NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- University of Notre Dame hockey head coach Jeff Jackson has announced the signing of four players during the early signing period this week to National Letters of Intent.

The future Irish players include Max Ellis (Canton, Michigan/Youngstown Phantoms), Jake Pivonka (Naperville, Illinois/USNTDP), Spencer Stastney (Mequon, Wisconsin/USNTDP) and Alex Steeves (Bedford, New Hampshire/Dubuque Fighting Saints).

Max Ellis | Canton, Mich. | Defenseman | Youngstown Phantoms | 5-9 | 147

Ellis is in his second season with the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL). In 2016-17, he posted five goals and notched 11 assists for 16 points in 49 games. In the playoffs, he added a goal and an assist in five games. In 10 games to start the 2017-18 season, he has a goal and six assists for seven points. Ellis, who played his youth hockey with the Honeybaked program, is eligible for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

Jake Pivonka | Naperville, Ill. |  Forward | USNTDP | 6-0 | 198

Pivonka, the son of longtime Washington Capitals star Michal Pivonka, is playing his second season with the U.S. National Team Development Program. In 2016-17, he played 34 USHL games with the USNTDP Juniors, posting five goals and six assists for 11 points. Then with the U.S. National U17 Team, he scored 10 goals and added 13 assists for 23 points in 56 games. To start the 2017-18 season, he has two goals and two assists in three USHL games. For the U.S. National U18 Team, he has five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 17 games. He won a gold medal at the 2016 Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway. Pivonka, who played his youth hockey with the Chicago Mission, is eligible for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He earned a C Rating in the latest NHL Central Scouting release (Nov. 15).

Spencer Stastney | Mequon, Wisc. | Defenseman | USNTDP | 5-10 | 179

Stastney is also playing in his second season with the U.S. National Team Development Program. In 2016-17, he played 34 USHL games with the USNTDP Juniors, posting a goal and four assists for five points. Then with the U.S. National U17 Team, he scored a goal and added 12 assists for 13 points in 56 games. To start the 2017-18 season, he has an assist in three USHL games and for the U.S. National U18 Team, he has four assists in 17 games. Stastney, who also played his youth hockey with the Chicago Mission, is eligible for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He earned a C Rating in the latest NHL Central Scouting release (Nov. 15).

Alex Steeves | Bedford, N.H. | Forward | Dubuque Fighting Saints | 5-11 | 180

Steeves, the younger brother of current Irish freshman forward Matt Steeves, is playing in his second season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL). In 2016-17, he skated in 53 games and notched 18 points on six goals and 12 assists. Then in eight playoff games, he added a goal and three assists. He is off to a fast start in 2017-18 as he has four goals and seven assists for 11 points in nine games. Entering the weekend, he is tied for 10th in USHL scoring. He played his youth hockey with the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs and also skated in 39 USHL games for the Sioux City Musketeers in 2015-16. He scored five goals and added six assists in his 39 games with the Musketeers.

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