Merrimack have met 14 times in program history, with their most recent meeting coming in a two-game series in North Andover, Massachusetts, where they split 1-1. Notre Dame won game one of that series, 2-1, and are 8-5-1 all-time against the Warriors.
- In their most recent outing, Blake Biondi recorded a goal and two assists for his career-best point total in an Irish sweater. The graduate forward now owns seven points on the season off three goals and four assists. The three points from the Hermantown, Minnesota native tied his previous best set twice at UMD.
NOTRE DAME vs. HARVARD
- The two teams have met eight times since the inception of Notre Dame hockey. The first-ever meeting between Harvard and Notre Dame came in 1926-27 at Boston Arena (now Matthews Arena), the oldest arena still in use for ice hockey, and the original home of the National Hockey League’s Boston Bruins.
- Notre Dame and Harvard last met in 2015-16 for their lone game inside Compton Family Ice Arena.
- Friday’s meeting will mark just the second between the two squads in the 2000’s.
- In series history, the Irish average 4.50 goals per game.