# 2022–23 Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey season

The 2022–23 Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey season was the 63rd season of play for the program and 6th in the Big Ten Conference. The Fighting Irish represented the University of Notre Dame in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. They were coached by Jeff Jackson, in his 18th season and played their home games at Compton Family Ice Arena in Notre Dame, Indiana.

## Season

Entering the season, coach Jackson brought back a veteran lineup and augmented the roster with several graduate transfers. With Nick Leivermann leading the defensive corps and Ryan Bischel holding the crease, Notre Dame was well apportioned on the back end. Unfortunately, the team had a severe lack of offense. Over the course of the year, the Fighting Irish scored 42 fewer goals than they had in 2022. That dramatic drop-off had a chilling effect on a team that had national aspirations. The Irish hovered around .500 for most of the season and were only once able to string more than two wins together. Fortunately, for Notre Dame, the Big Ten was the strongest conference this season and enabled the team to be in position for a potential at-large bid despite having nearly as many wins as losses.
The Irish ended the regular season well, taking two consecutive weekends from high-ranked teams and raising themselves into the top 16. The good stretch also lifted the team up to fourth in the conference standings, giving Notre Dame a home site for the quarterfinals. With other teams still vying for a tournament appearance, the Irish needed a decent postseason run to remain above the cut line and they were faced with Michigan State (MSU) in the first round. The Spartans, too, were competing for an at-large bid and whichever of the two lost the best-of-three series would be knocked out of contention. Ryan Bischel held off a strong MSU attack in the first game, earning a 1–0 victory for the Irish. The second game started much the same and Notre Dame had a one-goal lead after the first period. In the second period, however, the wheels came off for the Irish as Michigan State scored 4 consecutive goals and evened the series at one all. In the deciding game, Notre Dame played as well as could be expected, outshooting MSU 39–28, going 2-for-4 on the power play and not taking a single penalty in the game. However, former Irish netminder, Dylan St. Cyr, came back to haunt his old team and stopped 37 shots to lead the Spartans to a 2–4 victory.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Cam Burke | Forward | United States | Graduate transfer to Boston College |
| Max Ellis | Forward | United States | Signed professional contract (Toronto Maple Leafs) |
| Matthew Galajda | Goaltender | Canada | Graduation (signed with Djurgårdens IF Hockey) |
| Adam Karashik | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (signed with Lehigh Valley Phantoms) |
| Conor Klaers | Goaltender | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Jake Pivonka | Forward | United States | Graduate transfer to Omaha |
| Charlie Raith | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Graham Slaggert | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Toronto Marlies) |
| Spencer Stastney | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (signed with Nashville Predators) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Drew Bavaro | Defenseman | United States | 22 | Bradenton, FL; transfer from Bentley |
| Benjamin Brinkman | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Edina, MN; graduate transfer from Minnesota; selected 173rd overall in 2019 |
| Niko Jovanovic | Forward | Canada | 20 | North Vancouver, BC |
| Michael Mastrodomenico | Defenseman | Canada | 18 | Kirkland, QC |
| Jackson Pierson | Forward | United States | 23 | Zionsville, IN; graduate transfer from New Hampshire |
| Chayse Primeau | Forward | United States | 25 | Margate, NJ; graduate transfer from Omaha |
| Fin Williams | Forward | Canada | 19 | North Vancouver, BC |
| Jack Williams | Goaltender | United States | 21 | St. Louis, MO |

## Roster

As of August 25, 2022.

## Standings

2022–23 Big Ten ice hockey Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | OTW | OTL | 3/SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #2 Minnesota † | 24 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 57 | 106 | 50 | 40 | 29 | 10 | 1 | 168 | 90 |
| #3 Michigan * | 24 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 82 | 79 | 41 | 26 | 12 | 3 | 171 | 128 |
| #7 Ohio State | 24 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 36 | 69 | 63 | 40 | 21 | 16 | 3 | 131 | 101 |
| Notre Dame | 24 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 35 | 52 | 60 | 37 | 16 | 16 | 5 | 85 | 97 |
| #19 Michigan State | 24 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 34 | 65 | 80 | 38 | 18 | 18 | 2 | 107 | 115 |
| #8 Penn State | 24 | 10 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 71 | 75 | 39 | 22 | 16 | 1 | 129 | 106 |
| Wisconsin | 24 | 6 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 54 | 92 | 36 | 13 | 23 | 0 | 94 | 126 |
| Championship: March 18, 2023 † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll |||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Rank$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Exhibition ||||||||||
| October 2 | 5:00 p.m. | USNTDP* | #9 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana (Exhibition) | Peacock | Bischel | L 3–5 $^{OT}$ | 0 | |
| Ice Breaker Tournament ||||||||||
| October 7 | 9:05 p.m. | at #1 Denver* | #11 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado (Ice Breaker Tournament) | Altitude | Bischel | L 2–5 | 5,859 | 0–1–0 |
| October 8 | 9:05 p.m. | at Air Force* | #11 | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (Ice Breaker Tournament) | | Williams | T 5–5 $^{OT}$ | 2,473 | 0–1–1 |
| Regular season ||||||||||
| October 14 | 7:30 p.m. | Northern Michigan* | #14 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Bischel | W 3–1 | 5,002 | 1–1–1 |
| October 16 | 5:00 p.m. | Northern Michigan* | #14 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Bischel | W 5–4 | 3,521 | 2–1–1 |
| October 21 | 7:00 p.m. | #17 Western Michigan* | #13 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Bischel | W 2–0 | 5,096 | 3–1–1 |
| October 22 | 6:00 p.m. | at #17 Western Michigan* | #13 | Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan | | Bischel | L 0–4 | 3,224 | 3–2–1 |
| October 28 | 7:30 p.m. | Michigan State | #12 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Bischel | W 5–0 | 4,130 | 4–2–1 (1–0–0) |
| October 29 | 6:00 p.m. | Michigan State | #12 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Bischel | T 1–1 $^{OT}$ | 4,458 | 4–2–2 (1–0–1) |
| November 4 | 8:00 p.m. | at #3 Minnesota | #12 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | BTN+ | Bischel | L 1–4 | 7,774 | 4–3–2 (1–1–1) |
| November 5 | 8:00 p.m. | at #3 Minnesota | #12 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | BTN+ | Bischel | L 0–3 | 8,291 | 4–4–2 (1–2–1) |
| November 11 | 7:30 p.m. | #3 Michigan | #18 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana (Rivalry) | Peacock | Bischel | L 1–5 | 5,103 | 4–5–2 (1–3–1) |
| November 12 | 6:00 p.m. | #3 Michigan | #18 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Bischel | W 3–2 | 5,099 | 5–5–2 (2–3–1) |
| November 18 | 7:00 p.m. | at #12 Ohio State | #20 | Value City Arena • Columbus, Ohio | | Bischel | L 2–5 | 6,019 | 5–6–2 (2–4–1) |
| November 19 | 5:00 p.m. | at #12 Ohio State | #20 | Value City Arena • Columbus, Ohio | | Bischel | W 1–0 | 4,381 | 6–6–2 (3–4–1) |
| November 23 | 6:00 p.m. | at #11 Boston University* | #19 | Agganis Arena • Boston, Massachusetts | ESPNU | Bischel | L 2–5 | 3,912 | 6–7–2 |
| November 25 | 4:00 p.m. | at Boston College* | #19 | Conte Forum • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts (Holy War on Ice) | ESPN+ | Bischel | W 5–2 | 6,234 | 7–7–2 |
| December 9 | 7:00 p.m. | #5 Penn State | #19 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Bischel | L 2–5 | 4,357 | 7–8–2 (3–5–1) |
| December 10 | 6:00 p.m. | #5 Penn State | #19 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Bischel | W 5–3 | 5,028 | 8–8–2 (4–5–1) |
| December 31 | 5:00 p.m. | Alaska* | #19 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Bischel | L 2–3 | 4,878 | 8–9–2 |
| January 1 | 5:00 p.m. | Alaska* | #19 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Bischel | W 2–0 | 4,911 | 9–9–2 |
| January 6 | 8:00 p.m. | at Wisconsin | #20 | Kohl Center • Madison, Wisconsin | BSW+ | Bischel | L 0–2 | 7,256 | 9–10–2 (4–6–1) |
| January 7 | 6:30 p.m. | at Wisconsin | #20 | Kohl Center • Madison, Wisconsin | BTN | Bischel | W 6–4 | 9,167 | 10–10–2 (5–6–1) |
| January 13 | 7:30 p.m. | #2 Minnesota | | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Bischel | T 2–2 $^{SOW}$ | 4,984 | 10–10–3 (5–6–2) |
| January 14 | 6:00 p.m. | #2 Minnesota | | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Bischel | L 0–3 | 5,022 | 10–11–3 (5–7–2) |
| January 20 | 7:00 p.m. | at #6 Penn State | | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Bischel | W 2–1 | 6,558 | 11–11–3 (6–7–2) |
| January 21 | 5:00 p.m. | at #6 Penn State | | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Bischel | L 2–3 | 6,566 | 11–12–3 (6–8–2) |
| January 27 | 7:30 p.m. | Wisconsin | | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Bischel | W 5–3 | 5,022 | 12–12–3 (7–8–2) |
| January 28 | 6:00 p.m. | Wisconsin | | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Bischel | W 3–1 | 5,022 | 13–12–3 (8–8–2) |
| February 3 | 7:00 p.m. | at #17 Michigan State | #20 | Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, Michigan | BTN+ | Bischel | L 0–3 | 6,555 | 13–13–3 (8–9–2) |
| February 4 | 4:00 p.m. | at #17 Michigan State | #20 | Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, Michigan | BTN | Bischel | L 2–3 | 6,555 | 13–14–3 (8–10–2) |
| February 10 | 7:30 p.m. | #7 Ohio State | | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Bischel | W 2–1 | 5,022 | 14–14–3 (9–10–2) |
| February 11 | 6:00 p.m. | #7 Ohio State | | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Bischel | T 2–2 $^{SOW}$ | 5,022 | 14–14–4 (9–10–3) |
| February 24 | 7:00 p.m. | at #4 Michigan | #20 | Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, Michigan (Rivalry) | BTN+ | Bischel | T 3–3 $^{SOW}$ | 5,800 | 14–14–5 (9–10–4) |
| February 25 | 8:00 p.m. | at #4 Michigan | #20 | Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, Michigan (Rivalry) | BTN | Bischel | W 2–1 $^{OT}$ | 5,800 | 15–14–5 (9–10–4) |
| Big Ten tournament ||||||||||
| March 3 | 7:00 p.m. | #20 Michigan State | #19 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, IN (Quarterfinal Game 1) | FS2 | Bischel | W 1–0 | 5,177 | 16–14–5 |
| March 4 | 4:30 p.m. | #20 Michigan State | #19 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, IN (Quarterfinal Game 2) | FS2 | Bischel | L 2–4 | 5,198 | 16–15–5 |
| March 5 | 6:00 p.m. | #20 Michigan State | #19 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, IN (Quarterfinal Game 3) | FS2 | Bischel | L 2–4 | 4,238 | 16–16–5 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Chayse Primeau | C/W | 37 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 18 |
| Trevor Janicke | C/RW | 37 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 12 |
| Ryder Rolston | C/W | 27 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 4 |
| Nick Leivermann | D | 29 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 18 |
| Drew Bavaro | D | 37 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 31 |
| Jesse Lansdell | F | 36 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 64 |
| Hunter Strand | C | 37 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 21 |
| Justin Janicke | F | 36 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 32 |
| John Adams | C/RW | 32 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 10 |
| Landon Slaggert | C/LW | 35 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 14 |
| Chase Blackmun | D | 34 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 10 |
| Grant Silianoff | RW | 33 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 6 |
| Jackson Pierson | C | 31 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Solag Bakich | F | 35 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 20 |
| Tyler Carpenter | F | 30 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 |
| Zachary Plucinski | D | 31 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 27 |
| Jake Boltmann | D | 37 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 48 |
| Ben Brinkman | D | 35 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 20 |
| Ryan Helliwell | D | 31 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 19 |
| Fin Williams | F | 22 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Niko Jovanovic | F | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Mike Mastrodomenico | D | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| Ryan Bischel | G | 37 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Jack Williams | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brady Bjork | C | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bench | - | - | - | - | - | 18 |
| Total | | | 85 | 157 | 242 | 424 |
Source:

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals against | Saves | Shut-outs | SV % | GAA |
| Ryan Bischel | 37 | 2182:51 | 16 | 16 | 4 | 87 | 1183 | 5 | .931 | 2.39 |
| Jack Williams | 2 | 41:27 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 0 | .889 | 2.90 |
| Empty Net | - | 24:38 | - | - | - | 8 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 37 | 2248:56 | 16 | 16 | 5 | 97 | 1199 | 5 | .925 | 2.59 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | 9 | - | 11 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | - | 20 | NR | NR | NR | 20 | NR | 19 | 20 | 19 | NR | NR | NR | - | NR |
| USA Today | 8 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | NR | NR | 20 | 17 | NR | 18 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 |
USCHO did not release a poll in weeks 1, 13 and 26.

## Awards and honors

| Player | Award |
| Ryan Bischel | AHCA West All-American Second Team |
| Ryan Bischel | Big Ten Goaltender of the Year |
| Ryan Bischel | Big Ten First Team |

## Players drafted into the NHL
### 2023 NHL Entry Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | NHL team |
| 2 | 49 | Danny Nelson $^†$ | New York Islanders |
| 4 | 103 | Cole Knuble $^†$ | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 5 | 138 | Paul Fischer $^†$ | St. Louis Blues |
† incoming freshman