The Notre Dame men's hockey team beat Nebraska-Omaha, 3-2, on Saturday, January 30 at the Joyce Center.
Two-time monogram winner for the Irish ... hard-working center iceman who will look to get back into the regular lineup in his senior season ... a team leader who has a great attitude and tremendous character ... works hard everyday to push his teammates ... strong skater who is most effective when he plays with an "edge" to his game ... smart player with and without the puck ... plays at both ends of the ice ... saw action in just two games as a junior in 2010-11 ... has played in 48 career games with one goal and two assists for three points ... joined the Irish after two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. ... one of seven players on the Notre Dame roster to play for the USNTDP, joining fellow senior Sean Lorenz, junior Sam Calabrese, sophomores Stephen Johns and Bryan Rust and freshmen Robbie Russo and Austin Wuthrich ... one of 28 players from the national program to play at Notre Dame ... one of two Irish players with ties to the Pittsburgh area, joining sophomore defenseman Stephen Johns (Wampum) who is also a product of the Pittsburgh Hornets program ... one of 11 players all-time from the Pittsburgh area to play hockey at Notre Dame, joining Johns, Christiaan Minella (`06-'10), Christian Hanson (`05-'09), Stewart Carlin (`06-'08), Mike Leherr (`86-90), Tom Mooney (`84-'88), Tom Myers (`68-'69), Tom Parent (`84-'85) and John Roselli (`68-'71) ... signed national letter of intent to attend Notre Dame in the early-signing period (Nov. of `07) along with Lorenz and Eric Ringel.
AS A JUNIOR: Played in two games for the Irish in 2010-11 and did not score any points ... was -2 in limited action ... saw action on Oct. 10 versus Boston University in the Warrior Ice Breaker Tournament in St. Louis, Mo. ... also played versus Michigan State on Nov. 20 at the Joyce Center ... did not play in any postseason games.
AS A SOPHOMORE: Played in 31 games for the Irish in 2009-10 ... scored one goal with no assists for one point ... whistled for three penalties, resulting in six minutes of penalty time ... was -11 on the season ... took 22 shots on goal ... scored first goal of his collegiate career on Jan. 22 in a 6-1 win at Lake Superior State ... goal came at 6:34 of the second period when he snapped a wrist shot over Lakers' goaltender Brian Mahoney-Wilson to make it a 3-1 game ... goal set off an Irish run of three goals in a span of 2:59 on the way to a 5-1 lead ... also had a career-best three shots in that win at Lake Superior ... held scoreless in two postseason games at Ohio State
AS A FRESHMAN: Played in 15 games for Notre Dame in the `08-'09 season ... had two assists to go with three penalties for six minutes ... was +1 on the year ... first collegiate game came in the season opener - the College Hockey Hall of Fame game - at Denver where he picked up two minutes in penalties ... first collegiate point came on Dec. 6 when he helped set up Dan Kissel's lone goal of the night in a 1-0 win at Ferris State ... second point came on Feb. 27 when he assisted on Justin White's first period goal, giving the Irish a 2-0 lead on the way to a 5-0 win over Michigan State.
WITH USA HOCKEY: Spent two seasons with the U.S. National Team Developmental Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. ... was a key face-off man and penalty killer for the Under-18 team in 2007-08 ... recorded eight goals with 19 assists for 27 points in 56 games while serving as an alternate captain ... member of bronze medal team at the Under-18 World Championships in Kazan, Russia ... with Under-17 team in 2006-07 had 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points in 66 games ... captained the 2006 U.S. Under-17 White team at the Three Nations Tournament ... participated in USA Hockey Select Festivals since 2004.
PREP & PERSONAL: Graduated from Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa. ... also attended Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Mich., while playing for U.S. National program ... product of the Pittsburgh Hornets Midget program where he led the team in scoring with 29 goals and 72 assists for 101 points in 86 games ... full name is Patrick Joseph Gaul ... son of Joseph and Margaret Gaul ... has one brother and three sisters ... brother, Joe, played college hockey at Dartmouth ... sister, Meghan played lacrosse at Rensselaer ... father is longtime coach of the Pittsburgh Hornets Midget AAA program ... born on February 27, 1990 in Pittsburgh, Pa. ... finance major in the Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame.
