SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame hockey program opened the second half of its season with a 5-1 victory over Augustana, behind multi-goal performances from both Trevor Janicke and Cole Knuble.
The Irish got on the board first with a shot in front of the net from Trevor Janicke just over four minutes into play.
Shortly after the Notre Dame tally, the Irish were called for a trip and headed to the penalty kill for the first time Saturday night. The team successfully killed the attempt by the Vikings and play returned to five-on-five.
Both teams were whistled for infractions through the remaining 13 minutes of game action but neither team could capitalize on the man-advantage as the Irish held the 1-0 lead through the first 20 minutes, outshooting their opponents 15-3.
With an Irish skater still in the box to start the second, Augustana evened the tally just 1:06 into the second period to make it a 1-1 game.
The Vikings were called for a crosscheck moments later and the Irish powerplay unit went back to work but were unable to take advantage of the man-up opportunity and the penalty was killed.
The two teams continued to press for the majority of the second period, with the Irish and Vikings each looking to break the stalemate halfway through the contest. Cole Knuble finally broke the scoring drought at 14:19 of the second period, ripping. a shot off from the top of the circle for the eventual game-winner.
The Irish returned to the ice for the final 20 minutes of regulation with the 2-1 lead, looking to net a few insurance goals.
Augustana nearly tied it back up early in the third period but a series of big saves from Ryan Bischel between the pipes kept the Irish lead in tact.
Knuble scored his second of the night halfway through the final period to take the 3-1 lead, recording his first career multi-goal game. The elder Janicke scored his second of the game less than 90 seconds later to extend the Irish lead to three goals with 7:10 to play in regulation.
The Irish capped off the win with Knuble’s third of the game, scored on the powerplay, for the team’s first hat trick in nearly two years.
With the win, Bischel picked up his ninth of the season in the crease with a .947 save percentage on 19 saves on 20 shots faced.
GOALS
- Trevor Janicke picked up the loose puck in the crease just over four minutes into the game to take the early 1-0 lead over the Vikings. Grant Silianoff and Michael Mastrodomenico each picked up assists on the opening goal.
- Controlling the play along the blue line, Drew Bavaro fed a quick pass over to Paul Fischer along the halfwall who found Knuble atop the far circle. The rookie took handled the puck, taking three strides in to find an open lane before ripping a shot into the back of the net for the 2-1 tally at 14:19 of the second period.
- Knuble scored his second of the night halfway through the final period after Brennan Ali forced the Vikings to overturn the puck in their end. After an icing was waved off, the Viking defender settled the puck behind their own net where Ali pressured hard and chased down the puck, poking it off the Viking players’ stick and getting it over to Patrick Moynihan who centered a pass to Knuble for the 3-1 tally.
- Justin Janicke’s initial shot sailed wide where Hunter Strand chipped a pass back to Trevor Janicke who tapped in his second of the game with 7:10 left in regulation.
- The rookie centerman Knuble completed the hat trick with his third goal of the night at 17:10 of the third period. Hunter Strand and Landon Slaggert were both credited with assists on the powerplay tally.
KEY STATS
- With the three-goal performance, Cole Knuble becomes the first Irish skater to net a hat trick since Ryder Rolston on January 19, 2022 (vs. Boston College).
- Going into Saturday’s contest, Knuble and Trevor Janicke had combined for four goals in 2023-24. The duo recorded all five goals in game one against Augustana with Trevor adding two to the tally in the 5-1 win.
- Eleven players highlighted the box score in the victory, including Hunter Strand with a two-assist night to join Trevor and Knuble with multi-point performances.
- Ryan Bischel’s 19 saves on 20 shots faced improves him to 9-8-2 on the season.
- The Irish outshot the Vikings 38-20 in the contest while blocking seven additional Augustana shots, led by Paul Fischer with two.
UP NEXT
The two teams close out the calendar year with their series finale slated for 5 p.m. Sunday, December 31.
After ringing in the New Year at home, the Irish return to Big Ten play with a home series against Wisconsin, January 5-6.