2024-25 Review:

The Fighting Irish lacked much fight last season, posting a 12-25-1 record, marking their worst season since joining the Big 10 and their least amount of wins since the 2004-05 season when they won 5 games. The bright spot of the season came when they upset #9 Minnesota in the first round of the Big 10 Championship in a 3 game series.

Key Departures:

Long-time head coach, Jeff Jackson announced in 2024 that he would retire after the 2024-25 season after coaching the Fighting Irish since 2005. He ends his tenure with Notre Dame with 3 CCHA Tournament championships and 2 Big 10 Championships. He also won College Hockey News Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2018. the Fighting Irish also are losing their starting goaltender, Owen Say, after signing a contract with the Calgary Flames organization. Say was a bright spot on the team, posting a .920 SV% and 2.82 GAA in 27 games played.

Next Men Up:

The Fighting Irish will have a new head coach at the helm for this season with the promotion of associate head coach, Brock Sheahan. Sheahan is 41 years old from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, and played for Notre Dame in 2004-2008 before playing pro hockey, mostly in the ECHL, until 2013. Forward Will Belle highlights the Fighting Irish's additions during the offseason, picking up the 2025 5th NHL Draft 5th rounder from the US National Development Junior Team, scoring 10 points in 28 games.

The Road Ahead:

Notre Dame finished dead last in the Big 10 last season, and it is only going to get harder this year with the additions that teams like Penn State, Michigan State, and Minnesota were able to make in the offseason. Notre Dame begins their season on October 10th when they travel to Arizona State to take part in the 2025 Icebreaker Tournament, facing off against Arizona State in the first game. They will play either Qunnipiac or Alaska-Fairbanks the next day on October 11th.

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2025-26 Preview: University of Minnesota <b>2024-25 Review:</b>