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Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey
Current season
Notre Dame Fighting Irish athletic logo
UniversityUniversity of Notre Dame
ConferenceBig Ten
First season1911–12
Athletic directorPete Bevacqua
Head coachJeff Jackson
20th season, 407–266–73 (.595)
Assistant coaches
ArenaCompton Family Ice Arena
Notre Dame, Indiana
ColorsBlue and gold[1]
   
NCAA Tournament Runner-up
2008, 2018
NCAA Tournament Frozen Four
2008, 2011, 2017, 2018
NCAA Tournament appearances
2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Conference Tournament championships
CCHA: 2007, 2009, 2013
Big Ten: 2018, 2019
Conference regular season championships
CCHA: 2006–07, 2008–09
Big Ten: 2017–18
Current uniform

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team of the University of Notre Dame, competing at the NCAA Division I level as an associate member of the Big Ten Conference. The Irish play their home games at Compton Family Ice Arena. The head coach of the Fighting Irish is Jeff Jackson, and his assistant coaches are Paul Pooley, Andy Slaggert, and Max Mobley.

Conference history

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Prior to the 2013–14 season, the team competed in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and also won its last ever conference championship. In the 2013–2014 season, the team began to play in the Hockey East conference, where it played until the conclusion of the 2016-2017 season. Beginning in the 2017–2018 season, the team joined the Big Ten Conference.[2]

History

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Ice hockey has existed on and off as both a club and varsity sport at Notre Dame since 1912. The modern era of Notre Dame hockey began in 1968, when the Fighting Irish began to play as a Division I independent. In 1971, the team joined its first conference, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). The team continued playing in the WCHA for a decade until moving to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) with the conference's three Michigan schools in 1981.[3]

Notre Dame hockey player in an away uniform (2010).

The Fighting Irish lasted only two years in the new CCHA, when ice hockey was downgraded to a club sport for the 1983–1984 season. During that season, the Fighting Irish played in the Central States Collegiate Hockey League (CSCHL). Notre Dame finished that season second in the CSCHL with a record of 13–2–0.[4] In 1984–1985 Notre Dame Hockey was once again elevated to varsity status with the team playing as a Division I independent. In 1992 Notre Dame rejoined the CCHA. The Irish struggled to remain competitive in the CCHA, but began to improve under head coach Dave Poulin. In 2004, Poulin led the team to its first ever NCAA Tournament. However, the following season was dramatically different. They only won five games, the worst season in school history. Poulin resigned after the season.[3]

Jeff Jackson era

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Jeff Jackson and coaching staff look on as Notre Dame celebrates a goal (2010).

In 2005, Jeff Jackson took over as head coach. Jackson, who had already won two national championships at Lake Superior State University, had an immediate impact at Notre Dame. In his first season with the Irish, the team greatly improved upon the five-win season, boosting its record to 13–19–5.[3] 2007 was even more successful. The Irish achieved their first ever number one ranking in both the Uscho.com and USA Today Polls and their first number one seeding for the NCAA Tournament. The following year, the Irish finished fourth in both the CCHA's regular season and playoffs, and again made the NCAA Tournament. Once there, the Irish went on to beat top-seeded New Hampshire 7–3 and third-seeded Michigan State 3–1 to advance to the Frozen Four for the first time in school history. From there, they defeated first-seeded Michigan in overtime to advance to the national title game, ultimately losing to Boston College 4–1.[5] Notre Dame also became the first four-seed to advance to the national semi-finals, and eventually to the national title game since the new 16-team format was introduced in 2003.[5] In the 2008–2009 season, the Irish added another CCHA regular season title and a CCHA Tournament title, defeating Michigan 5–2 in the title game. Notre Dame advanced to the 2009 NCAA Tournament where the Irish was upset by 16th seeded Bemidji State 1–5.[6]

The following season, Notre Dame finished with a record of 13–17–8 and ended the season after being swept by Ohio State two games to none in the three game opening round series of the CCHA Playoffs.[7][8] The Irish rebounded in the 2010–11 regular season at 23–13–5, and clinched their second trip to the Frozen Four in program history by defeating New Hampshire 2–1 in the Northeast Regional Final. The Fighting Irish faced the East Regional Champion Minnesota-Duluth in the national semi-finals. The Irish fell to the eventual national champion 3–4.[9]

In October 2011, Notre Dame announced the team will join Hockey East starting in the 2013–14 season, in response to the conference realignment. The university also announced an expanded television broadcast deal with NBC.[10] The Fighting Irish Hockey began the 2011–12 season in the Edmund P. Joyce Center and played the last hockey game at the Joyce Center on October 15, 2011 against Ohio State.[11] The team opened the university's new 5,000-seat Compton Family Ice Arena on October 21, 2011 against Rensselaer.[12] Following the move into the new arena the Irish improved to a 7–3 home record in the new facility that included wins over future Hockey East rivals, Boston University, ranked 3th[clarification needed] in the NCAA, Boston College, ranked 4th, and 8th ranked Western Michigan.[13] On January 4, 2012, former coach and long-time Notre Dame Athletic Department employee, Charles "Lefty" Smith died.[14] Smith coached the team from 1968 to 1987 as the first varsity ice hockey after helping the program transition from club to varsity status. Following his coaching career, he continued at Notre Dame in the athletic department until retiring just three days before his death.[14] The Fighting Irish finished the regular season with an overall record of 17–16–3 and a conference record of 12–13–3. The team defeated Ohio State in the opening round of the 2012 CCHA Tournament, sweeping the Buckeyes in two games by scores of 2–0 and 4–2.[15] In the second round of the CCHA Tournament, the team was defeated by the Michigan Wolverines in two games in a series that saw the first game go into a double overtime.[16] The team was defeated in the first round of the NCAA regional playoffs in 2013 and 2014, both times by the St. Cloud State Huskies.[17]

Season-by-season results

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Source:[18]

Head coaches

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All-time coaching records

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As of completion of 2023–24 season[18]

Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
1911–1912 No Coach 1 1–0–0 1.000
1912–1913 G.R. Walsh 1 1–2–0 .333
1919–1923 Paul Castner 4 19–5–1 .780
1923–1926 Tom Lieb 3 3–9–3 .300
1926–1927 Benjamin Dubois 1 3–7–1 .318
1968–1987 Lefty Smith 18† 285–314–30 .477
1987–1995 Ric Schafer 8 112–152–15 .428
1995–2005 Dave Poulin 10 139–197–50 .425
2005–present Jeff Jackson 19 407–266–73 .595
Totals 8 coaches 65 Seasons 970–952–173 .504

† The Program was dropped to club status for the 1983–84 season.

Postseason

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NCAA Tournament Results

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The Fighting Irish have appeared in the NCAA Tournament 13 times.

Year Seed Round Opponent Results
2004 No. 4 Midwest Regional semifinal #1 Minnesota L 2-5
2007 No. 1 Midwest Regional semifinal
Midwest Regional Final
#4 Alabama-Huntsville
#3 Michigan State
W 3-2
L 1-2
2008 No. 4 West Regional semifinal
West Regional Final
Frozen Four
National Championship
#1 New Hampshire
#3 Michigan State
#1 Michigan
#2 Boston College
W 7-3
W 3-1
W 5-4
L 1-4
2009 No. 1 Midwest Regional semifinal #4 Bemidji State L 1-5
2011 No. 3 Northeast Regional semifinal
Northeast Regional Final
Frozen Four
#2 Merrimack
#4 New Hampshire
#3 Minnesota-Duluth
W 4-3
W 2-1
L 3-4
2013 No. 1 Midwest Regional semifinal #4 St. Cloud State L 1-5
2014 No. 2 West Regional semifinal #3 St. Cloud State L 3-4
2016 No. 3 Midwest Regional semifinal #2 Michigan L 2-3
2017 No. 4 Northeast Regional semifinal
Northeast Regional Final
Frozen Four
#1 Minnesota
#2 UMass-Lowell
#1 Denver
W 3-2
W 3-2
L 1-6
2018 No. 1 East Regional semifinal
East Regional Final
Frozen Four
National Championship
#4 Michigan Tech
#2 Providence
#2 Michigan
#3 Minnesota-Duluth
W 4-3
W 2-1
W 4-3
L 1-2
2019 No. 3 Northeast Regional semifinal
Northeast Regional Final
#2 Clarkson
#1 UMass
W 3-2
L 0-4
2021 No. 4 East Regional semifinal #1 Boston College No Contest - Covid Cancellation
2022 No. 3 East Regional semifinal
East Regional Final
#2 North Dakota
#1 Minnesota St.
W 2-1 OT
L 0-1

Statistical leaders

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Source:[18]

Career points leaders

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Player Years GP G A Pts PIM
Brian Walsh 1973–1977 140 89 145 234 273
John Noble 1969–1973 123 81 145 226 159
Eddie Bumbacco 1970–1974 133 103 117 220 71
Ian Williams 1970–1974 126 92 119 211 239
Mike McNeill 1984–1988 124 83 115 198 80
Dave Poulin 1978–1982 135 89 107 196 175
Greg Meredith 1976–1980 149 104 88 192 72
Paul Regan 1969–1973 125 89 97 186 272
Clark Hamilton 1973–1977 145 70 113 183 231
Dave Bankoske 1988–1993 141 73 109 182 86

Career goaltending leaders

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GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

minimum 30 games played

Player Years GP Min W L T GA SO SV% GAA
Jordan Pearce 2005–2009 94 5506 59 26 7 182 12 .918 1.98
Cale Morris 2016–2020 73 4299 46 21 4 148 8 .938 2.07
Steve Summerhays 2010–2014 106 5909 57 38 5 216 13 .914 2.19
Cal Petersen 2014–2017 110 6499 55 39 15 249 11 .924 2.31
David Brown 2003–2007 111 6326 55 38 11 245 8 .916 2.32

Statistics current through the end of the 2023–24 season.

Players

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Current roster

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As of September 3, 2024.[19]

No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
2 Illinois Jimmy Jurcev Freshman D 6' 5" (1.96 m) 196 lb (89 kg) 2003-05-05 Palos Heights, Illinois Lincoln Stars (USHL)
3 Illinois Hunter Weiss Senior D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 2001-03-29 Lake Forest, Illinois Minnesota Magicians (NAHL)
4 Quebec Michael Mastrodomenico Junior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 2004-04-19 Kirkland, Quebec Lincoln Stars (USHL)
5 Sweden Axel Kumlin Junior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 2002-02-23 Stockholm, Sweden Miami (USHL)
8 Minnesota Justin Janicke Senior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 188 lb (85 kg) 2003-06-30 Maple Grove, Minnesota USNTDP (USHL) SEA, 195th overall 2021
9 Minnesota Grant Silianoff Graduate F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 178 lb (81 kg) 2001-01-04 Edina, Minnesota Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)
10 Alaska Hunter Strand Senior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 188 lb (85 kg) 2002-11-13 Anchorage, Alaska Tri-City Storm (USHL)
11 Minnesota Danny Nelson Sophomore F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 203 lb (92 kg) 2005-08-03 Maple Grove, Minnesota USNTDP (USHL) NYI, 49th overall 2023
12 Minnesota Henry Nelson Sophomore D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 2003-03-25 Maple Grove, Minnesota Lincoln Stars (USHL)
13 Illinois Brennan Ali Sophomore F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 194 lb (88 kg) 2004-02-09 Glencoe, Illinois Lincoln Stars (USHL) DET, 212th overall 2023
14 Minnesota Maddox Fleming Sophomore F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 194 lb (88 kg) 2004-02-13 Rochester, Minnesota Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
15 Alberta Jayden Davis Sophomore F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2003-03-02 Calgary, Alberta Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
16 Illinois Paul Fischer Sophomore D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 183 lb (83 kg) 2005-01-30 River Forest, Illinois USNTDP (USHL) EDM, 138th overall 2023
17 British Columbia Ryan Helliwell Senior D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 191 lb (87 kg) 2002-08-05 Burnaby, British Columbia Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL)
18 Massachusetts Jack Larrigan Freshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 161 lb (73 kg) 2004-04-09 St. Louis, Missouri Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)
20 British Columbia Niko Jovanovic Junior F 6' 4" (1.93 m) 216 lb (98 kg) 2002-06-13 West Vancouver, British Columbia Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)
21 Indiana Jaedon Kerr Junior D 6' 4" (1.93 m) 214 lb (97 kg) 2003-09-13 Fishers, Indiana Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
22 Michigan Cole Knuble Sophomore F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2004-07-01 Grand Rapids, Michigan Fargo Force (USHL) PHI, 103rd overall 2023
23 Michigan Michael Schermerhorn Junior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 2003-10-14 Traverse City, Michigan New Mexico Ice Wolves (NAHL)
24 Massachusetts Ian Murphy Graduate F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 176 lb (80 kg) 1999-04-06 Scituate, Massachusetts Tri-City Storm (USHL)
25 Indiana Carter Slaggert Sophomore F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 172 lb (78 kg) 2005-03-04 South Bend, Indiana USNTDP (USHL)
26 Alaska Zach Plucinski Graduate D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 204 lb (93 kg) 2000-07-26 Eagle River, Alaska Omaha Lancers (USHL)
27 Minnesota Blake Biondi Graduate F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 198 lb (90 kg) 2002-04-24 Hermantown, Minnesota Minnesota Duluth (NCHC) MTL, 109th overall 2020
28 Illinois Tyler Carpenter Senior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 186 lb (84 kg) 2000-08-27 Palatine, Illinois Omaha Lancers (USHL)
29 Missouri Jack Williams Junior G 6' 3" (1.91 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 2001-06-21 St. Louis, Missouri Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
30 Ontario Owen Say Junior G 6' 2" (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2001-06-05 London, Ontario Mercyhurst (AHA)
31 Illinois Nicholas Kempf Freshman G 6' 2" (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2006-03-01 Morton Grove, Illinois USNTDP (USHL) WSH, 114th overall 2024
35 New York (state) James Mooney Senior G 5' 9" (1.75 m) 155 lb (70 kg) Purchase, New York Rye Country Day School (USHS–NY)

Awards and honors

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United States Hockey Hall of Fame

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Source:[20]

NCAA

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Individual awards

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All-Americans

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AHCA First Team All-Americans

AHCA Second Team All-Americans

WCHA

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Individual awards

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All-Conference Teams

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First Team All-WCHA

Second Team All-WCHA

CCHA

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Individual awards

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All-Conference Teams

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First Team All-CCHA

Second Team All-CCHA

CCHA All-Rookie Team

Individual awards

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All-Conference Teams

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First Team All-Hockey East

Second Team All-Hockey East

Third Team All-Hockey East

Hockey East All-Rookie Team

Big Ten

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Individual awards

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All-Conference Teams

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First Team All-Big Ten

Second Team All-Big Ten

Big Ten All-Freshman Team

Fighting Irish in the NHL

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As of July 1, 2024.

= NHL All-Star team = NHL All-Star[21] = NHL All-Star[21] and NHL All-Star team = Hall of Famers

WHA

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Several players also were members of WHA teams.

Player Position Team(s) Years Avco Cups
Ray Delorenzi Wing VNC, CAC 1974–1976 0
Larry Israelson Wing VNC, CAC 1974–1977 0
Kevin Nugent Wing IND 1978–1979 0
Brian Walsh Right Wing CAC 1976–1977 0

Source:[22]

Team captains

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Compton Family Ice Arena

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In February 2009, The University of Notre Dame announced it will begin construction on a new, freestanding, on-campus ice arena designed to meet the needs of both the Irish hockey team and the local community.[23] Construction on the 5,022-seat arena began on March 15, 2010 with the venue opening in the Fall of 2011.[24] The arena held its first Notre Dame hockey game on October 21, 2011 when a sellout crowd saw Notre Dame defeat Rensselaer 5–2.[25]

The new ice arena is located south of the Joyce Center, just north of Edison Road, and just west of where the new Irish track and field facility is being constructed. The majority of the general public arena seating is of the chair-back variety with bleacher seating in the student section.[26] The Compton Family Center replaced the rink inside the Edmund P. Joyce Center. During the time that the Irish played at the Joyce Center, the facility was the second smallest home rink in the CCHA with a hockey capacity of 2,857. All seats were benchers, and most of the seating consists of temporary bleachers. In 2007, the Irish compiled an impressive 14–2–2 home record at the Joyce Center.

References

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  1. ^ "Color | Athletics Branding | On Message | University of Notre Dame". Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  2. ^ Connelly, Jim (March 22, 2016). "Sources: Notre Dame leaving Hockey East for Big Ten in 2017". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Notre Dame Men's Hockey: Team History". US College Hockey Online. 1996–2010. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  4. ^ "Year-by-year Standings". Central States Collegiate Hockey League. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Notre Dame books ticket to first frozen four". USA Today. March 31, 2008. Retrieved March 31, 2008.
  6. ^ "Bemidji State stuns top-seeded Notre Dame; Cornell nips Northeastern". National Hockey League. March 28, 2009. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  7. ^ "Notre Dame Fighting Irish Men's Hockey 2009–2010 Team Statistics". U.S. College Hockey Online. 2010. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  8. ^ Boggs, Justin J. (March 6, 2010). "Carlson Stops 47 as Ohio State Sweeps Notre Dame". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  9. ^ Gardiner, Andy (April 7, 2011). "Minnesota-Duluth tops Notre Dame for spot in title game". USA Today. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  10. ^ "Notre Dame joining Hockey East". ESPN. October 6, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  11. ^ Di Carlo, Angelo (October 16, 2011). "Irish Icers fall in final hockey game ever at the Joyce Center". WNDU-TV. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  12. ^ Meenan, Jim (October 20, 2011). "Notre Dame hockey: Opening night finally arrives". Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  13. ^ DeFranks, Matthew (January 19, 2012). "A brand new barn". The Observer. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  14. ^ a b Di Carlo, Angelo (January 4, 2012). "Irish hockey legend "Lefty" Smith passes away at age 81". WNDU-TV. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  15. ^ Gans, Sam (March 4, 2012). "Hockey: Irish sweep Ohio State, advance in playoffs". The Observer. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  16. ^ Lacy, Eric (March 10, 2012). "Michigan hockey sweeps Notre Dame, advances to CCHA semi-finals". The Detroit News. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  17. ^ "Nic Dowd scores in overtime, St. Cloud State beat Notre Dame 4-3". Campbell River Courier Islander. Associated Press. March 29, 2014. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014.
  18. ^ a b c "Notre Dame Hockey" (PDF). Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  19. ^ "2024-25 Hockey Roster". Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  20. ^ "United States Hockey Hall of Fame". Hockey Central.co.uk. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
  21. ^ a b Players are identified as an All-Star if they were selected for the All-Star game at any time in their career.
  22. ^ "Alumni report for Notre Dame". Hockey DB. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  23. ^ "Hockey Arena Construction" (PDF). University of Notre Dame. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 14, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  24. ^ Masoud, Chris (April 19, 2010). "Hockey: New arena to boost program". The Observer. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  25. ^ Meenan, Jim (October 22, 2011). "Notre Dame hockey: Irish win first game in Compton Family Ice Arena". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved November 26, 2011.
  26. ^ "Notre Dame to Construct New Ice Arena on Campus". und.cstv.com. Archived from the original on February 16, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
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