Irish Hockey

Maybe you can save this one to read right before the game on Saturday night (7:00 est ESPN), and a lot has been written recently about the Frozen Four, but its time we step back and look at this with some perspective.

Notre Dame is the first ever 4 seed to make it to the Frozen Four. And then they became the first ever 4 seed to make it to the Finals. This is roughly equivalent of a 12 or 13 seed making it this far. They have knocked off numerous highly favored teams. Teams like Michigan State, New Hampshire, and finally Michigan.

And Irish hockey fever is sweeping Irish Nation. Check out a screen shot of official Notre Dame website. Notre Dame hockey has overtaken a picture of the Pope.



Saturday Boston College will try to claim their third hockey champsionship and have reached the finals for the third year in a row.

They have a dominate goalie in Muse, who holds the BC record for saves in a season.

And lets not get ahead of ourselves. Three weeks ago, Notre Dame wasn't even sure if they would make the tournament at all.

This is David and Goliath. Its Team USA versus Russia (although I am 90% sure BC isn't communist. But Jesuit is close enough). It's Rocky against Apollo Creed. Rocky against Clubber Lane. Rocky against Ivan Drago. Sly Stalone's agent against saying "no".

Right now Notre Dame is 5-foot nothing. 100-nothing.

BC is running perfect formations as they warm up like the Hawks in Mighty Ducks. They are running lay up drills, while ND Coach Jim Jackson is measuring the size of the crease ("Same size as ours back in South Bend").

But don't think that Notre Dame's miracle run is over yet. Anything can happen. Afterall, guess when the last time BC actually beat Notre Dame (er, in hockey). Give up? 2001. Guess how BC fared against New Hampshire, the team ND dispatched 7-3 in the first round of the tournament? They lost all 3 times by a combined 12-3.

Think about the 2008 Super Bowl, think about Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.

BC may have that great offense, but think about how great Notre Dame's defense has been.

Best of all, think how great it is to even have this opportunity. Its only one game and anything can happen. This isn't one of those scenarios where "if we can prevent penalties" or "If we can stop Gelde". There is no if's any more, only do.

So, without further ado, here is today's Friday, Get Pumped for the Weekend Video.

Go Irish.

Sports Watercooler

There will be a separate post today covering the hockey game last night, but, wow.

Can you ask for a better game? That was totally worth being extremely tired right now. Irish go up 3-0 in the first period? Michigan scores 2 goals in 18 seconds? The third period the game is tied, Irish go up, and Michigan ties it again? Then Notre Dame wins in overtime! I wanted to punch a hole in a wall, run sprints around the room, and yell out the windows. Instead, I gave a silent fist pumped and attempted to fall asleep.

As soon as the game was over I got 3 text messages. My heart was racing and I couldn't fall asleep for an hour after. Why?

I probably went to 3 hockey games in my 4 years at Our Lady's University. I may have followed the team a bit after college. And now I am committing a sports fan's biggest sin, jumping on the bandwagon of a team that was already in the Final Four. I missed all the suffering of the season. I missed the "we get no respect" posts on message boards. And I certainly missed being the David in every matchup of the tournament. I haven't earned the chance to really cheer for this team and celebrate like I had been there all along.

But I am. For one thing, being a Notre Dame fan means I can cheer for any sport and jump on any team's bandwagon that the school offers. But even bigger, this is arguable the biggest success I have had during my tenure as a Notre Dame fan. Sure, I have been to the Fiesta Bowl. And where a Bowl win fits into the general sports victory pantheon is tricky. And I have seen a team make the Sweet Sixteen. I have seen a women's soccer national championship. But when you combine the sport (hockey is still a top 4 sport), the passion of the fans (Frozen Four is a big deal), and the level of victory (Championship game), and I will argue that this is the most successful achievement that Notre Dame Athletics have made during my fanship. (Number 2: Firing Ty).

Go Irish.

Irish Hockey Tonight!

So for the first time in its history, the University of Notre Dame has made the Frozen Four. This is no small feat, and in fact, its a very big deal in some circles.

Thanks to the basketball team completely failing in the tournament, and the football team completely failing about 2 minutes into their season, this is the biggest sporting accomplishment by a Notre Dame team this year. And it deserves some recognition and school pride.

With that said, I doubt many of you know what to expect tonight when you watch (9:30 est on ESPN2). So here are some cliff notes:

First off, they are playing Michigan. Now, I shouldn't have to say anything more to get you to watch, but I will.

Notre Dame is all around solid. Their goalie is in his first year playing full time and has been "good to great".

Notre Dame made it this far on their defense. Its loaded with quick, strong players. Brock Sheahan is the guy to watch on the Defense.

Also Kyle Lawson and Ian Cole are two young defensemen who bring excitement to the ice whenever they are on it.

Ryan Thang is the Irish's biggest scoring threat. But for consitancy, check out Dan Kissel.

As for someone to always have your eye on, its Christian Hanson. Who apparently is both "very big" and "has a nice scoring touch". And no, I did not lift that straight out of someone's porn resume.

Mainly though, all the accolades come down to Coach Jackson, who has been credited with leading this team in a creative, smart, and study direction. They don't wow anyone, they just get it done.

Across the ice is the uneducated, future janitors of America, The University of Michigan.

The have a talented team, consisting of 12 NHL drafted players (to ND's 7).

They dominate the power play, and apparently move the puck really well.

They are also "stupid", which is no real insight when talking about Michigan players. But apparently, they tend to make a lot of stupid penalties. Although this could be them being stupid...like a fox as it could force the other team into getting frustrating, making penalties of their own and setting up the aforementioned powerplay, playing right into those dirty wolverine hands.

From someone who knows better than I:

"Notre Dame wins turnovers at a 60% rate (according to the WSJ article from last week, the best in the NHL wins 58%), while Michigan is at a 47%. This means they will try and play a smooth game without much stoppage of play. This will especially come into importance in our zone where they will try and keep play going while we should try and tie it up as much as possible."

"If the game is a run and gun exhibition of skill, Michigan stands to gain. If it is a game of working and grinding to negate every threat and create every opportunity, then ND favors."

And one must never forget that Michigan sucks.

And Ann Arbor is a dirty whore.

Go Irish.

* Special thanks to the posters on NDNation's hockey board.