Nov. 12, 1999
Coach Dave Poulin Postgame Audio!
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Senior left wing Andy Jurkowski continued to
spark the struggling Notre Dame offense while freshman goaltender Tony
Zasowski made 19 saves for his first career shutuot, as the Irish extended
their recent mastery over visiting Alaska Fairbanks with a 1-0 victory
Friday in Central Collegiate Hockey Association action at the Joyce Center
Fieldhouse.
Notre Dame (3-6-2, 2-5-2 CCHA) posted its fifth straight victory
over UAF, with a 23-6 scoring edge and a 200-104 advantage in shots on goal
during the streak. The Irish have won seven of the last eight games in the
series (the lone loss was 3-2 in overtime), with a 35-13 scoring edge
during those eight games.
Alaska Fairbanks (3-8-0, 2-7-0 CCHA) continued its recent offensive
struggles but the Nanooks stayed in the game behind the play of freshman
goaltender Lance Mayes, who stopped 29 of the 30 shots that he faced (UAF
also thwarted all five Irish power plays).
The Nanooks had several chances to tie the game in the third
period, but Zasowski turned away seven shots while helping stop two UAF
power plays in the final 20 minutes.
UAF suffered its first back-to-back shutouts in 21 years of varsity
hockey, after dropping a 3-0 game to Michigan State last week (the Nanooks
are mired in a 129:06 scoring drought).
Irish sophomore center Brett Henning set up the game's only goal in
the first period, after sliding the puck to Jurkowski near the right
boards. Jurkowski worked his way past a UAF player and skated behind the
net before attempting a return pass for Henning. The puck hit off a UAF
player and bounced towards the left side of the crease, with Jurkowski
quickly redirecting a shot between the left post and Mayes' blocker (6:19).
Notes: Jurkwoski has points in five of the last six games and has scored
goals in each of the last four CCHA series (vs. Ferris State, Miami,
Nebraska-Omaha and UAF) ... he also had an assist in the Miami series, giving
him five points in 11 games this season (he had just two goals and four
assists in 70 games during his first three seasons with the Irish) ...
Notre Dame's 30 shots on goal are its fewest in the last seven games versus
UAF, since a 23-shot game in a 6-2 win over UAF on Jan. 18, 1997 ... the
flu bug continues to hit the Irish, as senior defenseman Tyson Fraser did
not play due to illness ... Friday marked just the third time in 11 games
this season that the Irish have failed to score a power-play goal ... the
Irish are 16-5-4 in their last 25 regular-season home games.
Notre Dame Head Coach Dave Poulin: "Its not coming easily at all right now,
but this is a huge win for us. You have to win a 1-0 game at some point
during the year, that type of game where it is tight right down to the
wire. There is nothing comfortable about it. (Connor) Dunlop hit the
crossbar, we had numerous chances and the power play was very good early,
but we just didn't score. ... Boy did we get a save in the first period.
You might as well count it one, one at that point. It was a phenomenal
save. Then (Zasowski) was real steady the rest of the way. He was just
steady and good. A couple of times he was terrific, and we need him there.
... Sean Molina was terrific. He has been very good. He missed last weekend
and we realized how much we missed him when he was out. He was just
dominating tonight in every aspect of the game. He stood the play up, he
positionally he was terrific, he was really strong. ... Andy Jurkowski
really stood out tonight. Not just because of the goal but because that
whole line of Jurkowski, Henning, and (Ryan) Dolder was good all night. But
then they have been good all year. ... Four years ago, (Jurkowski) was a
walk-on. He had played junior hockey with (former Irish goaltender) Forrest
Karr, and Forrest said be patient because at first you will look at him and
think, 'Well, what does he bring?' The more you know him, the more he grows
on you. And he said in juniors he started the year as the sixth defenseman
and at the end of the year he was the first defenseman. I think his
sophomore year he played quite a bit of forward. He played quite a bit of
left wing. Last year he was back on defense and this year to start the year
he was on defense.. He just creates so much energy up front and he takes
those guys with him on his line."
NOTRE DAME 1 0 0 - 1
ALASKA FAIRBANKS 0 0 0 - 0
1st: ND 1. Jurkowski 4 (Henning) 6:19.
Shots: UAF 4-8-7/19, ND 15-8-7/30.
Saves: UAF (Lance Mayes) 14-8-7/29, ND (Tony Zasowski) 4-8-7/19.
Power Play: UAF 0-for-6, ND 0-for-5.
Penalties: UAF 6 for 12:00, ND 8
for 16:00.
