HOCKEY: Icemen look to tame Broncos, advance to playoffs
By JEFF BALTRUZAK
Sports Writer
The Notre Dame hockey team has risen in the past two weeks like a vampire at nightfall, with a 3-0-2 record in their last five games. This weekend, they face No. 13 Western Michigan in a home-home series that will determine whether the Irish will continue on to the CCHA playoffs.
The Irish currently lead Bowling Green by a single point, 18 to 17. Notre Dame occupies the 10th and final playoff spot, and would need three out of the four possible points — a win and a tie — to secure the final spot.
All these playoff scenarios depend on Bowling Green's final series against Ferris State. If Bowling Green can only muster a single point in two games, the Irish would be guaranteed the playoff spot by virtue of having the advantage in the head to head series.
Western Michigan will be a very difficult challenge for even a red-hot Notre Dame squad. The Broncos are 18-10-6 overall, and have plenty of depth and talent to overmatch Notre Dame.
"We feel good about this weekend," said assistant captain Dan Carlson. "We played well against them before and we feel like we can play well again."
The Irish are coming off a very long and very successful road trip last weekend against Alaska-Fairbanks. Notre Dame came away from the Alaskan tundra with a win and a tie and a much needed three points.
Western Michigan split this past weekend against Bowling Green. Notre Dame will have to focus on the Broncos' two outstanding scorers, senior right winger David Gove and junior center Mike Bishai. Both had 55 points after last weekend's series.
But Western Michigan has already cemented their playoff spot, and the Broncos have less to play for than the Irish. The Broncos will most likely receive either the fourth or fifth playoff spot depending on their performance this weekend.
"We want to win both games," said Carlson. "But if we can't get that, a win and a tie would be nice too."
Another positive for Notre Dame is the previous home and home series between the two teams back on Jan. 12 and 13, when the Irish won in South Bend and tied in Kalamazoo to secure three points for the weekend.
And that's what they need to do now.
Though the Irish have had trouble in home games this year, Notre Dame is 7-0-1 in their last eight games against the Broncos on the Joyce Center ice.
Defenseman Brett Lebda was selected as the CCHA rookie-of-the-week for the last week of February. The defenseman made a strong case for himself by supplying the Irish with some offense this past weekend against Alaska-Fairbanks with a goal and three assists.
The two teams face off in Lawson Arena at Western Michigan on Friday night, and then again Saturday night at the Joyce Center.
On Saturday night, the team will honor its departing seniors, including captains Carlson, Ryan Dolder, and Chad Chipchase, as well as Jay Kopishchke, Ryan Clark, Kyle Kolquist, and Matt Van Arkel.
All Sports Stories for Friday, March 2, 2001
