Gophers

Notre Dame relishes rivalry with U

As the Fighting Irish improves to become a top hockey program, the team maintains a connection to the Gophers.

By Roman Augustoviz

January 8, 2012 at 7:45AM

Notre Dame, with two Frozen Four appearances in the past four years, is becoming one of the top college hockey programs in the country.

"We've tried to improve our skill level over the last three, four years," said coach Jeff Jackson, whose Fighting Irish played the Gophers on Saturday night at Mariucci Arena. "And our depth is better. Offensive skills are better than it has been. We still are a work in progress, to some degree."

Jackson said the team's speed also has improved.

As for the Gophers, he is impressed by them. "[From] everything I have seen, Don [coach Don Lucia] has them going again," Jackson said. "They've got great offensive depth up front. They skate extremely well. [Goalie Kent] Patterson has played really, really well for them. They have a lot of positive things going for them. Their specialty teams are extremely good.

"They certainly are one of the top few teams in the country."

Rivalry being renewed Lucia said earlier this week that the Gophers and the Fighting Irish will meet during each of the next four seasons. He said he wanted to play Notre Dame partly for selfish reasons, an obvious reference to Mario, his youngest son, signing with his alma mater last month.

Jackson also welcomes the rivalry. Notre Dame was in the WCHA from 1971 to '81. The Gophers led the all-time series with the Irish 22-13-2 coming into this weekend.

"One of the reasons we went to the Hockey East," said Jackson, referring to the Irish's decision to leave the CCHA, their current conference, for a new league in 2013-14, "is because they have a real small league schedule, which allows us to play Minnesota and Michigan [teams].

"We have great rivalries with Michigan and Michigan State already. We'd like to have Minnesota be a rivalry for us in the future. And obviously with Mario coming and Don being an alumni, it is a natural fit.

"Even the late, great Lefty Smith" had Minnesota roots, Jackson said, referring to the former Irish coach who died Tuesday at age 81. "Our program has had a lot of Minnesotans over the years. Even since I have been there. Guys like Mark Van Guilder and Ryan Thang. We have had a great tradition out of Edina High School, and that is carrying on with Stephen Fogarty."

Forwards Anders Lee of Edina and Nick Larson of Apple Valley are Minnesotans on the Notre Dame roster this season.

Fogarty and Mario Lucia, who played for Edina and Wayzata High Schools, respectively, are both going to join the Irish next season. Now they are teammates at Penticton of the British Columbia Hockey League. The Vees have won 20 games in a row and are 32-5 overall, with two of the losses in overtime.

Lucia is the Vees' second-leading scorer with 27 goals and 35 assists for 62 points; Fogarty is eighth in scoring (17-25--42).

"There is a real strong [Minnesota] connection with Notre Dame, and a lot of that has to do with kids out of a state very well-balanced," Jackson said. "Education is real important to them. That Notre Dame degree has an impact on some of these kids."

Expectations are high Jackson expects Mario Lucia to fit in quickly next season. "He has a chance, as a freshman, to make an impact like Anders did last year," Jackson said, referring to Lee, who averaged a point per game as a freshman.

"[Mario] is a different type of player. He is a great skater, but he has those goal-scoring instincts," he said.

Jackson said it is important to him to recruit such talented players as Anders or T.J. Tynan, who have great work ethic and great attitudes and fit well in the locker room without egos.

"Mario is going to be like that," Jackson said. "He is not going to be a distraction. And that is a positive. When your best players are also good kids, it makes a huge difference."