EAST LANSING, Mich. – The 2024-25 hockey season came to a close for the University of Notre Dame Saturday night in a hard fought battle against No. 2/2 and top-overall seed Michigan State 0-1. The loss marked the final game behind the bench for Catalino Family Head Hockey Coach Jeff Jackson, as his 20-year career with the Irish came to a close.
In 20 seasons as the Irish bench boss, Jackson accrued a record of 419-291-74 and is the winningest coach in program history. Jackson’s hall of fame career also includes 601 career Division I victories which ranks ninth all-time and was the winningest active coach through the 2024-25 season.
Sophomore center Danny Nelson won the opening draw for the visitors Saturday inside the sold out Munn Ice Arena as the Irish attack went to work early against the Spartans. The Irish won the first three faceoffs to start the contest and get the Irish in the offensive end less than three minutes into the contest but a successful clear from deep in their own end brought the puck into the Irish zone as Owen Say was forced to make a series of saves early.
Freshman Jimmy Jurcev laid out to block a shot early, denying the Spartans a two-on-one chance at 4:40 of the opening period to keep it scoreless.
The Spartans nearly took the lead just about halfway through the first when a shot from the point ricocheted off the pan of glass directly behind the net and bounced back towards Say. Defenseman Axel Kumlin stood at the ready just outside the crease to sweep the loose puck away.
A shot from Paul Fischer right in front of the Spartan net sent the contest to the first media timeout of the evening as the two teams stood in a 0-0 stalemate with under eight minutes to play in the opening frame.
The Irish found themselves on the powerplay at 14:51 after a crosscheck after the whistle sent an MSU skater to the box. Despite a few chances on net, the Irish were unable to convert on the man-advantage and the score remained locked 0-0 with three minutes left in the period.
A physical first period came to a close with Say turning aside all 17 shots faced in a scoreless contest.
After an early second period save by Say at the opposite end of the net, Blake Biondi raced in all alone up ice but his breakaway chance was denied by Trey Augusitine in the MSU net as neither team was able to find the opening goal through the first four minutes of the second stanza.
The Spartans spent much of the early moments of the second period following the Biondi chance in their offensive end. It was Notre Dame that was whistled first for a penalty in the second stanza as an Irish forward was called for a hook along the far halfwall and the Irish were forced to kill the infraction.
The Notre Dame defense stepped up on the kill partway through the second as Justin Janicke’s block in the slot set up a shorthanded chance for Cole Knuble but his shot sailed slightly wide and the game remained 0-0. In the waning seconds of the penalty kill, Zach Plucinski jumped in front of a shot to keep it off net, notching his 201st career blocked shot as the Irish posted a successful kill and returned to even strength.
A hooking call against the Irish at 10:33 of the second period sent Notre Dame back to the box but the disadvantage didn’t last long as the Spartans were called for the same infraction just seconds later and the ice saw four-on-four play for 1:53.
Both teams managed to kill off their respective infractions unscathed but the Irish were quickly sent back to the penalty box as a loose stick was kicked out of the way and the visitors were called for interference.
The Irish managed to kill off the penalty while nearly breaking the stalemate after the team’s leading scorers Janicke and Knuble connected on a shot that trickled just inches off target.
With under two minutes to play in the second period, the Spartan crowd thought the home squad had gotten on the board as a shot rippled the back side of the net but the score stayed knotted late in the frame.
Notre Dame was called for their third hooking infraction of the night with 1:28 to play in the second period as they were forced to send their penalty kill unit back on the ice for the final seconds of the frame.
The Irish managed to kill off the first 88 seconds of the penalty to carry the 0-0 score into the second intermission Saturday night.
MSU opened the scoring just 19 seconds into the third period as a shot from the near circle hit both pipes before crossing the line as the Spartans made it a 1-0 game with the powerplay goal.
The Irish continued to press halfway through the final period of regulation as they trailed by one with their season on the line.
Senior Hunter Strand nearly had the equalizer on the doorstep with just over four minutes to play but his backhand shot went high over the crossbar and the Irish continued to search for the game-tying goal.
The Irish nearly had another with 2:45 to play as Cole Knuble attempted the wraparound but his shot was picked off at the final second and play continued with the Irish trailing by one.
Owen Say started heading towards the bench with 1:10 to play in the third but an icing against the Irish brought the faceoff back into the Notre Dame end and he was forced to return. Notre Dame called timeout following the icing and opted to send their top powerplay unit on the ice for the final rush.
Despite a last second pressure up ice, the Irish season came to a close as the horn sounded on a 45-save performance by the junior netminder, Say, who tied his career best with the Irish in the loss.
KEY STATS
- The Irish combined to post double digit blocked shots for the fourth consecutive postseason game as the Notre Dame defense stepped in front of 15 pucks Saturday night.
- Hunter Strand and Jimmy Jurcev boasted a team-high three blocked shots each.
- With four shots on goal a piece, graduating forwards Justin Janicke and Blake Biondi led the team in the category.
- Owen Say’s 45 saves between the pipes for the Irish in the final game of the season tied his career-high in an Irish sweater.