SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame hockey team kicks off their 2024-25 regular season slate with a trip to Upstate New York to face off against St. Lawrence University (Fri., Oct. 11) and Clarkson University (Sat., October 12). The trip marks the first in program history that the Irish will visit either opponents’ home rink and Friday’s tilt will be the first between Notre Dame and St. Lawrence since the 2000-01 season.
Both games are scheduled for 7pm puck drops and will be streamed on ESPN+.
SERIES OVERVIEW
Opponent: St. Lawrence (Fri.) | Clarkson (Sat.)
Location: Canton, N.Y. | Potsdam, N.Y.
Schedule: Fri. 7pm | Sat. 7pm
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats: FightingIrish.com
Radio: fightingirish.com/radioaffiliates/
Game Notes: Notre Dame
QUICK HITS
- The Irish team returns 19 student-athletes from the 2023-24 roster, including 11 forwards, six defensemen and two goaltenders. The forwards include graduate senior Grant Silianoff and seniors Justin Janicke, Hunter Strand and Tyler Carpenter. Returning defensemen include four who appeared in the final series of the 2023-24 season in Michael Mastrodomenico, Paul Fischer, Zach Plucinski and Henry Nelson.
- Notre Dame returns two 20+ point scorers from a season ago as Danny Nelson (9-14-23) and Cole Knuble (9-11-20) embark on their sophomore season with the Irish.
- In total, eight returners posted double-digit points last season. In addition to Nelson and Knuble, Hunter Strand (4-15-19), Justin Janicke (4-12-16), Paul Fischer (2-14-16), Brennan Ali (3-10-13), Maddox Fleming (3-9-12) and Grant Silianoff (4-7-11) look to improve upon their double-digit performances a season ago.
- At the last line of defense, the Irish return Jack Williams in goal and add two new netminders to the mix in Nicholas Kempf (USNTDP) and Owen Say (Mercyhurst)
- The Irish add 10 new faces to the squad in 2024-25, including five freshmen and five transfers. The 10 newcomers consist of five forwards, three defensemen and two goaltenders.
- Graduate senior Blake Biondi made his Irish presence known immediately with a first period goal against the USNTDP in the team’s exhibition game last Friday night. The Hermantown, Minnesota native had two unofficial goals on the night, both scored on the powerplay. His second of the night sparked a third-period comeback for the Irish which included four unanswered goals to end the game and give the Irish the 5-2 win.
- Senior Justin Janicke posted four assists on the night against the U18 team, all of which came in the final frame.
- Grant Silianoff and Maddox Fleming also posted multi-point nights while Ian Murphy got hit twine for the first time in an Irish sweater as he closed out the scoring Friday with an empty net tally.
NOTRE DAME vs. ST. LAWRENCE
- The Irish and Saints have met three times in program history, with the Irish owning a 2-1 all-time record over St. Lawrence.
- The two teams have never hosted each other before, with all three previous meetings taking place in holiday tournaments.
- When Notre Dame and St. Lawrence last met just three Irish skaters had been born (Ian Murphy, Zach Pluckinski & Tyler Carpenter).
- The most recent meeting between the two teams came in the 2000-01 season as part of the RPI/HSBC Holiday Classic in Troy, New York.
- Friday’s game marks Notre Dame’s first trip to Canton, New York.
NOTRE DAME vs. CLARKSON
- Notre Dame and Clarkson last clashed in the 2023-24 season opener inside Compton Family Ice Arena.
- The Golden Knights took game one from the Irish a season ago before Notre Dame bounced back with a convincing 3-0 victory over the visitors to earn the split.
- Five current Irish skaters tallied points in the series last season, including Jayden Davis and Danny Nelson who both notched their first career goals while Maddox Fleming and Paul Fischer tallied their first collegiate assists.
- Saturday’s game between the Irish and Golden Knights will mark the first tilt between the two squads in Potsdam, New York.