Notre Dame Hockey Big Ten Championship
Notre Dame Hockey is a collegiate ice hockey program that represents the University of Notre Dame. The team competes in the Big Ten conference and has a long-standing tradition of excellence. In the 2020-21 season, Notre Dame Hockey won the regular-season Big Ten Championship, earning the right to be the top seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
The 2020-21 Season
The 2020-21 season was unique due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced changes in the schedule and limited attendance at games. Despite these obstacles, Notre Dame Hockey had a successful season. The team finished with a record of 14-13-2 and 32 points, earning them the top spot in the Big Ten standings.
Notre Dame Hockey's success was due in part to their strong defense. The team allowed the fewest goals per game in the Big Ten, with a goals-against-average of just 2.17. The team was also led by junior forward Alex Steeves, who finished the season with 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists).
The Big Ten Tournament
The Big Ten Tournament is an annual postseason tournament for the six teams in the conference. The tournament is single elimination, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Notre Dame Hockey entered the tournament as the top seed and faced off against the Wisconsin Badgers in the semifinals.
In the semifinal game, Notre Dame Hockey got off to a slow start, falling behind 2-0 in the first period. However, the team rallied in the second period, scoring two goals to tie the game. The game remained tied through the third period and overtime, and was eventually decided in a shootout. Notre Dame Hockey won the shootout 2-1, with goals from Spencer Stastney and Alex Steeves.
In the championship game, Notre Dame Hockey faced off against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The game was closely contested, with neither team able to score until the third period. Notre Dame Hockey took the lead on a goal from Graham Slaggert, and held on to win the game 3-1. Alex Steeves was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, with two goals and two assists in the two games.
The NCAA Tournament
As the Big Ten Tournament champions, Notre Dame Hockey earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The team was seeded #3 in the Midwest Regional, and faced off against the #2 seed, the Boston College Eagles.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams scoring in the first period. The game remained tied until the third period, when Notre Dame Hockey scored two goals to take a 3-1 lead. Boston College scored a late goal, but Notre Dame Hockey held on to win the game 3-2. With the win, Notre Dame Hockey advanced to the regional final against the #1 seed, the Minnesota State Mavericks.
The regional final was a tightly contested game, with both teams playing strong defense. The game was scoreless through two periods, but Minnesota State scored early in the third period to take a 1-0 lead. Notre Dame Hockey was unable to score in the remaining time, and the game ended with a 1-0 victory for Minnesota State.
Conclusion
The 2020-21 season was a successful one for Notre Dame Hockey, culminating in a Big Ten Championship and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Although the team fell short of their ultimate goal of a national championship, the season was a testament to the program's long-standing tradition of excellence.
As Notre Dame Hockey looks ahead to the 2021-22 season, the team will be looking to build on their success and compete for a national championship. With a strong foundation of players and coaches, there is no doubt that Notre Dame Hockey will continue to be a force in collegiate ice hockey.
