[ndbloggonzo]

Finally, the ballots are in, and the winners announced. Here are the Irish Hockey Moward 2014 winners. As a reminder, senior Eric Johnson led the team in the Movember effort to raise awareness and money for prostate and testicular cancer research.

A note: the pictures above were taken toward the beginning of the campaign. Some mustaches grew more. Others…not so much.

[ndbloggonzo]

Anna Gonzalez ‘16 (@NDBlogGonzo)

11.14.2014

Hockey is hard. It was hard for me to learn in the first place (the rules, regulations, strategies, jargon), but then actually learning how trying to play it was so much harder. Obviously, I wasn’t going to do something like this without documenting the experience.

What you’re about to watch is painfully awkward. If you don’t like watching people make fools of themselves, click on the next post. If you do like watching people—specifically me—make fools of themselves, you’re in for a treat.

I’m going to make you look at some pictures now.

The coaches and I

Standing in Coach Pooley’s recommended stance.

A few fun facts that didn’t make it into the video:

I was using Vince Hinostroza’s stick for the day. If you listen closely right before I skate out onto the ice, you can hear someone in the background yell, “That’s a sick stick, though!” That’s Vince.

There was a drill that I actually nailed, but we didn’t get it on camera. So there’s no way for me to prove it. I’m sorry, mom.

Let me also explain why I was that bad at skating backwards: the ice was extremely worn and the blades on my skates weren’t that sharp. At least that’s what Sam told me. I might have just been awful at it.

Coach Jackson, or so I’ve been told, was watching during some of my face-offs against Steven, and said, “If he loses this, he’s off the team.” Steven won that one. Don’t worry.

When I was putting on my skates, everyone took extra care in making sure I got the blade guards off. Why? Because a few years ago a player—who I will not name for the sake of his own reputation (but he has since graduated)—repeatedly forgot to take off his blade guards and completely wiped out the second he hit the ice.

The gloves were way too big for me.

The stick was also too big. When you set the blade on the ice, the top of the stick should end no higher than your bottom lip. The one I was using went past my nose. The right size gloves and stick are pretty important to being able to play. I’m not trying to say I would have done better with smaller equipment, but I’m not not saying that.

Now, I know you’re really eager to watch this (maybe you already did), so here you go. Enjoy. And please laugh. That’s the whole point.

[fightingirish-blog]

The Weekly Zamboni: Minnesota Week

Anna Gonzalez ‘16 (@NDBlogGonzo)

11.5.2014

Bryan Rust ‘14 scores against Minnesota on Nov. 8, 2013. The Irish won 4-1.

Minnesota is to college hockey as Alabama is to college football. They’re always ranked (currently #1), they’re fast, they’re strong, and they’re just good.

This week, the Notre Dame Hockey team finds itself traveling for the first time this season to the home state of 7 men on the team. Last year, the Minnesota Golden Gophers came to the Compton and split the series with a 4-1 Irish victory and a 4-5 Irish loss. (If you didn’t know already—but at this point, most people do—the Gophers are coached by Don Lucia, a 1981 Notre Dame grad and father to junior left wing Mario Lucia.) This year, Mariucci Arena provides the ice. Here’s what we’re facing this week.

For starters, in the overall national poll the team jumped from #20 to #15 in the nation.

In Hockey East, we moved from 11th of 12 teams to 5th out of 12.

Mario Lucia is 5th (10 points), Robbie Russo is T-6th (9 points), and Thomas DiPauli is T-16th (8 points) in individual scoring. However…

Lucia, alone, is ranked 2nd in the nation for goals with 8. He’s one goal short of Kevin Dufor, a So. Forward from Bowling Green. Mario also won Hockey East Player of the Month for October.

Cal Petersen fell from 8th to 11th in the nation under goaltending leaders. However, he’s the only freshman in the top 20.

Petersen is T-9th for best save percentage (0.950), and he’s now T-5th in shutouts.

In terms of team scoring, our offense is 6th in the nation with 3.75 average goals per game (AVG/GM), and our defense is 17th (2.12 AVG/GM).

We’re 44th on the Power Play (3/34) and 30th in Penalty Killing (27/32).

Now where’s Minnesota ranked?

The Gophers are #1 in the nation.

Their scoring leader is Kyle Rau who’s tied with Robbie Russo (among several others) for 6th.

Their offense is ranked 7th and their defense is T-24th.

They’re #4 in Power Play goals (7/23) and 44th in Penalty Kills (22/28).

Now let me bring out the Zamboni: The only places that Minnesota outright beats us are in the national rank and on the power play…soooo that’s interesting. Saying we’re up against #1 sounds much scarier than it is, but I honestly think that if our guys stay focused and disciplined on the ice, we have a good chance at beating them—at least a much better chance than people seem to give us credit for. 

As for the Lucia family matchup, it’s run its course. Coach Lucia said in a press conference this week that the media makes it out to be a much bigger deal than it is, and, “as far as I’m concerned, [Mario’s] number 22.” (You can listen to the entire clip here.) And judging from how Mario talks about things, it’s just another game for him and another weekend on which to score a goal or two. This will probably look to be a nice weekend for all the guys from the Twin Cities, though, because the Irish play the Gophers on Friday and Sunday, which means Saturday will provide a chance for them possibly to go home. I’m sure they’d all like that along with a few “upsets” against the Golden Gophers.

[fightingirish-blog]

The Weekly Zamboni: Merrimack Week

Anna Gonzalez ‘16 (@NDBlogGonzo)

11.12.2014

Then-freshman Ben Ostlie races a Merrimack player to the puck on November 16, 2013.

Well last weekend didn’t go as I had hoped. Was I being overly optimistic? Some Minnesota fans who tweeted at me during the games would say so, but I don’t think I was. As much as I would have liked to, I didn’t actually see the games, but from what I heard the team showed improvement from Friday to Sunday. The 2nd period of the game on Sunday was substantially better than 2nd periods we’ve had so far this season, and it showed some promising signs. And with all that said, it’s difficult to beat a team as talented as Minnesota. Next weekend, the guys are on the road again. This week, they’ll be heading to North Andover, Mass. to play Hockey East opponent Merrimack. But let’s begin with our standings this week:

Unfortunately, the team fell out of the overall national poll. (But—again—I’m being optimistic, so I’d like to point out that the poll only features 20 teams. If it featured more, we’d be 21st with 109 votes.)

In Hockey East, we moved from 5th of 12 teams to 8th out of 12.

Mario Lucia, after a scoreless weekend, and Robbie Russo, after a goal on Sunday, are T-24th (10 points) in individual scoring. However…

Lucia didn’t move far in ranking for goals. He moved from 2nd to T-3rd (with Bentley sophomore Max French) in the nation with 8. He’s still just one goal short of the top spot.

Petersen is T-24th for best save percentage (0.925), and he’s T-10th in shutouts. Petersen found himself in a new ranking this week: He’s 30th in the nation under minutes played (383:55).

In terms of team scoring, our offense is T-15th in the nation with 3.20 average goals per game (AVG/GM), and our defense is 29th (2.60 AVG/GM).

We’re 47th on the Power Play (4/43) and 42nd in Penalty Killing (32/40).

Now where’s Merrimack ranked?

The Warriors are unranked in the national poll, but fall ahead of us in Hockey East standings (5th of 12).

Their scoring leader is Brian Christie who’s T-36th, one point behind Lucia and Russo.

Their goaltender, senior Rasmus Tirronen, is ranked 12th in the nation and T-19th under save percentage (.928). Tirronen is 11th in the nation for minutes played (485:24) and is tied with Cal Petersen for number of shutouts.

Their offense is ranked T-27th and their defense is 11th.

They’re 29th in Power Play goals (8/50) and 6th in Penalty Kills (38/41).

Their past opponents this season have featured Connecticut (W, 2-1; T, 2-2), Providence (L, 3-2; W, 1-0), Holy Cross (W, 3-2; W, 2-1), Mercyhurst (W, 5-4; L, 3-2), and Princeton (W, 6-1).

The breakdown: Merrimack is definitely a team we can beat, but they’re a team that we’d be able to easily underestimate. Last year when Merrimack came to Notre Dame, we beat them 4-1 and tied them in overtime 2-2. I don’t think they’re any easier of a matchup than teams we’ve played thus far, but I also don’t see them being the most difficult—I think that’s all in the past.

[fightingirish-blog]

The Weekly Zamboni: Vermont Week

Anna Gonzalez ‘16 (@NDBlogGonzo)

10.30.2014

Time to clear the ice!

I’m not generally a numbers person, but every week, I like to look at how Notre Dame Hockey is ranked in a number of areas (not just the overall national ranking), and see what it means about the team. I’m just going to start typing it up. Now that we’re few weeks in, we’ve got some substantial game-play to work with.

Overall, we’re ranked #20 in the nation. Last week we were unranked, but with two wins over Niagara (5-3, 7-0), we hopped back in. (YAY!)

Conference: We are ranked 11th (out of 12 teams) currently in Hockey East.

Scoring Leaders: Robbie Russo (Sr. D) and Mario Lucia (Jr. F) are T-4th for points (8 each).

Mario, however, is T-2nd for goals. He even had the first Hat Trick of his collegiate career on Oct. 18 against Lake Superior State.

When it comes to assists, Russo and Thomas DiPauli (Jr. F) are T-16 in the nation with 5 apiece. (The two guys T-1 have 7 assists apiece. We’re so close!)

We’ve got some freshman in the rankings! First up is Anders Bjork (F) He’s T-5th for in shorthanded goals. 

The next freshman in rankings is goaltender Cal Petersen. After holding off Niagara in a 7-0 win, he’s 8th in the nation under Goaltending Leaders. (To qualify for this ranking, a goaltender must have played at least 33% of the goaltending minutes for his team. Petersen has played 179:18.)

With a .950 save percentage, Petersen ranks 7th for best save percentage, and he’s T-4th in number of shutouts (1).

In terms of scoring, our offense is T-3rd in the nation with 4.17 average goals per game (AVG/GM), and our defense is T-16th allowing 2.17 AVG/GM.

Now here’s where this weekend is important.

We’re T-39th in Power Plays. We’re 3-for-29 (10.34%). Vermont, our opponent this weekend, is T-19th on the Power Play. They’re also T-1st with New Hampshire on the Penalty Kill (PK). Coach Jackson has spoken a lot about the success of the team stemming from power play goals. Until last weekend, our power play unit had no goals, so Jackson did some readjustments, and the new unit scored 3 against Niagara. Things are looking up, but playing against a team with such a good PK unit means one thing: We have to shut down their PK and, meanwhile, have as few penalties as possible. Of course, that would make sense for any series, but more so this weekend than usual.

On the upside, we’re low in the rankings (T-38th) for penalties/minutes.

Go Irish! Beat Catamounts!

(Apparently Catamounts have been extinct in Vermont since the mid-1800s, so someone should work that into a sign and bring it to the game.)

[ndbloggonzo]

I never posted Episode 1 of "Linemates" so here it is.

Anders Lee (New York Islanders) & Riley Sheahan (Detroit Redwings) vs. Mark Van Guilder (Nashville Predators) & Ian Cole (St. Louis Blues)

Yes, I'm pronouncing "Sheahan" wrong. That's why Anders laughs. I've overcome that minor speech impediment since this was filmed, though.

[ndbloggonzo]

I pronounced all the names right this time. Thank God.

"Linemates": Fogarty & Herr vs. Johnson & Schneider

[ndbloggonzo]

The Weekly Zamboni: Vermont Week

Anna Gonzalez '16 (@NDBlogGonzo)

10.30.2014

Time to clear the ice!

I'm not generally a numbers person, but every week, I like to look at how Notre Dame Hockey is ranked in a number of areas (not just the overall national ranking), and see what it means about the team. I'm just going to start typing it up. Now that we're few weeks in, we've got some substantial game-play to work with.

Overall, we're ranked #20 in the nation. Last week we were unranked, but with two wins over Niagara (5-3, 7-0), we hopped back in. (YAY!)

Conference: We are ranked 11th (out of 12 teams) currently in Hockey East.

Scoring Leaders: Robbie Russo (Sr. D) and Mario Lucia (Jr. F) are T-4th for points (8 each).

Mario, however, is T-2nd for goals. He even had the first Hat Trick of his collegiate career on Oct. 18 against Lake Superior State.

When it comes to assists, Russo and Thomas DiPauli (Jr. F) are T-16 in the nation with 5 apiece. (The two guys T-1 have 7 assists apiece. We're so close!)

We've got some freshman in the rankings! First up is Anders Bjork (F) He's T-5th for in shorthanded goals. 

The next freshman in rankings is goaltender Cal Petersen. After holding off Niagara in a 7-0 win, he's 8th in the nation under Goaltending Leaders. (To qualify for this ranking, a goaltender must have played at least 33% of the goaltending minutes for his team. Petersen has played 179:18.)

With a .950 save percentage, Petersen ranks 7th for best save percentage, and he's T-4th in number of shutouts (1).

In terms of scoring, our offense is T-3rd in the nation with 4.17 average goals per game (AVG/GM), and our defense is T-16th allowing 2.17 AVG/GM.

Now here's where this weekend is important.

We're T-39th in Power Plays. We're 3-for-29 (10.34%). Vermont, our opponent this weekend, is T-19th on the Power Play. They're also T-1st with New Hampshire on the Penalty Kill (PK). Coach Jackson has spoken a lot about the success of the team stemming from power play goals. Until last weekend, our power play unit had no goals, so Jackson did some readjustments, and the new unit scored 3 against Niagara. Things are looking up, but playing against a team with such a good PK unit means one thing: We have to shut down their PK and, meanwhile, have as few penalties as possible. Of course, that would make sense for any series, but more so this weekend than usual.

On the upside, we're low in the rankings (T-38th) for penalties/minutes.

Go Irish! Beat Catamounts!

(Apparently Catamounts have been extinct in Vermont since the mid-1800s, so someone should work that into a sign and bring it to the game.)

[ndbloggonzo]

New Uniform, Same Tradition

Anna Gonzalez '16 (@NDBlogGonzo)

10.7.2014

A new athletic outfitter means new opportunities to change up the look of a team, but in Notre Dame Hockey’s case, no one wanted anything to change. The sweaters have stayed the same for over 20 years now, so when time came to design the new jersey, Dave Gilbert, the Notre Dame Hockey equipment manager, wanted to keep tradition.

Under Armour understood the desire amongst the Notre Dame Hockey staff to keep their two-decade tradition, and they obliged. One of the main things UA did was come up with a blue sleeve. “The first thing they came back with was that they did not have the blue sleeve, which is pretty iconic. It’s been 21 years since we’ve changed this jersey, so we wanted to make sure we kept the blue sleeve on our whites. So they put that in.”

Of course, Under Armour has to establish their brand, too, and there’s no point in keeping something exactly the same, so there are a few minor changes to the sweater.

First, the new jerseys have laces at the collar. “It’s the ‘in’ thing right now,” said Gilbert. “It adds a little something to it.” The special jerseys that have been worn in the past have had laces on the collar, but the normal blues and whites have not had laces for 21 years.

  Kevin Lind ('12) wears the Reebok-produced jersey during the 2013-14 season.

Second, the striping changed. One thing Under Armour has been doing in all the new uniforms they’ve made for Notre Dame is to add some details to the striping. Gilbert said it’s their 500-50-5 rule, which means you see one thing at 500 feet away. Then, at 50 feet, more detail appears, but finally at five feet, the intricacies of the jerseys are all evident. The detail in the striping is Under Armour’s particular branding for Notre Dame, as reported by Gilbert. He said that Under Armour tried to reflect the ceiling of the basilica and an aerial view of the sidewalks on campus through the details. The other change in the striping is the number of stripes. The uniform has gone from multi-striping to single stripes, but when it came to team picture day, “I really liked it. I think it looked really sharp,” Gilbert said.

  An up-close comparison between the striping. The Reebok jersey is on the left. The new Under Armour jersey is on the right.

Gilbert also says he likes the new shade of gold. There’s not too much of a difference between the two, but (as you can see in the picture) the Under Armour gold is just a little bit closer to the gold paint in the helmets. “It’s just got a little more powerful gold on it, and I think it’s going to be great with the helmets.”

  What matters most to Gilbert is that his favorite parts of the uniform haven’t changed. When I asked what his personal favorite part of the jersey was, Gilbert quickly answered, “The crest…. We haven’t changed that crest in 21 years. We kind of do things similar to football in that we have usually one weekend where we can do our Shamrock Series, otherwise our blues and our whites stay pretty traditional.”

  The crest on the front of the jersey has undergone no changes in the last two decades. The only difference between this year's and last is the color of the gold thread used in the twill work.

My favorite part of the jersey is on the shoulder: the Notre Dame seal. “The seal is really awesome,” Gilbert agreed. In his mind, it allows the jersey to reflect the Five Pillars of Notre Dame Athletics, as stated by Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick. Excellence, Education, Faith, Community, and Tradition are all demonstrated in the jersey in some way. The excellence of the program is shown through the crest on the front and the names on the back; the tradition of the program, through the 21-year history of the sweater (and the implementation of the gold helmet in 2005); community, through the uniformity amongst the team and the fans that wear the jersey as well. Education and Faith are specific to the seal as it reminds not only the players, but all who look at them, that they are students before athletes; that they attend a school that is founded upon excellence upheld by the tradition of a strongly faith-based community. 

Personally, I love the Notre Dame whites and blues as they stand and find both an appreciation for and fascination in the new details that Under Armour added this year. After all, we do like our tradition around here.

[ndbloggonzo]

Captain of a Different Ship

10.2.2014

Anna Gonzalez '16 (@NDBlogGonzo)

Any athlete knows what a huge honor it is to be named captain of his or her team. Hard work, dedication, sacrifice and grit are all required of the position. Steven Fogarty, a junior center for the Notre Dame hockey team, has been surrounded by those qualities his entire life in a more intense way than most - his father, William Fogarty, is a retired United States Navy Admiral, and his older brother, Charles, is currently serving in the Navy. You could almost say it was destined for Steven to be elected captain of the 2014-2015 team. 

Unsurprisingly, when you consider the occupations of half of its members, the Fogarty family is very pro-military and Steven says he has the utmost respect for servicemen.

“To say I’ve had two in my family is pretty cool,” says Fogarty.

He added that having a father formerly and a brother currently in the Navy has taught him lots of valuable life lessons, and it’s a fact of which he’s extremely proud. “My dad has taught us so much, just how to be a man. And I look up to my brother more than anyone in my life.”

In a very special moment for the family, during Steven’s freshman year, his father received the veteran’s salute during the intermission of a game at Compton Family Ice Arena. “It’s pretty cool to say my dad is a retired admiral. He still loves hearing people call him ‘Admiral.’”

Admiral Fogarty was honored in the Veteran's Salute at Compton Family Ice Arena on March 6, 2013.

One of the lessons Steven remembers being taught by his father and still keeps in mind on a daily basis is, “‘Whatever you want to do you can do, as long as you make the sacrifices.’ My brother’s been through some of the hardest, if not the hardest, training anyone can go through. It’s something that when he was 12 or 13, he said, ‘I want to do this,’ and he basically gave up everything in life to do it,” says Fogarty.

“I realize that if I put my mind to whatever it is I want to do, which is to play in the NHL, if I keep working and keep doing what I’m doing, hopefully that will be an opportunity for me." 

Because of Admiral Fogarty’s work, the Fogarty family moved around a lot when Steven was young. Steven was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. His family moved to Egypt for about a year, and then returned to the United States and lived in New Jersey. From there, the Fogarty family finally moved to Edina, Minnesota, where Steven calls home.

“I don’t remember anything. This was all before I was four,” he said.

After the move to Minnesota, hockey was inevitable for Steven. He began skating when he was three-years-old and began playing competitively when he was four or five.

“There was a rink right down the street from me. I’m pretty sure every hockey player says that, but there was,” says Fogarty.

“Growing up in Minnesota, everyone plays hockey. It’s kind of like in Texas how everyone plays football. I mean literally everyone plays hockey.”

His mother, Carol, is responsible for getting him started in the sport and can be credited for some of Steven’s success.

“She would probably like reading that,” says the Irish captain.

“She was definitely the one who got me the skates and brought me down to the rink.”

Steven says he doesn’t even remember whether sticking with the sport was his choice or his mother’s.

“I think that she saw that I liked it and wanted to be down [at the rink]. I guess the more and more I played it, the more I liked it, but to be honest, I don’t even remember the first time I had a stick in my hands,” says Fogarty.

“Obviously I liked it, and my mom definitely sensed it, so that’s why she kept bringing me down there.”

It’s the only one that lasted, but hockey wasn’t the only sport that Steven tried out. He played tackle football for two years, but he says, “I wasn’t the fastest guy, so I didn’t really like that.”

He also played soccer until his junior year of high school. “I didn’t play anything too competitively besides hockey. As you get older, it’s harder to play two sports with hockey, so that was my main focus.”

During Steven's short stint with football. Steven is on the left in the photo.

The focus on hockey paid off. Steven was named captain of his high school team at Edina High School and was then drafted by the New York Rangers in the third round  (72nd overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

During high school, he spoke with a few schools alongside Notre Dame, including Dartmouth, Colorado College, and Minnesota-Duluth. He even considered the service academies, and even reached out to the United States Military Academy at West Point, “They came to watch me, but I never really heard from them again," says Fogarty. 

He admitted that hockey has always been the forefront of his attention, so he never seriously considered entering the Navy, but he still hasn’t entirely ruled it out.

“It’s always been something I’ve been interested in, and who knows. It’s something I could still do when hockey is done,” adds the 21-year old center.

After he graduated from Edina in 2011, Steven took a year off to play in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) for the Penticton Vees. His decision to go to Canada was last minute and uprooted the plans he’d already had in mind.

“Originally, I was planning on playing in Chicago, which wasn’t too far away from home, explains Fogarty.

“I met the coach from Canada when he was in Minneapolis, because Mario [Lucia] and a few other Minnesota guys I knew were going up there. I actually remember when they committed there, I was like, ‘Why in the world would they ever go up to Canada and play hockey?’” says Fogarty.

“And then—who knew—two weeks later, I was going up there. So I took a visit. They have great facilities; I really liked the coaches and obviously the players who were going up there….the experience was great. I don’t regret any of it, and it helped me get ready for my freshman year.”

Throughout his season with the Vees, a spot in the Notre Dame locker room awaited him. Before he committed to Notre Dame during his senior year at Edina, he had been exposed to Notre Dame through the likes of other Edina natives such as Ryan Thang (’10) and Anders Lee (’14).

“I used to like to shoot in Ryan’s basement when I was little, while he was still in high school and college. And then Anders came here. I played with him my sophomore year [at Edina]. The second I visited, I knew that this was where I wanted to be,” says Fogarty.

His time at Notre Dame so far has been a time of growth and progression. He admits, “Freshman summer, they say I just never said anything, but I just take awhile to open up.” After two years, Steven has opened up and become vocal enough for head coach Jeff Jackson and his teammates to realize that he’s fit to lead the 27-man squad.

During the first week of classes in August, Coach Jackson spoke to Steven to let him know that he was named the captain of the 2014-15 hockey team. The first person he told was his mom.

“[She and my dad] were always asking me during the summer who were the captains going to be. They thought I knew, but I actually had no idea. So, right after I found out, I texted her, and she was obviously thrilled,” says Fogarty.

His parents have reacted to his success the way any parent would: with pride in their son’s accomplishments and support for his current endeavors.

“They’re great. They’re so supportive, and I can credit basically everything to them,” says the business major.

“All the qualities I possess as a person, both my mom and dad have instilled in me since I was born. I kind of just wanted to come to college, get an education, play hockey, and who knows what’s going to happen down the road? Obviously, they’re very happy with where I’m at, and I have their support all the way.”

Steven (right) and his older brother, Charles.

As captain, something Steven says he hopes to do is simply set a good example for the other members of the team to practice, play, study, and live by.

“I try to do things the right way, the way they should be done. Whether it’s school, hockey or in a social environment, I like to think that I’ve got my head on straight, and I try to lead by example,” he remarks.

“I want people to sort of idolize the way I do things, and follow in my footsteps, so I pick my spots to speak, and obviously I’m going to have to get out of my comfort zone this year as captain. When there’s a time to say something, say something.”

Steven acknowledged the fact that he has two assistant captains who will be good to have as reinforcements. He explained that while he might not be the most vocal person yet, senior Peter Schneider and junior Sam Herr are both good speakers as well  (“even Schneids with his accent,” Fogarty jokes) and will be good to have by my side.

 While some people could take this kind of opportunity and make it about power and pride, Fogarty doesn’t. “I wanted to be a leader on this team. To be honest, going into this school year, I had no idea that I was going to be the captain,” explains Fogarty.

“We have a strong leadership core, and I wanted to be a part of that. Obviously, when Coach told me the news, it was very humbling. It’s a huge honor. There’ve been a lot of great captains, and kind of a pipeline of Edina people that have been captain, so it’s really cool to fill those shoes. Peter and Sam are great assistant captains and we have some seniors who very well could be wearing the letters too. It’s a huge honor, I’m looking forward to the opportunity and we’re all excited to work together.”

[ndbloggonzo]

Standing in the Rain: Two Years Later

Anna Gonzalez '16 (@NDBlogGonzo)

10.2.2014

My Instagram feed is blowing up with Throwback Thursday photos to the Stanford game on Oct. 13, 2012. I wrote this article after that game. It's still a vivid memory. The cold, the rain, the anxiety, and the joy of victory. I can't believe I'm already a junior and this happened two very quick years ago. The weather is predicted to be chilly and rainy again for the game this upcoming weekend. Will history repeat itself? Is this the forecast for another undefeated season?

Originally published on Oct. 16, 2012

There are a few things you should know about me. First, I hate rain, but only when I’m in it. Second, I love football. I mean that I have a deep burning passion in my gut for watching the game. Third, I’m never going to forget October 13, 2012.

When I saw the weather forecast, I was dreading the rain predicted for game day. I mean, who wouldn’t be? Does anyone enjoy standing outside while water bullets hit you in the face and blind you, then soak your clothes making you feel like a human washcloth? Maybe those people do exist, but I’m not one of them.

If you saw the game you know that it was a little rocky. It actually made me sick to my stomach a few times and I was light-headed from yelling so much. #SuperfanProblems

It had its good moments, too. Boy, do I love our defense. I’m going to start calling them, “The Wall.”

When Kyle Brindza kicked a field goal to tie the game at 13 and send it into overtime, I had so many emotions. I quickly went from excited to stressed to hysterical to nervous to feeling like I was having a heart attack. I think my lifespan lost a nice chunk because of that.

By that ‘fifth quarter, my voice was halfway to Timbuktu, I looked like a frizzy-haired prune, and I was trembling. So I just sort of stood there, biting my finger, praying, and hoping for the best. God then answered my prayer. And I actually cried.

And stormed the field. I never, ever do anything insane. I’m such a by-the-book goody-two-shoes, and I never would have imagined myself running down 31 rows in section 34 and jumping over people to get onto the field. But I did.

I stood there in the pouring rain, screaming the rest of my voice away. I couldn’t differentiate between teardrops and raindrops. I was crying because one year ago, two days before the Stanford game, my grandmother passed away. Mary Gonzalez (maiden name O’Connor) was a life-long Fighting Irish fan and she passed her love for the team down to me. Every game, I look up at the sky and know she’s watching her Irish (her Irish eyes are smiling) and she’s proud of them whether they win or they lose. She would have been so happy, and knowing that made me happy.

...

I could never have wished for a more amazing start to my freshman year of college.

Even a few days later, I look back on that night. I stood there, soaking wet, content with my life. At that moment, I didn’t care what happened. Notre Dame is still undefeated. I’m still head-over-heels in love with football. But now, I suppose I don’t hate standing in the rain as much as I used to.

[ndbloggonzo]

9.9.14

Anna Gonzalez (@NDBlogGonzo)

Welcome to Linemates, the show where you get to learn more about ND Hockey players than their height, weight, position, and hometown. This first episode features four NHL players and ND Hockey alumni. Anders Lee (NY Islanders), Riley Sheahan (Detroit Redwings), Mark Van Guilder (Nashville Predators), and Ian Cole (St. Louis Blues) all came back to Notre Dame at the end of August for the 3rd annual Pro Camp, and they sat down to play “Linemates” with us.

I would also like to add that I was mildly starstruck and nervous about being on camera, so my brain wasn’t working at full capacity. As I was editing this video, I did notice that I pronounced Riley Sheahan’s name wrong every time I said it. (It’s actually pronounced SHAY-an.) I’m not proud of it, and I wish I could take it all back, but it happened, and it won’t happen again. Riley, my sincerest apologies.

Otherwise, enjoy this first edition of Linemates, and look forward to seeing episodes with the current Notre Dame hockey players coming up in the next few months! 

[ndbloggonzo]

The "Linemates" Guinea Pigs

Anna Gonzalez '16

8.28.2014

“Oh, you write for the hockey team? So you must know all the players really well!”

“Not really, actually.”

Sure, I know the Notre Dame hockey players. Do they all recognize me? Maybe, but they don’t see me a whole lot, so I can’t blame them if they don’t. It’s unusual that I get to sit down and really have a chat with any of them or get to really see their personalities, but yesterday, I got to actually see some personality from four Notre Dame hockey players I never would have even guessed I’d get to talk to: Mark Van Guilder, Ian Cole, Riley Sheahan, and Anders Lee. (Anders is the exception here since I had actually met him before, but only briefly.)

These four guys, as well as several other Notre Dame hockey alumni, came back this week for the 3rd annual pro-camp. Last season, Mark Van Guilder was with the Nashville Predators, Ian Cole was with the St. Louis Blues, Riley Sheahan was with the Detroit Redwings, and Anders Lee was with the New York Islanders. Yesterday, though, they didn't just talk to me. They were so kind as to take a few minutes to play a game we’re calling “Linemates.” (It’s pretty much exactly like the “Newlyweds” game.) In a nutshell, we’re pairing up players to see which linemates know each other better. Granted, Mark, Ian, Riley, and Anders were never linemates together, but it was still a fun game to play, and we made sure to let them know they could be as goofy or as serious as they wanted. And they were. It was especially hilarious and interesting because this is the first episode we've done, so we haven't even figured out all the details. I feel like we shouldn't have picked NHL players for our test subjects, but everyone came out unscathed. Well, almost.

@NDSportsBlogger @NDHockey @ICole28 @leeberr09 @NDBlogGonzo thanks for catching me picking my nose!! I'm just itching I swear!!!

— Riley Sheahan (@rsheahan15)

August 27, 2014

Dump and chase or pick and flick @rsheahan15 pic.twitter.com/p0JRhoWXHw"

— Anders Lee (@leeberr09)

August 27, 2014

Overall, the guys were hilarious, super nice, and I'm really excited for everyone to get to see the video. I should probably get back to editing it...

You can also expect to see the same game with current Notre Dame hockey players this coming season. Hopefully they'll be as goofy as their predecessors. (But I also hope none of them are nose-pickers. Sorry, Riley--nose-"itchers.")

Ian said he was going to write "Worst host ever" on his sign, but didn't want to hurt my feelings. Honestly, I thought it would have pretty funny. Either way, I'm not complaining.

[ndbloggonzo]

The Besler Brothers

Anna Gonzalez '16 (@NDBlogGonzo)

8.26.2014

Matt Besler ('09)

It’s a story that’s been told many times, especially over the last few months: Matt Besler began the soccer tradition in the Overland Park, Kansas household he was born into, and after passing down a passion for the Beautiful Game to his two younger brothers, the eldest Besler son brought it with him to Notre Dame, a school that captivated him the moment he stepped on campus.

“It just felt right,” Matt said. “It’s something that’s hard to explain. I think a lot of people will have that answer. It’s just the feeling you get when you walk on campus and you can picture yourself there as a student, and that was my case.”

Despite his busy schedule playing soccer and majoring in Psychology and Pre-Professional studies, Matt was named Academic All-American and graduated in 2009. He called Notre Dame, “challenging, but in the best way possible.” He credits part of his success and preparation for the real world to his college coach, Bobby Clark, who has been at Notre Dame since 2000. “He knows how to run a college program and prepare people for the professional game, for their life, and for their jobs that they get. He really just does a good job, and I feel well-prepared and more prepared than a lot of guys.”

Following his senior season at Notre Dame, during which he served as captain, he was drafted 8th overall in the MLS Superdraft by his hometown team, the Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City). The pick was a pleasant surprise for the Besler family. Matt’s youngest brother Nick said, “He was thinking about going to New York, a pick after the Kansas City pick, but Kansas City grabbed him.” Neither of their parents grew up playing soccer, so they weren’t Sporting fans at the time. Nick says he was a fan, but not a die-hard, and he revealed that Matt was a fan of the indoor team, KC Attack. For Nick, “I was just kind of a fan of the game, but once, obviously, my brother went there, I became their number one fan.”

After winning the 2013 MLS Cup with Sporting, Besler got pulled up to the US Men’s National Team for the World Cup in Brazil, taking the “Country” in “God. Country. Notre Dame.” to a more serious level. While the name “Matt Besler” was already a household name for MLS fans, Matt’s time away from Kansas City made his name known throughout the nation, soccer fans and non-soccer fans alike.

As soon as he returned from Brazil, though, Matt was right back into MLS play, so he hasn’t had a chance to sit down and fully realize all that he accomplished there. “I know that sounds weird, but I got home and we were right back into this season and I crashed for about 48 hours because, mentally, it is such a long, long process, the World Cup. It’s 30 days long and you have to be so sharp every day. I came home, crashed for the 48 hours, and then was right back in...and now we’re playing again. One day I will, though. I promise.”

After his 30-day hiatus from the MLS to play for the USMNT, Besler returned to his position as captain of Sporting and is leading his team in the race for the 2014 MLS Cup. His World Cup campaign led to speculation that he would leave Kansas City to play soccer in England, but he settled rumors when he released an open letter to Sporting fans on July 21, 2014. “I got asked the same question about 30 times in a row: Why did you stay in Kansas City? Why did you make your decision? And instead of giving the same generic answer for 10 seconds long,” Matt revealed, “I decided to be creative and really take some time and write down some of the most important things about my decision, and I thought that was a fun way to do it. And Lebron did it.”

As the oldest of three boys, Matt has set a pretty high bar of success for Mike and Nick, but both brothers are living up to it in one way or another. As the youngest of the three, Nick is solidifying the Besler name at Notre Dame and in soccer.

Nick Besler ('15)

Matt and Nick might have attended the same college, both been named team captains their senior season, and even both lived in the same dorm on campus, but there’s still a distinction between the oldest and youngest Besler brothers, and it isn’t just the 6-year age difference. For starters, Matt plays defense; Nick plays midfield. Matt was pre-med at Notre Dame, and Nick is set to graduate in May 2015 with a degree from the Mendoza College of Business.

It should come as no surprise, however, to know that Matt’s success plays a large influence on the life of his youngest brother, who is beginning his senior year at Notre Dame. “Just seeing the places Matt’s at right now gives me a good place to strive to get to as well,” Nick said. Even though Matt’s success serves as inspiration for Nick, his path to success doesn’t serve as Nick’s “how-to” guide. Nick revealed that during his college selection process, “I wasn’t thinking, ‘I’m going to go here because he went here,’ or anything. But him coming here, I guess, would be a big influence, because I came here, saw the campus, and it kind of opened the door for me to see everything. It kind of got me a foot in the door where I got to meet the coaches, and it was kind of an easier process just because [the coaching staff is] familiar with my family. But, no, I wasn’t going to go wherever he went or where anyone told me to. It was definitely my own decision.”

That decision is tell-tale of the independence Matt can see in Nick. Nick blames it on his birth order. “I think that can come with being the youngest in the family. You don’t have anyone really to rely on back home. You don’t feel like you’re leaving something back home. You know, [Matt] would call home to check on how we were doing and stuff. It’s weird now because my brother’s married, my other brother has a job now, so they’re kind of living their own lives, doing adult things, and I could definitely probably call back home more, but I’d say I’m pretty independent. I think that a lot of that has to do with being the youngest of three boys.”

Nick didn’t start out that way, though. He was still in middle school when Matt left for college and said that he and his two brothers were very close growing up, so the change required some adjustment. “When Matt left to college, Mike and I got pretty close. We hung out a lot, and then when he left, he just went to Kansas, so he was pretty close still and he’d come back a lot. So it wasn’t really that big of a deal. And then finally, when I left, I thought, ‘I’m 18 years old. Pretty much an adult now,’ so it wasn’t too big of a transition for me.”

Now that the brothers are all apart and living their own lives, they don’t see each other as often as they’d like. Matt and Nick have playing schedules that often coincide, so they can only see each other, “A couple times year,” Matt said. “Nick makes it back for Christmas, and he made it back for like 10 days this summer, but he was doing summer school. And with my schedule, we don’t have many weekends off, so I can’t make it up for too many games there, but well all cherish those times we all get together.”

Last year, Matt notoriously missed Notre Dame’s College Cup game, so he didn’t get to see Nick help Notre Dame win its first National Championship in program history. He missed for a pretty good reason though: his own wedding, at which Nick was supposed to serve as best man with Mike. “You know he can always hold that against me and I can turn it around and hold it against him that he wasn’t at our wedding.”

The relationship between Matt and Nick mostly consists of texts and sporadic phone calls. “Nick will send me texts, definitely when I was in the World Cup or the All Star Games, and obviously I watch as many games as I can, but it’s mostly just texting and making sure everything is all right.”

The topic of conversation between them usually isn’t even about soccer. “A lot of times when we talk, it’s not about soccer at all. It’s just about how things are going,” Nick revealed. “He asks, ‘How’s school going?’ and I ask how he and [his wife] Amanda are doing and how things back home are, so that’s something that’s pretty cool, and it’s something that I don’t think a lot of people would expect.”

In fact, the two seem to try to avoid talking about soccer too much. When it came to Matt’s decision to stay in Kansas City, Nick said that he talked to Matt briefly about what he was thinking out of curiosity, but added, “I try to stay out of it as much as I can, because I’m sure he has enough people in his ear telling him what to do.”

Likewise, Matt said when he and Nick speak, “I talk to him and I definitely give him encouragement, but at the right time. I’m not calling him after every game and every day asking what he’s doing and telling him what to do. I want him to figure it out on his own. And I’ve really stepped back and let him be his own player and be his own man up there, and he’s really carved out his path, and I’m really proud of him for doing that.”

While the three brothers are all assuredly proud of each other, their parents, Greg and Diane, take their pride all across the midwest with them. “They probably do too much,” Matt thinks. “For example today [August 16], Notre Dame had a game in St. Louis and they went there and drove back here to get to the end of this game. So they’re very dedicated. I make sure and tell them, ‘Whenever you can, go see Nick. Don’t worry about me.’ But they’re fans. They’re parents, but they’re also fans. They love this team and they love the Notre Dame team and they just enjoy watching us play.”

“It’s because they love us so much, and I’m never going to complain seeing them if they try to come up to a game,” Nick explained. “I love when they come to my games, and they do do a lot, but that’s just because they want to watch us and see us play as much as they can.”

Similar to Matt’s explanation of their parents’ devotion, Nick said that last season, “my parents were going to come up to the last weekend game. [My dad and I] were texting each other, and I had a little bit of an injury so I wasn’t sure if I was going to play, and he just said, ‘All right, well, I’m going to drive up, and if you end up not playing, just text me, and I’ll just drive back to Matt’s game.’ I think I ended up telling him I wasn’t playing before he left, but they’ll do anything really.”

There are about 580 miles between the brothers, but from what Nick says, it might as well be none. “As a great as a role model as Matt is for soccer, he’s just a really good big brother, too. I think that’s what makes it easiest. We’ve got a great relationship. All three of us do.”

[ndbloggonzo]

The Sporting Style

I’m aware that I’m not Oprah, and my favorite things don’t actually matter, but whatever. I’m going to talk about this anyway.

It’s been a full week now since I got to go see Sporting Kansas City beat Toronto FC, 4-1 at Sporting Park, and I think I’m finally composed enough to talk about it. I should probably add that until last Saturday, I had never been to a major league sporting event of any kind. I’ve never been to an NFL game, I’ve never seen an MLB team play live, the NBA and NHL are foreign to me, and the PGA is something I only go to in my dreams. The MLS was my first, and I’m not disappointed.

My dad was born in Chicago but grew up outside of Kansas City, so generally speaking, we’re a Kansas City family. We pull for the Chiefs and the Royals in the NFL and MLB. When it comes to the NBA, we prefer college basketball over professional anyway. Dad doesn’t care too much about hockey at all, but he said if he were an NHL fan, the Blackhawks would be his team (Kansas City doesn’t have an NHL team). I just sort of follow in his footsteps with a few minor modifications and additions. My second favorite NFL team is the Green Bay Packers, which comes from my mom’s side of the family, and when it comes to the MLB, the Boston Red Sox are my #2 team. They have been for years and years (yes, I was a fan before they won the World Series in 2013), and I don’t know why or how it started, but there’s no point in questioning a good thing. I haven’t picked an NHL team to root for (yet). Another big addition I’ve made is Sporting Kansas City. Dad doesn’t care about soccer. I, in fact, love watching it, and I’m so glad my “home” team is the reigning MLS cup champs, had two World Cup players this year, and has a Notre Dame graduate on the team.

Toward the beginning of the summer, I pulled up the SKC schedule and looked to see if there were any games I could make it to, and there was just one. August 16 was the only day they’d be playing at home and I’d be around, so I texted my cousin who lives in Kansas City and is also an SKC fan to see if she’d want to go, and she did. YES. FINALLY.

This was the smoke after only two rounds of fireworks. They did two more after I took this. The field wasn’t completely clear until the 10th minute, and it was great.

Let me tell you, Sporting fans know how to do games right. The stadium atmosphere gave me chills. It’s one of those things that I don’t know how to explain. You just have to experience it. The combination of the pre-game fireworks, the Cauldron’s cheers, which is what the die-hard fan section is called, the air of Kansas City pride, and the beauty of the park made for a gameday experience like I’ve never seen before. They call it “The Blue Hell,” but it felt like heaven. I also got to interview Matt Besler (‘09) after the game, which was phenomenal. That article is on its way.

Leprechaun Legion, take notes. I wish we had that kind of pride at all Notre Dame sporting events. I know we have the threshold and resources for it, so I guess it’s up to us to make every stadium, field, and court on campus a heavenly Hell for everyone who visits.

Sorry. I couldn’t not take a selfie with the “Sporting” seats behind me, even though they only say “ortin” here.

[ndbloggonzo]

What the Student-Athlete Freshman Orientation Meant to a Non-Athletic Junior

Anna Gonzalez '16 (@NDBlogGonzo)

8.23.2014

The first-year student-athletes sing the Alma Mater together for the first time. Photo cred: @NotreDameSWD 

I’m not a student-athlete and I’ve never claimed to know what it’s like to be one. I’ll never know what it’s like to wake up at 5 AM to go to practice or weightlifting. I’ve never had to make a class schedule work around a practice schedule. When I study, it’s when I want to study, not just when I must because there’s no other available time in the day. I’ll never know what it’s like to have to travel around the country every other weekend and balance schoolwork at the same time. I’ll never know how it feels to win a National Championship just to have final exams the next day. And I’ll never know how it feels to have the pressure to perform well in both Division 1 athletics and at a Top-20 University.

Even though I don’t know what it’s like, I’m around student-athletes all the time. They live in my dorm, they’re in my classes, I see them in the dining halls, and I work with them. Most of them go unnoticed: they seem like your average student. Their ability to seem ordinary is what’s so extraordinary. Despite grueling schedules and countless hours spent working on either their sport or their studies, the student-athletes at Notre Dame are always students first.

I want to tell you about a senior I knew last year. Kelly Ryan was on the swim team, majoring in Spanish and Pre-Professional studies, and she was an alto with me in an A Cappella group on campus called Halftime. Kelly was a great person for me to get to know because (other than the fact that she’s insanely friendly and hilarious) anytime I felt stressed or busy, I remembered that she was in the midst of a grueling swim season, finishing up an intensive area of study, and was busy trying to figure out what to do after graduation all at the same time. And yet, she rarely missed a rehearsal. Knowing Kelly, she probably would shrug off all this and say, “It wasn’t that bad,” but in the eyes of someone who wasn’t even half as busy but felt twice as stressed, it was amazing how she managed everything. And the crazy thing is, she seemed to enjoy every little bit of it. (Also, if you're somehow reading this, Kel, hi! Don't hate me for this...)

Student-Welfare and Development asked me to film their 2014 First Year Orientation, and I said yes because I saw it as an opportunity to peek into the very beginning of an experience I’ll never have but one that surrounds me on a daily basis. I’m glad I did. Because I have friends who are athletes and I work in the athletic department, I respect what every student-athlete does on a daily basis, and especially here at Notre Dame because this school is tough. That’s what every speaker at the Orientation said. Fr. Pete McCormack, the former rector of Keough Hall and current chaplain for men’s basketball, encouraged the freshman to get involved in dorm life--take time to get to know your neighbors and your rector. “You get out what you put in,” he explained. If you only spend time in your dorm sleeping, that’s all your dorm will be: a room with a bed. It won’t be home. But if you spend time getting to know the other people living with you, it becomes a safe-haven, a place to escape without actually leaving.

Current student-athletes encouraged freshmen to get involved outside of their sport and schoolwork. Corey Robinson, a sophomore on the football team, got to know members of his dorm, and through it, he became a member of Student Government. Corey explained that he sees that students who aren’t athletes can sometimes be just as busy or stressed as anyone else, and he’s making strides to unite the student body and the student-athlete body. Corey also explained that he has a passion for art, and he pursues that passion on his own time. Katherine McManus, a junior on women’s lacrosse, spends time off campus with her “boyfriend,” 6-year-old Bobby, a pediatric oncology patient here in South Bend. Katherine spends time with Bobby at the hospital, reading to him, talking to him, and just being a friend. With Katherine, Bobby had the chance to attend lacrosse games and even participate in team events. Max Lachowecki, a senior on the men’s soccer team, had a YouTube series with a teammate and got to attend the ESPYS. Now, after finishing a degree in business marketing, he is starting over to chase his dream of working in the entertainment industry by adding a second major in film, television, and theater. These three student-athletes, as well as hundreds of others, have made sure to get the full Notre Dame Experience in their four short years here, no matter how busy they were.

Finally, Jack Swarbrick closed the morning with a speech about how to find success. Every single student, athlete and non-athlete alike, had the opportunity to choose an easier path, but instead we chose a school that sets the bar high. He said that the most successful teams are the ones that “leave the locker room in groups of 6 or 7,” and not just groups of 1 or 2. He told the parents that they should be proud of their children for choosing the challenging path, and he told the students to get ready for what may be the most difficult, but also most rewarding, four years of their lives.

The whole point of the orientation session was to inform the students who are just on their first weekend here to take advantage of the four years ahead of them, and from the view of a non-athlete, it’s a point that isn’t just relevant to athletes. It’s relevant to every student that lives, works, and studies on the Notre Dame campus. Get involved, get to know as many people as you can, pursue your passions, take advantage of the resources you’re given, and every once in a while, take a minute to appreciate where you are and how far you’ve already come.

[ndbloggonzo]

This is another video I had to make for class, but I didn't do this one alone. Michaela Mabrey of the women's basketball team was my partner for this. We were lucky not to have too much trouble finding actors for this one. Austin Burgett (men's basketball) was also in our class and so kindly volunteered, and Molly O'Koniewski (women's tennis) didn't even hesitate to say yes when I asked if she would participate as well. (Also, they ad-libbed almost the whole thing, which was a clutch move.)