In this exhibition game, the Irish beat the US Under-18 Team, 2-1 in overtime.
Tough, rugged defenseman who earned three
monograms in three seasons at Notre Dame ... recognized as one of the top shutdown defenders in the
nation during his collegiate career ... was chosen in
the second round, 46th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry
Draft by the Washington Capitals ... had his rights
traded at the 2008 NHL trading deadline to the
Columbus Blue Jackets for future Hall of Famer Sergei
Federov ... signed with the Blue Jackets following the
2009-10 college season ... battled injuries in his junior
year and played in just 22 games ... had no goals and
five assists in those games ... played in 100 career
games for the Irish with four goals and 13 assists for
17 points.
AS A JUNIOR: Played in 22 of the team's 38
games on the season ... scored no goals with five
assists for five points ... had 15 penalties for 52 min-
utes while recording 31 blocked shots ... started the
season on the sidelines after suffering a lower body
injury at the first official practice of the season ...
returned to the lineup on November 14 versus
Northern Michigan ... picked up first point of the sea-
son in 2-2 tie with the Wildcats (Nov. 15) ... played in
each of the next 12 games before being injured in the
second game of the Ferris State series (Jan. 10) ...
missed six games before get-
ting back in action at Western
Michigan on Feb. 5 ...
recorded an assist in 7-2 loss
to the Broncos on Feb. 6 ...
assisted on lone Irish goal in
1-1 tie at Bowling Green (Feb.
20) ... assisted on a pair of
goals to equal a career high
for points in a game in 5-3
victory versus Michigan on
Feb. 27 ... held scoreless in
two postseason games.
AS A SOPHOMORE: Played in 36 of the team's 40
games, missing two games
with an injury and two while
playing for Team USA in the
World Junior Championships
... scored a pair of goals with
five assists for seven points ...
had 17 penalties for 42 min-
utes ... tied for fifth on the team with a +11 ... missed
the first two games of the season with an injury ...
picked up his first point of the season, scoring a goal
in a 5-2 win over Lake Superior State (Nov. 15) ... sec-
ond goal of the season came in 3-1 win at Bowling
Green (Dec. 12) ... along with teammate Ian Cole was
a member of the U.S. Junior National team that fin-
ished fifth at the World Junior Championships in
Ottawa, Ont. ... played in all six games with no points
and 25 minutes in penalties ... recorded five assists
over the remainder of the season, including a two-
assist night at Northern Michigan on Feb. 13 ... was
+4 in the postseason, while not scoring any points.
AS A FRESHMAN: Played in 42 games in 2007-
08, scoring a pair of goals with three assists for five
points ... had 14 penalties for 36 minutes ... was sec-
ond on the squad with a +13 rating ... Notre Dame's
rookie of the year in `07-'08 ... went scoreless for his
first 17 games, but got his first goal and assist in a
two-point night against Nebraska-Omaha in a 5-0
shutout on Dec. 1 ... missed five games with an injury
from Dec. 8 to Jan. 5 ... picked up second assist of the
season in 5-3 loss to Ferris State (Feb. 8) ... had final
assist of the season in game three of CCHA second
round when he helped set up Dan Kissel's goal that
made it 1-0 in a 2-1 win for Notre Dame ... final goal
of the season came versus Michigan State in the
NCAA West Regional when he hammered a shot
from the right point past Jeff Lerg with under five
minutes left to insure the 3-1 win that sent the Irish to
the Frozen Four ... in nine postseason games, had one
goal and one assist for two points.
WITH USA HOCKEY: Selected to the 2009 U.S.
Junior National Team that participated in the World
Junior Championships in Ottawa, Ont. ... played in all
six games with no points and 25 minutes in penalties
as Team USA finished fifth overall ... participated in
two U.S. Junior National Evaluation Camps (2007 and
2008) ... played two seasons for the U.S. NationalTeam Developmental Program ... in 2006-07, served
as an alternate captain ... played in 39 games with five
goals and 11 assists for 16 points ... three of his five
goals came on the power play and one was a game
winner ... recorded 64 minutes in penalties ... as a
member of the U.S. Under-17 team in 2005-06, had
three goals and eight assists for 11 points in 66
games ... was selected as the most outstanding
defenseman at the Under-17 Four Nations
Tournament ... advanced to the U.S. program after
playing for the Chicago Mission Midget major pro-
gram and Team Illinois.
PREP & PERSONAL: Graduated from Huron High
School in Ann Arbor, Mich. ... played midget hockey
in the Chicago area for the Chicago Mission Midget
major program and Team Illinois ... full name is
Theodore John Ruth ... son of Richard and Barbara
Ruth ... has two brothers ... born February, 14, 1989 in
St. Charles, Mo. ... finance major in the Mendoza
College of Business at Notre Dame.
