'Celebrate the Legacy' Team of the Week
December 19, 2012 10:49 AM
2009 CCHA Champion Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Led by senior forwards Erik Condra and Christian Hanson, sophomore forward Calle Ridderwall, junior defensemen Kyle Lawson and Brett Blatchford, sophomore defenseman Ian Cole and senior goaltender Jordan Pearce, Notre Dame finished the 2008-09 regular season in first place (21-4-3) in the 12-team CCHA standings, eight points ahead of Michigan and Miami, who finished in a tie for second place.
The Jeff Jackson-coached Irish were ranked No. 1 in the nation for eight weeks in the regular season and won six straight and seven of their last eight games entering the CCHA playoffs. After earning a first-round bye, Pearce had two straight shutouts as Notre Dame swept eighth-seeded Nebraska-Omaha, 5-0 and 1-0, in a best-of-three second round playoff series to earn its third straight trip to Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena for the CCHA Championship. In the CCHA playoff semifinals, sophomore forward Ben Ryan’s goal with 1:00 remaining in regulation gave the Irish a 2-1 win over sixth-seeded Northern Michigan.
In the title game, Notre Dame rallied from a two-goal deficit with a four-goal third period to defeat defending champion Michigan, 5-2. Ridderwall scored twice and freshman Billy Maday, Ryan and junior Christian Minella added single goals. The win gave the Irish their second Mason Cup title in the last three seasons. Pearce received the Bill Beagan Trophy as the tournament’s MVP, while Ryan, Ridderwall, Cole and Pearce were named to the all-tournament team.
Notre Dame lost in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, 5-1, to Bemidji State and ended the season 31-6-3.
Individually, Lawson picked up CCHA Best Defensive Defenseman honors and was named to the All-Conference Second Team, as were Condra and Hanson. Cole was an All-American and was named to the All-Conference First Team, while Maday made the CCHA All-Rookie squad.
As part of the ‘Celebrate the Legacy’ final season, the CCHA is looking for all the players who have their name engraved on the Mason Cup, the CCHA’s playoff championship trophy.
We need your help!
Check out the roster of the 2009 Fighting Irish championship team at CCHA.com as part of the CCHA’s ‘Search for Mason Cup Champions’ and call us (248-888-0600) or email us at: pcolvin@ccha.com, if you have an update about any of the players on the 2008-09 Notre Dame team.
2008-09 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Head Coach: Jeff Jackson
Associate Head Coach: Paul Pooley
Associate Coach: Andy Slaggert
Volunteer Assistant Coach: Mike McNeill
Coordinator of Hockey Operations: Nick Siergiej
Brett Blatchford
Brian Brooke
Ian Cole
Nick Condon
Erik Condra
Kevin Deeth
Patrick Gaul
Ryan Guentzel
Christian Hanson
Dan Kissel
Kyle Lawson
Sean Lorenz
Luke Lucyk
Billy Maday
Christiaan Minella
Kyle Murphy
Tom O'Brien
Jordan Pearce
Brad Phillips
Garrett Regan
Calle Ridderwall
Eric Ringel
Teddy Ruth
Ben Ryan
Richard Ryan
Ryan Thang
Justin White