Hockey: Lalonde trades shamrocks for maple leaves
By JUSTIN SCHUVER
Sports Writer
Notre Dame forward Alex Lalonde left the team Dec. 20 to play major junior hockey in Canada.
"We wish Alex all the best and we support him in his decision. I know it was a difficult choice for him to make," head coach Dave Poulin said. "In speaking with his family and Alex at length, this was the choice that they made. I appreciate the effort he has given to the program the last year and a half."
The Irish participated in a total of seven contests over the winter break, collecting a 2-3-2 record in those games.
Notre Dame traveled to Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, home of the Stanley Cup champion Red Wings, to take on Wayne State in a match on Dec. 14.
Behind two goals by sophomore forward Yan Stastny and the game-winning goal by senior forward Connor Dunlop, the Irish were able to defeat non-conference foe Wayne State by a final score of 3-2.
After losing Lalonde, the Irish traveled to Hanover, N.H. to take part in the Ledyard National Bank Tournament. On Dec. 28, the Irish took on host Dartmouth in a first-round matchup.
Despite outshooting the Big Green 42-39 and not allowing a power play goal on three chances, the Irish fell to the home team by a score of 6-4.
Dartmouth took a commanding 4-0 lead in less than 25 minutes, but the Irish battled back to make the score a respectable 5-4 before the Big Green sealed the game with an empty net goal.
Senior forward John Wiegand scored two goals in the game, and junior defenseman Brett Lebda and junior forward Rob Globke each scored a goal in the losing effort.
The following day, the Irish tied Vermont 3-3 in the tournament's consolation game. Sophomore forward Cory McLean, freshman forward Matt Amado and junior defenseman Tom Galvin each scored in the contest.
Following the three holiday non-conference games, the Irish returned to CCHA play in impressive form, defeating the University of Nebraska-Omaha 5-3 in Omaha on Friday, Jan. 3.
The Irish leapt ahead to a 3-0 lead on a goal by Stastny and two goals by CCHA-leading goal scorer Globke. Two goals by UNO in the second period and a goal by Irish defenseman Galvin made the lead 4-2 heading into the third period.
Sophomore Irish goaltender Morgan Cey came up large in the third period, as the Mavericks 17-3, only giving up one goal in that flurry, outshot Notre Dame. Senior forward John Wroblewski put the game away with a late empty net goal.
The Mavericks were able to exact revenge on the Irish the following day, as Notre Dame lost by a count of 5-3. The Irish got on the scoreboard with two goals by Stastny and one by Wiegand.
The Irish continued its long road trip, traveling to Big Rapids, Mich. to take on CCHA leader Ferris State. The 15th-ranked Bulldogs manhandled the Irish 6-3 on Jan. 10.
Wroblewski scored two goals in the loss, and junior forward Aaron Gill added a tally for the Irish.
Notre Dame was able to exact some revenge the following day, achieving a 4-4 tie against Ferris State.
Stastny, Dunlop, Wroblewski and McLean all scored for the visiting Irish, and goaltender Cey made 34 saves as Notre Dame was outshot 38-28.
Notre Dame returns to action Friday at home against Yale, before traveling to Chicago to face the Bulldogs again Saturday.
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, January 15, 2003
