Sept. 18, 2017

CHICAGO -- Ahead of Notre Dame’s first season as an affiliate member of the Big Ten, the Fighting Irish hockey team has been picked to finish second in a vote by the league’s head coaches.

Additionally, senior forward Jake Evans, senior defenseman Jordan Gross and junior forward Andrew Oglevie have been named to the league’s 2017-18 Preseason Watch List.  

2017-18 BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL

1. Minnesota
2. Notre Dame
3. Wisconsin
4. Penn State
5. Ohio State
6. Michigan
7. Michigan State

2017-18 BIG TEN PRESEASON WATCH LIST*

Quinn Hughes, D, Michigan
Will Lockwood, F, Michigan
Josh Norris, F, Michigan
Ryan Lindgren, D, Minnesota
Casey Mittelstadt, F, Minnesota
Rem Pitlick, F, Minnesota
Tyler Sheehy, F, Minnesota
Jake Evans, F, Notre Dame
Jordan Gross, D, Notre Dame
Andrew Oglevie, F, Notre Dame
Mason Jobst, F, Ohio State
Matthew Weis, F, Ohio State
Peyton Jones, G, Penn State
Dennis Smirnov, F, Penn State
Trent Frederic, F, Wisconsin
Kyle Hayton, G, Wisconsin
Cameron Hughes, F, Wisconsin
* --  Additional honorees due to ties in voting
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS

Evans skated in all 40 games for the Irish last season, tallying career-high totals for goals (13), assists (29) and points (42). His 29 assists and 42 points were good for second on the team, while he ranked ninth in Hockey East in assists and 10th in points. He had a pair of assists in Notre Dame’s 3-2 comeback victory against No. 1 Minnesota in the first round of the NCAA Championship, and also assisted on Cam Morrison’s game-tying goal against UMass Lowell to help send the Irish to the Frozen Four. With 92 career points (28-64-92), Evans is the fourth-leading returning scorer in college hockey.

Gross is in the midst of a 119-consecutive games played streak, dating back his first game in an Irish uniform. Last season as a junior, he notched 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points en route to being named a Hockey East Honorable Mention All-Star. He played a key role in helping lift Notre Dame to the Frozen Four, assisting on Anders Bjork’s game-winning goal against No. 1 Minnesota in the tournament’s first round. He is the top returning scorer among defenseman in college hockey with 91 career points (26-65-91).

Oglevie had a breakout year offensively for the Irish in 2016-17. He skated in all 40 games and finished third on the team with 41 points on 21 goals and 20 assists, all of which were career-high totals. He increased his point total from his freshman year to sophomore season by 32, while his 41 points tied for 11th in Hockey East. He scored the overtime, game-winning goal against UMass Lowell in the NCAA Northeast Regional Final to send the Irish to the 2017 Frozen Four.

The Irish will open the 2017-18 season with a home exhibition contest versus the USNTDP (U18) at 5:05 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1 and then will get into regular-season play the following weekend with a home series against Alabama-Huntsville (Oct. 6-7). To purchase tickets, click here.

-- ND --