Notre Dame hockey delivered an emphatic response to its early-season struggles Thursday night, defeating St. Lawrence 8-2 in a commanding home opener at Compton Family Ice Arena. The Irish exploded for eight unanswered goals and controlled the game from start to finish to earn their first win of the season.
With the victory, Notre Dame improved to 1-2-0 overall, while St. Lawrence fell to 1-4-0. The Irish outshot the Saints 47-21, won 35 of 55 faceoffs and dominated time of possession through the final two periods.
The game opened with St. Lawrence taking advantage of early opportunities. The Saints struck first at 18:04 in the first period when Filip Juricek found the net off assists from Sam Frandina and Cayden Casey. Less than two minutes later, St. Lawrence extended its lead to 2-0 as Sam LeDrew scored on assists from Jan Olenginski and Mason Kucenski.
Notre Dame answered with an immediate shift in momentum. At 4:41, sophomore forward Cole Knuble put the Irish on the board with a clean finish setup by freshmen Brennan Ali and Pano Fimis. The goal cut the deficit to one and sparked Notre Dame’s surge that would continue through the remainder of the game.
The second period was defined by complete Irish control. Five minutes into the frame, freshman forward Evan Werner tied the game at 2-2 with his first goal of the season, assisted by defenseman Axel Kumlin and center Danny Nelson. The goal began a run of four unanswered goals in the period that buried the Saints’ early lead.
At 2:38, Nelson recorded the eventual game-winner, finishing a setup from freshman defenseman Caeden Carlisle and sophomore defensemanJaedon Kerr to give Notre Dame its first lead of the night. The Irish extended the advantage less than two minutes later when Kumlin joined the rush and buried a shot from the slot, assisted by junior defenseman Henry Nelson and Werner.
Notre Dame continued to capitalize on its pressure, and with 1:32 left in the second period, junior forward Sutter Muzzatti scored unassisted to make it 5-2. The Irish outshot St. Lawrence 14-6 in the period and their depth began to separate them from the visitors.
The third period showcased Notre Dame’s special teams and scoring balance. At 16:14, Knuble tallied his second goal of the night on the power play, with assists from junior defenseman Paul Fischer and Werner. The goal marked Notre Dame’s first power-play conversion of the season, highlighting improved puck movement and execution.
At 8:05, sophomore forward Cole Brown added to the lead with a well-placed shot assisted by Werner and Kumlin, pushing the score to 7-2. Henry Nelson capped the scoring at 2:41, finishing a feed from his brother Danny Nelson and Knuble to close out the 8-2 victory.
By the final horn, Notre Dame had taken full command statistically and on the scoreboard. The Irish finished with eight goals on 47 shots, while limiting St. Lawrence to just 21 shots on goal. The team blocked eight shots defensively and held the Saints to 0-for-4 on the power play.
Knuble led all scorers with two goals and one assist, while Werner and Kumlin each recorded three points. Danny Nelson added a goal and two assists and Henry Nelson contributed a goal and one assist from the blue line. The balanced attack saw 11 Notre Dame skaters record at least one point.
Goaltender Nicholas Kempf backstopped the win with 19 saves on 21 shots. After allowing two goals in the first eight minutes, Kempf shut down the Saints for the remainder of the game and settled the defensive structure. His steady play allowed the Irish to transition smoothly through the neutral zone and sustain offensive pressure.
Notre Dame’s defense limited St. Lawrence’s scoring chances and kept the Saints from generating any extended zone time. The Irish also held a 35-20 advantage in faceoffs, allowing them to control possession off nearly every draw. Discipline played a role as well, with Notre Dame committing just five minor penalties for a total of 10 minutes.
The home opener marked Notre Dame’s most complete performance of the young season. After road losses to start the year, the Irish displayed improved chemistry across all lines and confidence on special teams. The offensive production highlighted the depth and efficiency of a roster blending experienced returners and emerging freshmen.
Kumlin’s performance from the blue line was especially impactful, combining defensive awareness with strong puck movement. Werner’s four-point night underscored the potential of the freshman class, while Knuble’s leadership on the top line set the tone offensively. The Nelson brothers combined for five points and anchored a defensive unit that smothered St. Lawrence in the final two periods.
The win extended Notre Dame’s streak of home opener victories to four straight seasons. It also provided an early spark for a team with high expectations in a competitive schedule that features several nationally ranked opponents in the coming weeks.
Notre Dame improved its home record to 1-0-0 and will close out the weekend series against St. Lawrence on Saturday night at Compton Family Ice Arena. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. The Irish will look to carry their momentum into the second game and continue building consistency as they prepare for conference play later this month.