Onward To Victory provides a look back at the history of Notre Dame Hockey and behind-the-scenes access to the Fighting Irish as they prepare for the Compton Family Ice Arena dedication game against rival Boston College.
Dave Gilbert enters his 15th season as a certified equipment manager at Notre Dame.
One of the premier equipment specialists in college hockey, Gilbert was a member of Jackson's 1991-92 NCAA title team as a walk-on goaltender at Lake Superior State. The Marquette, Mich., native served as a back up to a pair of eventual NHL goaltenders - Darrin Madeley and Blaine Lacher - during that championship season.
During his final four years as an undergraduate, Gilbert worked for the Lakers hockey program as a student equipment manager. In that capacity, he was associated with the NCAA runner-up squad in 1992-93, the NCAA championship team of '93-'94, and two other teams that reached the NCAA quarterfinals ('94-'95 and '95-'96).
Gilbert's year-long responsibilities involve overseeing the equipment and travel needs of the Irish hockey program. He graduated from Lake Superior State in May of '96, with a degree in exercise science, but remained at the school for the next two years as the head equipment manager for the school's 11 varsity sports.
During the summers of 1997 and 2005, Gilbert was a member of the equipment staff at USA Hockey's Junior National Team tryout camp, held in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Gilbert recently received an Honorary Alumni Award at the Hockey programs' end-of-season awards program for his devout and exemplary work and dedication to the Irish Hockey program.
In addition to being a certified athletic equipment manager, Gilbert is a member of the Society of Professional Hockey Equipment Managers (SPHEM), and has been since 2004.
Gilbert, and his wife Heather have one son, Dolan (11) and a daughter, Halle (9). They reside in South Bend.
