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Ben Simon |
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Team Captain
• 5th-Round NHL Draft Pick
(Chicago Blackhawks, '97)
All-America and Hobey Baker candidate who ranks as one of the best
offensive players in Notre Dame history ... selected as 1999-2000 team
captain, with senior defensemen Nathan Borega and Tyson Fraser serving as
alternates ... a second team all-CCHA selection as a junior and arguably
the CCHA's top returning forward, after CCHA first-team selections Mike
York (Michigan State) and Hugo Boisvert (Ohio State) moved on to pro hockey
(the other '98-'99 first-team forward was current Bowling Green senior Adam
Edinger) ... ranks as the third-highest returning scorer in the CCHA (42
total points in 1998-99), behind Edinger (48) and Michigan sophomore center
Mike Comrie (44) ... could shift to the wing, due to deep group of centers
that includes sophomores David Inman and Brett Henning ('99 NHL draft
picks) and freshman Connor Dunlop ... a seasoned player who skated with the
USA junior national teams in '96-'97 and '97-'98 (alongside fellow Irish
senior forward Joe Dusbabek) ... looking to take his talent to another
level, after major goalscoring boost as a junior (18 goals, compared to
total of 13 in previous two seasons) ... known for pure speed, creative
puck-handling, quick moves and ability to change speeds ... struggled to
find the net his first two seasons, when he failed to post a 10-goal season
and recorded just one two-goal game ... a composed and crafty center who
spins out of the corners well and is tough going to the net ... keeps
defensemen on their toes due to quick change of speed ... tough player for
his size who is not afraid to mix it up ... known as much for his free
spirit off the ice as for his intensity on it ... youngest player on
'96-'97 Irish team that was second-youngest in Div. I (average age 19
years, 11 months) ... CCHA's third-youngest player in '96-'97 ... burst
onto the scene at '95 under-17 national select camp in Lake Placid, N.Y.
... grew from 5-8 to six feet as high school junior ... racked up 342
points (166G-176A) in three seasons with Shaker Heights High School and one
with Cleveland Junior Barons ... selected in fifth round of '97 National
Hockey League draft by Chicago Blackhawks (110th pick) ... ninth college
player, sixth college forward and second CCHA player selected, after
Western Michigan defenseman Joe Corvo (L.A., 86th pick) ... joined two
fifth-round Edmonton picks-Brian Urick ('96) and current Irish volunteer
coach Greg Louder ('89)-as highest-drafted Notre Dame players in 15-year
stretch ... combined with Dusbabek (7th round, San Jose Sharks) as fourth
set of Irish teammates selected in first seven rounds ... part of second
Irish foursome ever taken in first nine rounds (current juniors Jay
Kopischke and Ryan Clark went in the 8th and 9th rounds) ... his most
career points have come vs. Alaska Fairbanks (13, 3G), Western Michigan
(12, 2G), Bowling Green (10, 2G) and Michigan (9, 2G), plus five career
goals versus Ohio State, four vs. Michigan State ... played on Barons with
Bowling Green forward Mike Jones and defenseman Larry Hull ... could face
two former USA junior teammates if the Irish play Colorado College at the
Denver Cup: forward Toby Peterson and defenseman Dan Peters.
CAREER NOTES: Owns 98 points (31 G, 67 A) in 104 career games,
including 37 points as a sophomore and 42 as a junior (both team-bests) ...
needs 33 points in his final season to crack Irish career top-20 scoring
list and 48 to move into 15th on that list ... Jamie Ling's 153 points from
1992-96 are most by an Irish player since Dave Bankoske's 182 ('88-'93).
WITH USA HOCKEY: Joined Dusbabek on USA team that claimed fifth at
World Junior Championship in Finland (Dec. 23, 1997-Jan. 3, 1998) ... had
assists in wins over Kazakhstan (8-2) and Switzerland (5-1) ... had assist
and game-winning goal in fifth-place game versus Sweden (4-3)... he and
Dusbabek joined York as only CCHA players on '97-'98 squad... one of five
returning forwards from '96-'97 U.S. world junior team... one of 15 college
players on USA team that won silver medal at '96-'97 World Juniors, in
Switzerland... helped halt Canada's 16-game World Juniors win streak, with
4-4 tie (Canada won the gold-medal rematch, 2-0)... the runner-up finish
was best for the USA in 21 years at the event... skated on third line
alongside Boston College's Jeff Farkas and Lake Superior's Jason Sessa ...
has visited four countries while touring with all-star teams ... played in
Japan with USA select-17 team... spent '96 and '97 summers as member of USA
team at Tampere Cup in Finland... competed with junior national team in
Camrose, Canada (winter, '95).
AS A JUNIOR: Appeared in 37 of 38 games while leading team in
scoring with 42 points (18G-24A) ... tied for fifth in CCHA for both
overall and conference scoring (15G-19A) while being named to six-player,
second team all-CCHA squad ... skated most of season alongside seniors
Urick (right wing) and Aniket Dhadphale (left wing)-forming one of the
CCHA's most potent lines ... also skated at times with sophomore left wings
Chad Chipchase and Dan Carlson and right wing Dusbabek ... ranked second on
team in shots (113), shooting percentage (.159) and game-winning goals (3),
plus two game-tying goals and team-best six game-winning assists ... third
on team with 13 power-play points (5G-8A) ... called for team-high 31
penalties ... tied for second on squad with +13 plus-minus ... reached
scoresheet in 26 games, with 12 multi-point games (including four
three-point games) ... played key parts in several big goals during '98-'99
... provided one of the biggest plays of his highlight-reel career, in
crucial late-season home tie with Northern Michigan (3-3) ... took the puck
at the Irish endline and skated all the way down the left side on a quick
counter-attack before tucking inside freshman defenseman Sean Connolly ...
as Simon neared the slot, the trailing Connolly grabbed Simon's left skate
and lifted it into the air, but Simon retained his balance on the right
skate and-as he was falling forward-wristed a shot over Dan Ragusett's left
shoulder for a 2-1 lead late in the second period ... opened the season
with a six-game scoring streak (3G-8A) ... set up Dhadphale's game-winner
in 2-1, season-opening win at Wisconsin (in front of 13,000-plus Kohl
Center fans) ... totaled career-best four points (1G-3A) in 7-1 win over
Western Michigan ... added five-game scoring streak that featured three
three-point games (in 5-5 tie at No. 1 Boston College and wins over Bowling
Green and WMU) ... tied game at BC (1-1) after taking tape-to-tape lead
pass from Urick and nudging a backhander that deflected off an Eagles
defenseman ... helped give Irish 3-1 lead in that game, assisting on
Dhadphale's wrister from the top of the left circle and Urick's tough-angle
shot from the left ... notched second career multi-goal game in 4-3 loss at
Ohio State (2G) ... helped complete surge to 4-1 lead at No. 1 North
Dakota, as his pass from behind the net set up Chipchase's tap-in (the
Irish scored on four of their first five shots in the second period, en
route to a 4-3 win) ... scored from the slot at 1:58 of the first period,
in 3-2 victory over No. 5 Michigan before a raucous home crowd ... scored
game-tying goal (2-2) vs. Michigan State, beating Joe Blackburn with
one-timer after Dhadphale went high to catch a clearing attempt ... scored
twice in playoff series vs. Northern Michigan, including game-winner with
2:33 left to play in the opener (3-2), after streaking to the net and
knocking in a deflected Chipchase shot.
AS A SOPHOMORE: Appeared in 37 of 41 games, missing Minnesota's
Mariucci Classic and two-game series with Miami while at World Juniors ...
led Irish in points (37), assists (28), penalties (31) and penalty minutes
(89) while sharing team lead for shorthanded goals (3) ... assisted on a
Benoit Cotnoir shorthanded score ... scored three power-play goals, two
game-winners ... recorded points in first seven games ... assisted in 5-1
win over Western Ontario before scoring twice in first game at St. Cloud,
as Irish overcame 3-0 deficit for 4-3 win ... scored second Irish goal in
that game, on power play with 8:48 left in regulation, before one-timing
game-winner 1:22 into OT ... assisted on late goal the next day in 4-1 win
over the Huskies ... showed fancy stickwork for 2-0 lead on Boston College
early in third period (BC rallied, 3-2) ... scored early power-play goal at
Michigan State before assisting on Carlson's score in four-goal,
third-period flurry to clinch the 6-1 win ... scored memorable shorthanded,
game-winning goal versus Bowling Green (2-1) ... on that second-period
play, he skated onto a deflected puck in the Irish zone, weaved his way
down the ice in a large "S" and shielded off an opposing defenseman before
nudging the puck into the net ... netted early shorthanded goal in 3-2 win
at Ohio State ... assisted on two power-play goals versus Ferris State
(5-5) ... helped set up third Irish goal in 3-3 tie versus Lake Superior
... assisted on two goals in 4-2 win at Western Michigan, including
shorthanded game-winner (4-3) ... assisted on 5-on-3 goal in series
clincher at Alaska Fairbanks (5-1) ... set up early goal in 1-1 tie with
Bowling Green ... had goal and assist in 7-1 win over Ferris State ...
assisted in all three wins over Northern Michigan, including game-winner in
first home game vs. NMU (3-1) and shorthanded goal in second (5-2)...
assisted on goals by Dhadphale and Ryan Dolder in decisive 4-3 playoff loss
at Michigan.
AS A FRESHMAN: Fourth on team in scoring after failing to score a
goal until 15th game ... totaled four goals and 15 assists (second on team)
... appeared in 30 of 35 games, missing three (at Princeton on Dec. 28-29,
versus Miami on Jan.. 3) while with the junior national team ... assisted
on four of nine game-winning goals ... averaged one penalty per game (30,
79 minutes) ... failed to score on first 31 shots ... did not play in Jan.
28 home loss to Michigan State (3-0), after game misconduct versus St.
Cloud ... also missed season-ending 3-2 loss to Michigan State ... notched
first career point on an assist in 6-3 loss to Michigan ... had three
timely assists-on goals by Tim Harberts, Noble and Cotnoir (game-winner)-in
7-5 comeback at No. 3 Bowling Green ... scored his first goal in
last-minute, 4-3 loss at Michigan State, sparking eight-game point streak
(3G-9A) ... had goal and assist in 3-1 win over Alaska Fairbanks, three
assists in 6-2 series clincher ... assisted on Dusbabek's game-winner at
Mankato State (3-2) ... assisted on goals by Noble and Terry Lorenz
(game-winner) in 5-2 win over No. 8 St. Cloud before scoring in 2-1 loss to
the Huskies ... assisted in final win, 5-4 in overtime versus Western
Michigan.
PREP & PERSONAL: Played as senior for Cleveland Junior Barons of
North American Hockey League ... third in league scoring (45 G, 46 A in 50
games) in '95-'96 ... first team all-league, NAHL rookie of the year, MVP
of NAHL all-star game ... played three years at Shaker Heights High School,
totaling 121 goals and 130 assists, with big sophomore (45 G, 41 A) and
junior (61 G, 68 A) seasons ... team captain and MVP as a sophomore and
junior while earning all-conference, all-city and all-state ... as a
freshman, helped team post undefeated state-title season ... two-year
second baseman on SHHS baseball team ... father Bill played football at
Colgate ... grandfathers Bill Simon (Syracuse) and Harry Clarke (Lehigh)
played college football ... grandfather Bill Simon was assistant football
coach at Yale ... uncles John Clarke (Harvard) and Harry Clarke (Moravian)
played college football ... uncle Marty Clarke played lacrosse at Lehigh
... aunt Mary Clarke Corcoran captained Yale's gymnastics team while aunt
Ellen Clarke de Saint Phalle was on varsity crew at Wellesley ... born
June 14, 1978, in Cleveland, Ohio ... son of Bill and Margaret Simon ...
full name is Benjamin Clarke Simon ... sociology major in College of Arts
and Letters.
Simon's Career Statistics
| Year | GP | G | A | Pts | Shots | Sh Pct. | P/Min | PPG/PPA | SHG/SHA | GWG/GWA | +/- |
| 1996-97 | 30 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 69 | .058 | 30/79 | 3/4 | 0/0 | 0/4 | -1 |
| 1997-98 | 37 | 9 | 28 | 37 | 105 | .086 | 31/89 | 3/6 | 3/1 | 2/1 | +10 |
| 1998-99 | 37 | 18 | 24 | 42 | 113 | .159 | 31/65 | 5/8 | 0/0 | 3/6 | +13 |
| Totals | 104 | 31 | 67 | 98 | 287 | .108 | 92/233 | 11/18 | 3/1 | 5/11 | +22 |
Career vs. CCHA
| Team | GP | G | A | Pts |
| Alaska Fair. | 8 | 3 | 10 | 13 |
| Bowling Green | 9 | 2 | 8 | 10 |
| Ferris State | 9 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Lake Superior | 9 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Miami | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Michigan | 12 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| Michigan State | 7 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| No. Michigan | 9 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Ohio State | 9 | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| W. Michigan | 9 | 2 | 10 | 12 |
| Totals | 87 | 25 | 55 | 80 |
1998-99 vs. CCHA
| Team | GP | G | A | Pts |
| Alaska Fair. | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Bowling Green | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Ferris State | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Lake Superior | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Miami | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Michigan | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Michigan State | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| No. Michigan | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Ohio State | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| W. Michigan | 3 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Totals | 32 | 17 | 19 | 36 |
Simon's Career Bests
| 4 Points |
| vs. W. Michigan (1G-3A; 10/10/98) |
| 2 Goals |
| at Ohio State (12/4/98) |
| at St. Cloud State (10/17/97) |
| 3 Assists |
| vs. Western Michigan (10/10/98) |
| vs. Ferris State (11/20/97) |
| at Alaska Fairbanks (1/18/98) |
| at Bowling Green (11/2/97) |
| 7 Shots on Goal |
| vs. Northern Michigan (2/27/99) |
| vs. Northern Michigan (2/26/99) |
| 4-Game Goal Streak |
| * Jan. 23-Feb. 6, 1999 | (at Lake Superior State, vs. Michigan, Michigan State, Alaska Fairbanks) |
| * Oct.. 24-Nov. 7, 1997 | (vs. Boston College, at Michigan State, vs. Michigan State, vs. Bowling Green) |
| 8-Game Point Streak (3G-9A) |
| Dec. 7, 1996-Jan. 25, 1997 | (vs. Michigan State, Alaska Fairbanks, Mankato State, Bowling Green, Alaska Fairbanks-2, St. Cloud State-2) |
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1996-97 Silver-Medal-Winning United States Junior National Team |
Blake Bellefeuille (F, Boston Coll.)
Brian Boucher (G)
Jesse Boulerice (F)
Ben Clymer (D)
Joe Corvo (D, Western Michigan)
Robert Esche (G)
Jeff Farkas (F, Boston College)
Chris Hajt (D)
Dan Lacouture (F, Boston Univ.)
Paul Mara (D)
Michael McBain (D)
Mark Parrish (F, St. Cloud State)
Dan Peters (D, Colorado College)
Toby Petersen (F, Colorado College)
Tom Poti (D)
Erik Rasmussen (F, Minnesota)
Marty Reasoner (F, Boston College)
Jason Sessa (F, Lake Superior)
Ben Simon (F, Notre Dame)
Wyatt Smith (F, Minnesota)
Mike York (F, Michigan State)
B.J. Young (F)
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