“We Want to Win a Championship” - Notre Dame Hockey Preseason Press Conference Recap
- Brenden Duffy
- Sep 30
- 8 min read
Monday, Notre Dame Hockey held their preseason kickoff press conference with first-year Head Coach Brock Sheahan joined by recently announced co-captains Michael Mastrodomenico and Danny Nelson. We recap the presser and offer some preview notes for the upcoming season:
The group shares a common goal of wanting to win the championship. Sheahan and the boys will embark on the beginning of the journey this week when they travel up to Michigan for an exhibition with the USNTDP.
Sheahan on Friday’s exhibition and the season getting underway:
“Excited to get started. It’s a real game with talented players. Our focus will be on us and where our game is at. I'm honestly excited to have real game-line reps. I think we've changed a lot of the way we've played. In order to see where we're at, we have to play in real time. Early in the season, it's more about how consistent are we going to be on the clock, how often are we actually playing the style we've got. I think if we do that over and over and over, the results will come.”
He would add, “Yeah, well, I can start like it's a game, right? Like we want our guys to go execute and get better. And that's the biggest thing. There is some of like I want to get a look at some guys, so we will play a bigger lineup. We will play two goalies. You know, there is some of that, and seeing how guys, you see where their chemistry is really at. I've seen a lot through training camp, but now we need to apply that to somebody else. So, against yourself, you're going against the same stuff. So, it's time.”
Mastrodomenico on Friday’s exhibition: “I'm looking forward to this stuff. It's tough to recreate. It's nice to start actually playing live. You can try to mimic it in practice, but it's not the same thing.”
After playing and coaching under former Notre Dame Head Coach Jeff Jackson, Sheahan has a lot to live up to in replacing the legend. His past experiences and what he has learned from Jackson will certainly live on with Sheahan at the helm of the program.
Sheahan on elements of Coach Jackson’s game he would like to take and keep for himself:
“Coach did an amazing job when playing for him. The program is where it's at because of the work that the staff did. The things that we change are not necessarily a knock on the previous staff. It's just how I coach. It's how I know it will be successful. And times have changed a bit. There are different ways to win, to be successful, and to develop and get better. But Coach demanded things get done right and done the right way. And I don't think that I'm fully able to change the program here. One thing that I admire is the type of human beings who have been around this program. Guys I've played with and the guys that have been here since. Part of the reason nobody left is that I think we have great kids. We said we love going in, love the game of hockey, and they want to be a part of getting us to a place that we should be, which is one of the best teams, if not the best, in the country. I believe that that's something that Jackson helped instill in this program.”
In today’s current age of constant change in college athletics, there is no difference in hockey. The fact that Notre Dame had no players transfer out of the program as the coaching reign changed hands speaks volumes about Coach Sheehan and what the players think of the university in general.
The co-captains spoke about why they chose to return to Notre Dame despite the coaching change:
“As a team, we've worked with Brock for the past two years. He was very involved and focused…I think there’s a reason why no one transferred out this year. We all have a lot of faith in Brock. We’re excited about the way we’re playing, a lot of pressure.”
“I think you kind of nailed it there. It's the belief in the coaching staff. Obviously, we got a little taste of Brock the last couple of years, and then when you have to take over last spring, I think we really saw what we were going to be capable of. I think just coming back this year and seeing that and seeing the other two coaches that he brought in, it's really been something really cool and something very exciting for the program and a big reason why we got guys from other big event programs.”
The co-captains discuss what practice is like under Coach Sheahan:
“Coach is never getting on us. They've been pretty supportive. They like to work through things. They love to talk.”
“Yeah, I think they're really upbeat. Obviously, I think one big thing is you always know what you're going to get out of practice. There's a meeting goal on the practice sheet before we go out there, and we'll see what today is really all about. And you really feel like after practice, getting off, it's like we accomplished what we went out there to do. I think that's a good thing to have every single practice as the season can get long when we practice throughout the week and then only play on the weekends. So I think it's good to have a goal every day for practice, so you leave knowing you really accomplished something.”
On September 22, Notre Dame Hockey announced this season’s leadership group, consisting of co-captains Mastrodomenico and Nelson, along with alternate captains Axel Kumlin, Paul Fischer, and Cole Knuble. Danny Nelson looks to lead the offense after posting 26 points, including 13 goals which were second on the team, in 36 games played last year. The centerman also led the Big Ten in faceoff win percentage.
Nelson on what it means to be named a captain:
“I'd say for me, it's obviously an extreme honor to be captain. I've played here for a couple of years now and seen some really great captains before me. And then we had the kind of guys I try to look up to and try to take things from them. And I'd say my leadership style is kind of to lead by example, try to give guys bumps when we need it, but really go out there and play my game and make sure I'm playing up to my standard. And obviously, try to pull guys along, and I think our leadership does a good job of that as well. It's not just like us two.”
The last important note addressed in the preseason press conference concerned the goalie room. As expected, Nick Kempf will be the man in the net for the Irish, barring unforeseen circumstances.
Sheahan on Kempf:
“I think he was the only true freshman goalie in the country last year. In my opinion, he’s the best goalie at his age in the country. There's some debate on that, but we'll see. He's going to continue to perform and do the work, but his talent level is extremely high. I believe, yes, his teammates see that every day…We're excited. The whole goalie position group that we have understands that Nick is going to get every opportunity. It doesn't mean that it's for sure playing every game, Jack Williams and Pearson did a great job, and they're getting better, and our speculation is for Nick to continue to tap into the potential that he has. And I believe with Mike Garman here, who is our associate coach, but he's also running our goalies. He's extremely experienced in that area. I've seen a different Nick Kempf, in my opinion, day-to-day in practice, where he's a little bit more in control and he's using his athleticism when he's supposed to, and it's been a lot of fun to watch, and I feel like he's grown up a lot so I'm just really excited for him to get in. Things won’t be perfect for him, but I think he's taking a lot of strides, and our staff, myself specifically, have entire confidence in him.”
Key Players:
Forwards:
Danny Nelson - 3rd year at ND, Co-Captain, 26 points in 36 games last season (2nd on team in goals with 13), also led the Big Ten in faceoff percentage, Henry’s brother
Brennan Ali - 3rd year at ND, 2022 7th-round NHL Draft selection (Detroit Red Wings), 19 points in 38 games last season
Maddox Fleming - 3rd year at ND, 3 points and 7 blocked shots in 22 games last season
Jayden Davis - 3rd year at ND, 3 points and 11 blocked shots in 22 games last season
Jack Larrigan - 2nd year at ND, 7 points in 29 games last season
Evan Werner - 1st year at ND, Michigan transfer, 22 points in 33 games last season
Cole Knuble - 3rd year at ND, Alternate Captain, preseason first team All-Big Ten, led team with 39 points in 34 games last season, led team with 27 assists and a +6 on-ice rating, named second team All-Big Ten
Carter Slaggert - 3rd year at ND, 10 points and 20 blocked shots in 36 games played last season, son of current Associate HC Andy, younger brother of former Irish hockey players Graham and Landon
Defenseman:
Jimmy Jurcev - 2nd year at ND, 4 points and 18 blocked shots in 31 games last season
Michael Mastrodomenico - 4th year at ND, Co-Captain, 15 points and 28 blocked shots last season
Axel Kumlin - 2nd year at ND, Alternate Captain, former Miami Ohio transfer, tied on the team for most points by a defenseman last season with 21
Henry Nelson - 3rd year at ND, 8 points in 30 games last season, finished 3rd on the team with 40 blocked shots, Danny’s brother
Paul Fischer - 3rd year at ND, Alternate Captain, preseason second team All-Big Ten, tied on the team for most points by defenseman with 21 last season, finished 3rd on team with 19 assists, led team with 61 blocked shots
Jaedon Kerr - 2nd year at ND, 4 points and 12 blocked shots in 22 games last season
Goalie:
Nick Kempf - 2nd year at ND, .895 save percentage in 13 games played last season
Key Games:
Icebreaker Tournament, hosted by Arizona State
Oct 10 vs #14 ASU
Oct 11 vs Quinnipiac or Alaska
Nov 28 at #6 Boston College
Jan 2-3 vs #1 Western Michigan
Jan 2 at ND
Jan 3 at WMU
Every Big Ten game
Notably, Notre Dame is the only Big Ten program not ranked within the preseason polls
While the future seems to be bright under the guidance of Coach Sheahan, the first year taking over a program can certainly have its ups and downs. How do you think the Irish will fare in Sheahan’s debut season?
Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism.
Follow The Irish Tribune on social media:
Follow @Brenden_Duffy on X
Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox.
Check out our Irish partners:
TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here!
Comments