Icers advance to conference semis
By MATT OLIVA
Sports Writer
After a slow start, the Notre Dame hockey team turned its season around in time to claim home ice for the first round of the CCHA playoffs, and then capitalized to earn their first trip to the conference semifinals in 18 years.
Preseason polls predicted a top four conference finish for the Irish again this year, despite the graduation of three of the team's top five scorers. But early on, it did not look like those predictions would come true.
The Irish won only three of their first 10 conference games before a critical Dec. 5 game against Michigan State, which was ranked No. 5 in the country. The Irish needed a big series against the Spartans to get back on track. Ryan Dolder's third period goal gave the Irish a 1-0 victory, their first at home against the Spartans in the last ten meetings.
The Irish stayed in the hunt for the fifth playoff spot — and home ice in the first round — throughout much of the season.
Against Western Michigan in January the Irish scored twice in the final 3:26 to force the game to overtime. Then 52 seconds into overtime Dan Carlson scored his second consecutive goal for the win.
Notre Dame's final record of 12-9-6 in the CCHA (14-15-8 overall) drew them a first round match-up with Ferris State, who had won both of their regular season games with the Irish.
But even getting home ice in the first round represented a turnaround for the team.
"You want to be hot going into the playoffs, and we did this with everyone buying into the team concept, everyone giving out on the ice," said senior defenseman Sean Molina
After knocking out Ferris State in a tight three-game series at the Joyce Center, the Irish lost to Michigan State in the CCHA semifinals.
The season saw new leaders emerge for the Irish, and the development of several rookies who will give Notre Dame hockey a promising future. But the seniors — head coach Dave Poulin's first class of recruits — made some major contributions as well. Captain Ben Simon finished second on the team in scoring, despite nagging injuries.
And fourth-year players formed the core of a solid Irish defense. Senior defensemen Tyson Fraser, Nathan Borega, and Molina led a penalty killing unit that held opponents to just 41 goals.
"When we came in here nothing was really expected of us," Borega said. "Maybe keep it close or win a game here and there. Now we expect to win every game and go farther each year. The coaching staff has changed and the whole team attitude has really improved while we have been here."
All Sports Stories for Friday, May 19, 2000
