The first season of Notre Dame hockey under coach Brock Sheahan — a kaleidoscope of highs, low and uncertainty — is through.
The Irish completed their ninth season in the Big Ten, the most competitive collegiate hockey conference in the nation. Notre Dame recorded a 9-23-5 overall record, and a good-for-last-place 5-17-2 record in conference play. It was the first team eliminated from the Big Ten playoffs after its loss to No. 1 Michigan on March 11.
Freshmen
The most promising among this year's freshmen were forwards Cole Brown, Will Belle and Dashel Oliver. On defense, Caeden Carlisle and Drew Mackie stood out as a continuation of the Irish desire to be a force to be reckoned with protecting the crease.
In total, the seven players in the freshmen class totaled 17 goals and 35 assists for 52 points in total. While their statistics may be less than that of the top lines consisting of juniors and seniors, this freshmen group proved they were unafraid to let their hunger for on-ice success shine through. If the players remain with the Irish, their growth will be a major factor in the cultivation of Irish hockey that can become dangerous in postseason action.
Outgoing players
As promising freshmen are rising in the ranks, committed players are leaving the roster altogether. Defenseman Michael Mastrodomenico and Axel Kumlin, along with goaltender Jack Williams and forward Niko Jovanovic, have donned the Irish sweater for the last time. Mastrodomenico was a prominent leader on and off the ice, and Kumlin was one of the best producers on offense. The remaining players will have large expectations as they step up to fill such roles, but the junior presence for the Irish is strong.
There were two graduate students on the Irish roster this year, forward Sutter Muzzatti and goaltender Luke Pearson. Muzzatti was a team captain and a strong presence on the Notre Dame bench, and has excelled after transferring from RPI.
Although a junior this season, forward Cole Knuble will not be returning to play for the Irish next season. Knuble signed a two-year entry level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers that begins with the 2026-2027 season. He recorded 22 assists and 9 goals in 36 games with the Irish this season, and had a 43% success rate at the face-off circle. Knuble’s fast-paced style of play will pair well with the Flyers vision for their rebuild, and he will represent Notre Dame at the highest level.
Goaltending
In a year of unimpressive offensive performances, it was Notre Dame’s goaltending that was its greatest strength. Sophomore goaltender Nick Kempf played 34 of 37 games this season, and emerged with a .893 save percentage. While Williams and Pearson earned some playing time this season, they will not be returning, which means the burden of Irish goaltending falls on Kempf’s shoulders once again next year.
Even if incoming freshmen have promising talent in the crease, the experience of Kempf will be difficult to beat. However, for the hopeful long-term success of Notre Dame under Sheahan’s guidance, it would serve the team to give Kempf some reliable help between the posts. The Irish do not want to overplay Kempf and give him reason to transfer, as he is a standout talent that will lead the Irish in the coming seasons.
Successes
Notre Dame started the season strong, earning three non-conference wins and one tie. However, it did not earn a conference victory until Jan. 24. The Irish simply cannot afford to have another season with such a slow, grueling start in conference play. However, in the latter half of the season, the Irish earned all five of their conference wins. They beat Ohio State three out of the four times they played this season, but the most impressive Irish win came in a 4-3 overtime victory over then-No. 5 Penn State.
Although Notre Dame was eliminated in the first round of conference playoffs, the Irish proved they could earn conference victories. The victories were confidence boosters for a team that desperately needed them, and they reminded the other Big Ten powerhouses that they were not invincible.
Failures
As this was Sheahan’s first season, many unfairly expected him to turn the recent slumps around. But change takes time, and Sheahan laid strong groundwork that he will need to improve upon for next season.
However, there was visible reliance on the veterans of the team to carry on offensive attacks, and the team placed too much pressure on the junior and senior groups to create offensive success. The team would have benefited greatly from mixing age groups on lines to share the experience of the returning players with the youthful determination of the freshmen and sophomores.
Similarly, the Irish seemed to give up on themselves early into the game. Until the end of January, a visible tension was present on the bench, and the Notre Dame players appeared as if they had given up on any chance of securing a game, sometimes before the second period was over. This mindset is a bench and locker room issue, and the Irish must implement a leadership group that will work to uplift the attitude of the players. But the responsibility also falls on the coaches, as they have to set the example for how their team carries themselves.
When considering the circumstances surrounding Notre Dame’s season, it is important to recognize the team demonstrated significant growth from October through March. At their current pace, the Irish will be an even stronger team when preseason action begins in seven months. But as Sheahan looks to begin his second season as head coach, all eyes are on the team to see if they can pull themselves out of their current struggles and establish a new era of Fighting Irish hockey.
