NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Providence College men's hockey team upset No. 7 Notre Dame, 3-2, Thursday night in a non-conference game played at the Joyce Center in Notre Dame, Ind. Freshman Aaron Jamnick (Hibbing, Minn.) scored the game-winning goal with 3:46 remaining in the third period as the Friars posted their first win over the Irish since October 15, 1999. It also marks the first time that have Friars have started the season with a 2-0 record since the 2004-05 campaign.
Jamnick's goal came after a battle for the puck at left wing boards. The puck made its way right to the front of the net and Jamnick pounced on it to record his first collegiate goal. Senior John Cavanagh (Warwick, R.I.) assisted on the goal.
The Friars took an early 1-0 lead in the first period when senior Mark Fayne (Sagamore Beach, Mass.) took a feed from freshman Chris Rooney (Canton, Mass.) at his right point position and unleashed a laser of a slap shot that beat Irish goaltender Brad Phillips high over his left shoulder at 2:59. The Friars had two short-handed opportunities to increase their lead shortly thereafter, but Phillips was able to stop juniors Ian O'Connor (Londonderry, N.H.) and Ben Farrer (Calgary, Alberta) on partial breakaways. However, the Fighting Irish evened the score at 1-1 when Ryan Thang scored on the power play from in close at 16:07. Notre Dame nearly took the lead in the final 15 seconds of the period after killing off a penalty, but PC sophomore goaltender Alex Beaudry (Cumberland, Ont.) made three point-blank saves, including one on Dan Kissel with eight seconds remaining.
The Friars regained the lead late in the second period when sophomore Matt Bergland (Faribault, Minn.) scored his first goal of the season. Junior Jordan Kremyr (Cloverdale, B.C.) collected the puck in PC's end, whirled around and slipped a back-handed pass down center ice to a streaking Bergland. Bergland then skated in on a breakaway before tucking the puck between Phillips' pads at 18:32. Junior Matt Germain (Rockland, Mass.) also assisted on the goal.
The Friars had chances early on in the third period to add to their lead, but could not convert. Senior Chris Eppich (Surrey, B.C.) had a breakaway, but Phillips was able to thwart his attempt. Moments later, PC had a five-minute power play, but did not score. However, the Irish tied the game, 2-2, at the 9:15 mark on a goal by Kissel. Kevin Deeth took a pass at the right circle before slipping the puck to Kissel, who re-directed the puck into the net from in close.
Beaudry finished with 31 saves for the Friars as he earned the First Star of the game. Phillips stopped 26 shots for the Irish.
The two teams will face off against each other tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. at the Joyce Center.