NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Notre Dame hockey team has signed Ty Gallagher, Henry Nelson, Sasha Pastujov, Ethan Straky and Hunter Strand to national letters of intent during the early signing period, head coach Jeff Jackson has announced.
The group includes two forwards and three defensemen:
The Ty Gallagher File
Position: Defenseman
Height/Weight: 6-0/183 lbs.
Current Team: USA Hockey’s NTDP
Hometown: Clarkson, Michigan
Gallagher is in the midst of his second season with the NTDP after collecting 11 goals and 11 assists in 49 contests last season with the U.S. National Under-17 Team. Gallagher, who appeared on NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Watch List for the 2021 NHL Draft, helped Team USA earn a silver medal at the 2019 U17 World Hockey Challenge. He also won the U14 National Championship with Detroit Compuware in 2018
The Henry Nelson File
Position: Defenseman
Height/Weight: 6-1/174 lbs.
Current Team: Maple Grove High
Hometown: Maple Grove, Minnesota
Nelson is currently skating for Maple Grove High School in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Last season, Nelson collected 29 points on nine goals and 20 assists in 23 contests. The defenseman was selected 16th overall by the Lincoln Stars in the 2019 USHL Futures Draft. He was also selected to attend USA Hockey’s Select 15 and Select 16 Development Camps in 2018 and 2019.
The Sasha Pastujov File
Position: Forward
Height/Weight: 6-0/175 lbs.
Current Team: USA Hockey’s NTDP
Hometown: Bradenton, Florida
Currently in his second season with the NTDP, Pastujov collected 14 goals and 36 assists in 49 contests last year with the U.S. Under-17 National Team. The Bradenton, Florida, native was rated as an “A” prospect in NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Watch List for the 2021 NHL Draft. Pastujov totaled eight points (1G, 7A) to help Team USA earn a silver medal at the 2019 World U17 Hockey Challenge. Before joining the NTDP, Pastujov won the 2018 U14 and 2019 U16 National Championships with Detroit Compuware.
The Ethan Straky File
Position: Defenseman
Height/Weight: 5-11/174 lbs.
Current Team: USA Hockey’s NTDP
Hometown: Ormond Beach, Florida
Straky is currently in his second season with the NTDP after totaling 19 points (4G, 15A) in 43 contests a season ago. The Ormond Beach, Florida, native was also recognized on NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Watch List for the 2021 NHL Draft. He picked up a pair of assists while helping the U.S. earn the silver medal at last year’s World U17 Hockey Challenge. Before joining the NTDP, Straky skated for the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies.
The Hunter Strand File
Position: Forward
Height/Weight: 5-11/174 lbs.
Current Team: Tri-City Storm (USHL)
Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska
Strand is in the midst of his first season with the USHL’s Tri-City storm after skating with the NTDP from 2018-2020. The Anchorage, Alaska, native scored 10 goals and added six assists a season ago with the U.S. National Under-18 Team. Strand was recognized on NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Watch List for the 2021 NHL Draft after being taken with the second overall pick by Tri-City in the 2020 USHL Entry Draft.
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