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.
Notre Dame Men's Ice Hockey v Miami at Hockey City Classic on 02-17-2013.
Three-time monogram winner at Notre Dame ... has been Notre Dame's top goaltender in each of his first three seasons ... teams with juniors Steven Summerhays and Joe Rogers to give Irish a strong trio of puck-stoppers ... hard-working player who is passionate about the game of hockey ... outstanding student in the classroom ... helped lead Notre Dame to the 2011 Frozen Four as he was the most outstanding player of the Northeast Regional ... was Notre Dame's recipient of the CCHA scholar-athlete award for 2011-12 ... winner of hockey team's Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley Rockne Scholar-Athlete Award as a junior ... selected to the CCHA all-rookie team in 2009-10 ... appeared in 26 games as a junior, making 23 starts ... was 9-10-3 on the year with a 2.69 goals-against average and a .883 save percentage ... had a personal-best 10-game unbeaten streak (7-0-3) from Oct. 14 to Nov. 25 ... for career has played in 91 games, making 85 starts ... starts the 2012-13 season with a 39-33-12 career record, a 2.63 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage with a pair of shutouts ... enters his final year in the Irish goal ranked third all-time in goals-against average (2.63), fourth in save percentage (.901), fifth in winning percentage (.536), tied for seventh in wins (39) and is tied for ninth in games played/started (91/85) ... one of 17 players on the Notre Dame roster to have played in the United States Hockey League (USHL) and one of five to have seen action in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) joining juniors Jared Beers (Kenai River), Joe Rogers (Albert Lea) and Michael Voran (Wenatchee) and sophomore Eric Johnson (Wenatchee) ... one of three Wisconsin natives on the Notre Dame roster along with junior Jeff Costello (Milwaukee) and his younger brother, Eric Johnson (Verona) ... joined Notre Dame in the late-signing period (spring `09) along with Kevin Nugent.
AS A JUNIOR: Played in 26 of Notre Dame's 40 games, making 23 starts ... was 9-10-3 overall with a 2.69 goals-against average and a .883 save percentage ... selected to the CCHA's scholar-athlete team ... won Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley Rockne Scholar-Athlete Award for hockey ... opened the season with 27 saves in a 4-3 loss at Minnesota Duluth (Oct. 7) ... recorded the final Irish win in the Joyce Center on Oct. 14 with 20 saves in a 5-2 win over Ohio State ... came on in relief in final game (Oct. 15), playing final 27:15 in 4-3 loss to the Buckeyes ... was the starter in goal in first-ever game at Compton Family Ice Arena (Oct. 21) as he made 15 saves in a 5-2 win over Rensselaer ... ran winning streak to four straight games in a sweep at Bowling Green on Oct. 28-29 ... had 17 saves in 3-1 win in series opener and followed with 19 in 3-2 win in second game ... saw win streak end but extended unbeaten streak to six games (4-0-2) with back-to-back ties at Northern Michigan (2-2 and 1-1) ... Wildcats took extra point in each game winning the shootout ... played just 20 minutes, giving up four goals in 5-4 win over Alaska (Nov. 11) but did not get the decision ... ran unbeaten streak to seven games (5-0-2) with 3-2 win at home over Western Michigan (Nov. 15) ... won second straight and extended unbeaten streak to eight games (6-0-2), with dramatic 3-2 overtime win in "Dedication Game," at Compton Family Ice Arena versus Boston College ... made season-high 32 saves as Notre Dame scored with 1.1 seconds left in overtime win ... saw unbeaten streak go to nine games (6-0-3) with 2-2 tie at Western Michigan (Nov. 22) ... made 24 saves as Broncos won the shootout ... extended personal-best unbeaten streak to 10 games (7-0-3) with 4-1 win at Lake Superior (Nov. 25) ... made 29 saves in the win ... recorded first loss since Oct. 7 in 5-2 loss at Lake Superior, making just 10 saves in 29:59 minutes of playing time ... dropped back-to-back games at home to Northeastern, losing 9-2 and 2-1 on Dec. 2-3 ... saw his personal losing streak go to four straight as Irish dropped 4-1 decision at Ferris State (Dec. 9) ... lost fifth straight decision on Jan. 14, falling with a 3-1 decision at Western Michigan ... did not play again until Jan. 27 when he played the final 31:37 in relief of Summerhays in 6-3 loss at Alaska ... gave up two goals with 10 saves in that game ... snapped personal five-game losing streak on Jan. 28 with 15 saves in 4-2 win at Alaska ... made it two in a row with 2-1 win at Bowling Green (Feb. 3), making 24 saves ... dropped a home-and -home series to Ferris State, losing 3-0 at home (Feb. 10) before falling 5-1 at Big Rapids, Mich. (Feb. 11) ... lost both games of weekend series at Miami, falling 3-0 and 4-1 to the Redhawks on Feb. 17-18 ... ended the season with a personal five-game losing streak as Irish dropped final regular-season game at home to Michigan State , 4-2 (Feb. 25) ... did not appear in any postseason games.
AS A SOPHOMORE: Played in 36 of Notre Dame's 44 games, making 34 starts ... was 20-10-3 overall with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage ... played a career-high 2,087:40 minutes and had a career-best 856 saves ... recorded one assist ... sixth goaltender in program's history to record 20 or more wins in a season ... opened the season with a 32-save performance in the 6-3 win over Holy Cross in the opening game of the Warrior Ice Breaker Tournament ... assisted on a short-handed goal by Joe Lavin in the second period ... had 26 saves in 4-2 win over Lake Superior State in home opener (Oct. 14) ... followed up with 26 saves in second game for a weekend sweep of Lakers in a 4-2 win (Oct. 15) ... had 28 saves in 2-1 upset win of No. 1 Boston College (Oct. 23) ... gave up two goals on 31 shots in 2-2 tie at Western Michigan (Oct. 30) ... suffered first loss of the season, making 20 saves in 3-2 loss at Bowling Green (Nov. 5) ... made 23 stops in 3-1 win at Michigan (Nov. 12) ... gave up five goals on 33 shots in 5-3 loss at Michigan (Nov. 13) for a series split ... backstopped the Irish to a home sweep versus Michigan State ... had 17 saves in 6-2 win (Nov. 19) ... followed with 18 saves in 4-2 win the following night ... surrendered six goals while making 33 saves in 6-3 loss at North Dakota (Nov. 26) ... had a season-high 39-save performance in 2-2 tie with Fighting Sioux (Nov. 27) ... made seventh consecutive start versus Miami (Dec. 3) with 18 saves in 5-4 win ... split a pair of games with Northern Michigan (Dec. 11-12) ... had 12 saves in 3-2 loss to the Wildcats and then 15 the following evening in a 5-2 win ... made 23 saves in 4-3 loss to Minnesota State (Jan. 1) in Shillelagh Tournament opener ... helped the Irish to third place in tournament with 16 saves in 3-3 tie versus Boston University ... Irish won shootout to take third ... stopped 32-of-34 shots in weekend sweep at Northern Michigan (Jan. 7-8) as Irish take 8-1 and 3-1 decisions ... made 34 saves in 2-1 home win against Alaska (Jan. 14) ... followed with 35-save effort in 4-1 loss (Jan. 15) ... played just 45 minutes in 6-1 loss at Ohio State (Jan. 21) ... turned things around in second game with a 29 saves in 4-1 win over the Buckeyes (Jan. 22) ...made 23 saves in 5-5 tie with Miami at the Joyce Center (Jan. 28) ... had a 37-save night in 2-1 win over Bowling Green (Feb. 11) ... turned in a 37-save performance in 3-2 win at Ferris State (Feb. 18) ... made 16 saves in 3-2 win at Western Michigan (Feb. 25) ... played all three games of second-round playoff series versus Lake Superior ... won game one, 3-2, in overtime (24 saves), lost second game, 3-2 (35 saves) and won series-clinching game, 4-2, making 13 saves ... took the loss in CCHA semifinals versus Miami (6-2) ... played 43:21, giving up six goals on 24 shots ... bounced back with back-to-back outstanding performances in NCAA Northeast Regional ... made 32 saves in 4-3 win in overtime against Merrimack (March 26) ... stopped 37-of-38 shots in 2-1 win over New Hampshire to send Irish to the Frozen Four ... named to Northeast Regional all-tournament team ... named most valuable player of Northeast Regional ... closed the season with a 4-3 loss to Minnesota-Duluth in NCAA Frozen Four ... had 17 saves versus the Bulldogs ... appeared in seven postseason games, going 4-3 with a 3.22 goals-against average and a .889 save percentage.
AS A FRESHMAN: Played in 29 games, making 28 starts for the Irish ... was 10-13-5 on the year with a 2.60 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage ... was selected to the CCHA all-rookie team and was Notre Dame's rookie of the year ... winner of Notre Dame's Perani Cup Award as the team's top vote getter in three stars of the game voting ... got his career off to a fast start on Oct. 16 when he blanked Providence College, 2-0, making 29 saves ... became the second Notre Dame goaltender in as many years to earn a shutout in his first career start ... followed with a 3-1 win versus Ohio State (Oct. 30), making 27 saves in the victory ... won his third straight start, a 3-2 verdict at Alaska (Nov. 6) with 35 saves ... made first back-to-back starts the following night versus the Nanooks, giving up two goals in 23 shots in a 3-1 loss ... dropped second in a row with 15 saves in a 3-2 home loss to Northern Michigan (Nov. 14) ... had 23 saves in a 1-1 tie at Michigan State (Nov. 19) and stopped three-of-four Spartan shots in the shoot out for 2-1 Irish win ... played in both games of the Bowling Green series, making 20 saves in a 2-1 overtime win on Nov. 27 ... played the final 14:40 of the second game of the series in relief of Brad Phillips ... made eight saves to get credit for the tie ... gave up one goal in the shoot out as the Falcons picked up the extra point in the standings ... was on the losing end of a pair of shutouts at Miami (1-0 and 4-0), making 25 and 32 saves respectively ... lost third consecutive game, making 25 saves in a 4-1 loss at Michigan (Dec. 11) as the Irish faced the Wolverines with just three healthy defensemen ... two days later, recorded second shutout of the year with 38 saves in 2-0 win over Michigan, again playing with a depleted defense ... followed Michigan win with a 5-2 victory over Colgate in the Shillelagh Tournament opener, making 23 saves ... stopped 25 shots the following night in 3-3 tie in title game with North Dakota ... stopped four-of-five shots in shoot out to give Irish the tournament win ... selected to the Shillelagh Tournament all-tournament team ... gave up five goals in a 5-2 loss at home to Ferris State, making 26 saves ... started the final 14 games of the season ... backstopped Notre Dame to a 5-2 win at home versus Michigan State (Jan. 15) ... surrendered first three goals over opening 24:30 before giving way to Brad Phillips in a 4-4 overtime tie at Michigan State (Jan. 16) ... bounced back with 26 saves in a 6-1 win over Lake Superior State (Jan. 22) ... made a career-high 45 saves in a 1-1 tie versus the Lakers the following night to earn CCHA goaltender of the week honors for week of Jan. 24, stopping 71-of-73 shots in a win and tie ... gained a split at home versus Nebraska-Omaha to close out January ... made 29 saves in a 5-3 loss on Jan. 29 but bounced back with 32 saves in a 3-2 win the following night against the Mavericks ... dropped consecutive games to Western Michigan ... stopped 50 of 55 shots in a loss (4-3) and a tie (1-1) at Bowling Green (Feb. 19-20) ... saw record for February fall to 0-4-1 in a 4-0 loss at Michigan (Feb. 25) ... snapped the streak with 22 saves in a 5-3 victory over Michigan in the regular-season finale ... took the loss in both games of the CCHA playoffs at Ohio State ... made 25 saves in 3-1 loss in game one ... played the first 20 minutes in 8-2 loss on March 6, giving up four goals on nine shots ... has an 0-2-0 with a 5.35 goals-against average and a .810 save percentage in two postseason games.
PREP & PERSONAL: Graduated from James Madison Memorial High School in Madison, Wis., in June of 2007 ... played hockey while in high school for the Madison Capitols AAA ... played one season of junior hockey in the USHL with Cedar Rapids (`08-'09) and one in the NAHL with St. Louis (`07-'08) ... tied for second in the league in shutouts (3) ... was third in wins (25), fifth in minutes played (2,263:41) and sixth in save percentage (.909) ... played for the North squad in the 2009 USHL Prospects/All-Star game ... started his junior career in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) with the St. Louis Bandits ... helped the Bandits to the Robertson Cup title where he was 3-0-1 with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage in four starts ... for the `07-'08 campaign, was 21-3-1 with a 2.56 goals against and a .909 save percentage ... also saw playing time in `07-'08 with Cedar Rapids, playing in two games with a 1-1-0 record, a 2.01 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage ...full name is Michael A. Johnson ... son of Bobbi Johnson ... has one brother, Eric, a sophomore on the Notre Dame hockey team, and one sister, Lauren ... double major in sociology and computer applications at Notre Dame.
