Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey


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 Brock Sheahan.

Conference history

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.

History

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. The team continued playing in the WCHA for a decade until moving to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association with the conference's three Michigan schools in 1981.
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. Notre Dame finished that season second in the CSCHL with a record of 13–2–0. 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 [2004 National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|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.

Jeff Jackson era

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. 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. 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. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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. The team opened the university's new 5,000-seat Compton Family Ice Arena on October 21, 2011, against Rensselaer. 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 in the NCAA, Boston College, ranked 4th, and 8th ranked Western Michigan. On January 4, 2012, former coach and long-time Notre Dame Athletic Department employee, Charles "Lefty" Smith died. 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. 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. 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. 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.
On June 24, 2024, Jackson announced he would step down as head coach following the 2024–25 season, after 20 seasons at Notre Dame. On March 7, 2025, during the first quarterfinals game of the 2025 Big Ten men's ice hockey tournament against Minnesota, Jackson earned his 600th career victory.

Brock Sheahan era

On March 17, 2025, Brock Sheahan was named the head coach for Notre Dame.

Season-by-season results

Source:

Head coaches

All-time coaching records

As of completion of 2024–25 season
† The Program was dropped to club status for the 1983–84 season.

Postseason

NCAA Tournament Results

The Fighting Irish have appeared in the NCAA Tournament 13 times.
YearSeedRoundOpponentResults
2004No. 4Midwest Regional semifinal#1 MinnesotaL 2–5
2007No. 1Midwest Regional semifinal
Midwest Regional Final		#4 Alabama-Huntsville
  1. 3 Michigan State
W 3–2L 1–2
2008No. 4West Regional semifinal
West Regional Final
Frozen Four
National Championship		#1 New Hampshire
  1. 3 Michigan State
  2. 1 Michigan
  3. 2 Boston College
W 7–3W 3–1
W 5–4
L 1–4
2009No. 1Midwest Regional semifinal#4 Bemidji StateL 1–5
2011No. 3Northeast Regional semifinal
Northeast Regional Final
Frozen Four		#2 Merrimack
  1. 4 New Hampshire
  2. 3 Minnesota-Duluth
W 4–3W 2–1
L 3–4
2013No. 1Midwest Regional semifinal#4 St. Cloud StateL 1–5
2014No. 2West Regional semifinal#3 St. Cloud StateL 3–4
2016No. 3Midwest Regional semifinal#2 MichiganL 2–3
2017No. 4Northeast Regional semifinal
Northeast Regional Final
Frozen Four		#1 Minnesota
  1. 2 UMass-Lowell
  2. 1 Denver
W 3–2 W 3–2
L 1–6
2018No. 1East Regional semifinal
East Regional Final
Frozen Four
National Championship		#4 Michigan Tech
  1. 2 Providence
  2. 2 Michigan
#3 Minnesota-Duluth		W 4–3
W 2–1
W 4–3
L 1–2
2019No. 3Northeast Regional semifinal
Northeast Regional Final		#2 Clarkson
  1. 1 UMass
W 3–2L 0–4
2021No. 4East Regional semifinal#1 Boston CollegeNo Contest – Covid Cancellation
2022No. 3East Regional semifinal
East Regional Final		#2 North Dakota
  1. 1 Minnesota St.
W 2–1 OTL 0–1

Statistical leaders

Source:

Career goaltending leaders

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
PlayerYearsGPMinWLTGASOSV%GAA
2005–20099455065926718212.9181.98
2016–2020734299462141488.9382.07
2010–201410659095738521613.9142.19
2014–2017110649955391524911.9242.31
2003–200711163265538112458.9162.32

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

Players

Current roster

As of August 16, 2025.

Awards and honors

United States Hockey Hall of Fame

Source:

NCAA

Individual awards

Spencer Penrose Award
Tim Taylor Award
Mike Richter Award

All-Americans

AHCA First Team All-Americans
AHCA Second Team All-Americans

WCHA

Individual awards

Most Valuable Player
Freshman of the Year
Coach of the Year

All-Conference Teams

First Team All-WCHA
Second Team All-WCHA

CCHA

Individual awards

Player of the Year
Rookie of the Year
Best Defensive Defenseman
  • Kyle Lawson: 2009
  • Sean Lorenz: 2011
Best Goaltender
Coach of the Year
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Terry Flanagan Memorial Award
Ilitch Humanitarian Award
Tournament Most Valuable Player

All-Conference Teams

First Team All-CCHA
Second Team All-CCHA
CCHA All-Rookie Team

[Hockey East]

Individual awards

Best Defensive Forward
Best Defensive Defenseman
Three-Stars Award

All-Conference Teams

First Team All-Hockey East
Second Team All-Hockey East
Third Team All-Hockey East
Hockey East All-Rookie Team

Big Ten

Individual awards

Player of the Year
Goaltender of the Year
Tournament Most Outstanding Player

All-Conference Teams

First Team All-Big Ten
Second Team All-Big Ten
Big Ten All-Freshman Team
  • 2018–19: Michael Graham, F

Fighting Irish in the NHL

As of July 1, 2025.
PlayerPositionTeamYearsGames[Stanley Cup|]
Anders BjorkLeft WingBOS, BUF, CHI2017–20232250
Jim BrownDefensemanLAK1982–198330
Jack BrownschidleDefensemanSTL, HFD1977–19864940
Jeff BrownschidleDefensemanHFD1981–198370
Callahan BurkeRight WingCOL, CAR, VGK2022–Present100
Nathan ClurmanDefensemanPIT2024–Present10
Ian ColeDefensemanSTL, ', CBJ, COL, MIN, CAR, TBL, VAN, UTA2010–Present9082
Erik CondraRight WingOTT, TBL, DAL2010–20193720
Thomas Di PauliForwardPIT2019–202020
Mark EatonDefensemanPHI, NSH, ', NYI1999–20136501
Jake EvansCenterMTL2019–Present3500
Steven FogartyCenterNYR, BUF, BOS, MIN2017–2023310
Dennis GilbertDefensemanCHI, COL, CGY, BUF, OTT2018–Present1110
Rob GlobkeRight WingFLA2005–2008460
Jordan GrossDefensemanARI, COL, NSH2019–2023250
Christian HansonCenterTOR2008–2011420
Vinnie HinostrozaCenterCHI, ARI, FLA, BUF, PIT, NSH, MIN2015–Present4120
Don JacksonDefensemanMNS, ', NYR1977–19873152
Stephen JohnsDefensemanDAL2015–20201670
Brett LebdaDefenseman', TOR, CBJ2005–20123971
Anders LeeLeft WingNYI2012–Present8410
Mike McNeillLeft WingCHI, QUE1990–1992630

PlayerPositionTeamYearsGames[Stanley Cup|]
Greg MeredithForwardCGY1980–1983380
Bill NyropDefenseman', MNS1975–19822073
Wes O'NeillDefensemanCOL2008–201050
Victor OreskovichRight WingFLA, VAN2009–2012670
Kyle PalmieriRight WingANA, NJD, NYI2010–Present9000
Andrew PeekeDefensemanCBJ, BOS2019–Present3090
Cal PetersenGoaltenderLAK, PHI2018–20241060
Alex PirusCenterMNS, DET1976–19801590
Dave PoulinCenterPHI, BOS, WSH1982–19957240
Robbie RussoDefensemanDET2016–2017190
Bryan RustRight Wing'2014–Present6382
Riley SheahanCenterDET, PIT, FLA, EDM, BUF, SEA2011–20236370
Ben SimonCenterATL, CBJ2001–2006810
Landon SlaggertLeft WingCHI2023–Present490
Spencer StastneyDefensemanNSH2022–Present510
Yan StastnyCenterEDM, BOS, STL2005–2010910
Alex SteevesCenterTOR2021–Present140
Ryan ThangRight WingNSH2011–201210
T. J. TynanRight WingCBJ, COL, LAK2016–2022300
Mark Van GuilderCenterNSH2013–201410
Tim WallaceForwardPIT, NYI, TBL, CAR2008–20131010

WHA

Several players also were members of WHA teams.
PlayerPositionTeamYears[Avco World Trophy|]
Ray DelorenziWingVNC, CAC1974–19760
Larry IsraelsonWingVNC, CAC1974–19770
Kevin NugentWingIND1978–19790
Brian WalshRight WingCAC1976–19770

Team captains

Compton Family Ice Arena

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. Construction on the 5,022-seat arena began on March 15, 2010, with the venue opening in the Fall of 2011. The arena held its first Notre Dame hockey game on October 21, 2011, when a sellout crowd saw Notre Dame defeat Rensselaer 5–2.
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. 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.