SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame hockey team suffered its first loss of the season Saturday night as the Irish fell to Alaska, 1-0 inside Compton Family Ice Arena.
In a stout defensive effort by both teams, the Nanooks took advantage of a displaced goaltender after a scramble in front of the net for the lone goal of the contest.
The Irish found themselves deep in their defensive end early in the opening period with the Nanooks firing the first six shots on goal, including three on the man-advantage. An early whistle for interference sent the Irish to the penalty kill but the home team was able to successfully kill it.
Hunter Strand had a shorthanded chance parkway into the kill to give the Irish their first shot on goal of the game but his chance was denied and the score remained 0-0.
After generating a bitt of offense nearly eight minutes into play, a cross-check after the whistle sent an Irish defenseman to the dressing room and the Irish were at a man-disadvantage for the next five minutes.
Another shorthanded chance for the Irish came off a rush by Cole Knuble and Justin Janicke but the shot off Knuble’s stick sailed just wide and the Irish saw their penalty killed off entirely.
The Irish and Nanooks skated to the intermission in the 0-0 stalemate with both teams looking to break the tie in the second.
Alaska was whistled for a penalty early in the period and the Irish gained the edge in shots on goal while up a man but could not convert and the game remained 0-0.
The Irish were called for cross checking shortly after the Nanooks returned to full strength and the Notre Dame penalty kill unit was tested but it didn’t last long as Danny Nelson drew a penalty at center ice to make it 88 seconds of four-on-four play.
The visitors got on the board first Saturday night with a shot from the top of the circle at 11:52 of the second period. A net front scramble found bodies on top of Nicholas Kempf as the netminder was unable to get back into position before the rebound sailed into the back of the net.
Blake Biondi thought he had the equalizer shortly after but a lengthy review deemed no goal on the play and the Irish continued to trail 1-0 late in the second.
The Irish found themselves trailing heading into the final period of regulation Saturday against the Nanooks despite holding the advantage in shots on goal through 40 minutes played, 27-20.
Despite a handful of chances in the final period of regulation, the Irish could not convert and fell for the first time this season to move to 3-1-0 on the season.
In net, Kempf made 19 saves between the pipes, stopping all but one shot faced in the loss.
UP NEXT
The Irish continue their home stand next weekend as they host Long Island Oct. 25-16. Notre Dame and LIU are slated for their second and third meetings in program history, having previously met during the 2021-22 season with a lone tilt inside Compton Family Ice Arena in which the Irish came out victorious, 5-2.