SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame hockey team is set to compete in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals for the first time since 2022 as the Irish get ready to face No. 2/2 and co-Big Ten Regular Season Champions Michigan State inside Munn Ice Arena on Saturday, March 15. The Irish are coming off a three-game series win at then-No. 3/3 Minnesota, and the other co-Big Ten Regular Season Champions.
Puck drop for Saturday’s contest is set for 6:05 p.m. on Big Ten Network with a spot in the Big Ten Tournament Championship at stake.
SERIES OVERVIEW
Opponent: Michigan State Spartans | March 15
Location: East Lansing, Mich.| Munn Ice Arena
Schedule: 6:05 p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network (BTN)
Live Stats: FightingIrish.com
Radio: fightingirish.com/radioaffiliates/
Game Notes: Notre Dame
QUICK HITS
- The Irish are coming off a three-game series victory at then-No. 3/3 Minnesota en route to a berth in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals at No. 2/2 Michigan State.
- In their most recent outing, Hunter Strand appeared in his 150th collegiate game as the Irish and Golden Gophers clashed in a winner-take-all quarterfinal contest. The senior from Anchorage, Alaska, capped the night off with an empty net tally to secure the 4-1 victory for Notre Dame and picked up his third point of the series. Strand also had a goal and an assist in Saturday’s loss to Minnesota.
- Dating back to the last meeting with Michigan State, sophomore Carter Slaggert has an assist in each of the last four games. The four-game point-streak is a career best for the forward and he boasts 10 points on the year (4-6-10).
- Sophomore center Danny Nelson’s 464 face-off wins this year ranks third nationally and leads all Big Ten forwards. His 17 wins at the circle Sunday helped the Irish to a 57.1-percent rate on faceoffs as they topped the third-ranked Gophers 4-1.
- Owen Say earned the nod in net all three nights in Minnesota, stopping 99 total shots over the stretch and leading the Big Ten in save percentage with a .943 average. Facing the nation’s top goal-scoring offense, the junior netminder averaged 2.01 goals against as he backstopped the Irish to the series win.
- The Irish closed out the regular season at home against Michigan State last weekend. They opened the weekend festivities by honoring 14 members of the program, including 11 graduating players and three student-managers.
- As part of senior night tradition for the Irish, the team donned their green jerseys with the script Irish on the front. Friday night’s jersey combination marked the seventh sweaters the Irish have worn this season, adding to their two unique jerseys made for the 2024 Friendship Four and the 2025 Frozen Confines.
- Prior to their tilts at Minnesota earlier this season, Justin Janicke was appointed captain by his teammates, as announced by Catalino Family Head Hockey Coach on Jan. 18.
- The Irish team returned 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 returned two 20+ point scorers from a season ago as Danny Nelson (9-14-23) and Cole Knuble (9-11-20) are now in their sophomore seasons 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 added two new netminders to the mix in Nicholas Kempf (USNTDP) and Owen Say (Mercyhurst).
- The Irish added 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.
NOTRE DAME vs. MICHIGAN STATE
- The Irish and Spartans clash again for the second time in the past two weeks as Notre Dame heads to East Lansing, Michigan for a one-game semifinal matchup.
- In their last meeting, the two teams collided for a storybook regular season finale as Catalino Family Head Hockey Coach Jeff Jackson’s team took on his alma mater in his final home games with the Irish.
- So far this season, Danny Nelson boasts five points against the Spartans, in four games played. His five points against the conference foe leads the team.
- In their last series meeting, Justin Janicke posted a pair of powerplay goals as part of a five-game goal streak and six-game point-streak.
- In 150 all-time meetings between the two teams, the Irish are 53-81-11 and own a 21-44-5 record in East Lansing.
- The team’s last win inside Munn Ice Arena came in a 4-2 victory and weekend sweep of the Spartans during the 2021-22 season. Current Irish senior Justin Janicke had the game’s opening goal in the contest while he, Hunter Strand and Ryan Helliwell all had assists as well. For now-senior Helliwell, it was his first collegiate point.