Spring Break
Hockey: After two big wins on the road, Irish return to CCHA play
Sam Werner
Issue date: 11/14/08 Section: Sports
A week after Friday's marquee 4-1 non-conference win against Boston College, Notre Dame will get back to work in the CCHA with two games against Lake Superior State.
"The guys are confident right now, a little bit loose, but not cocky in my estimation," Irish coach Jeff Jackson said. "It's good that they're starting to see the fruits of their labor."
Jackson said even after the big win in Chestnut Hill, he wasn't worried about his team having a letdown against the Lakers.
"If anything, we should have had a letdown against Providence [on Saturday night], and I think we did for maybe 10 minutes," Jackson said. "The guys understand if they want to be an elite team, they've got to show signs of consistency. They've got to play at a high level every night, regardless of who the opponent is."
Notre Dame captain Erik Condra said the solution to staying hot was simple.
"We just got to make sure we're intense," Condra said. "And bring the same intensity in practice that we do in the games."
Lake Superior is tied for second in the CCHA, along with four other teams. The Irish sit in 10th place, but have played two fewer conference games than the Lakers and at this early stage of the conference season, all 12 teams are within eight points of each other.
"Everybody in our conference can win, I don't care who it is," Jackson said. "If you're not ready to play, you're going to get beat on a given night."
This game is more than just a regular conference game for Jackson, though. The Irish coach spent 10 years with the Lakers, from 1986 to 1996, and won two national championships in 1992 and 1994.
"It's always going to have a special place in my heart," Jackson said. "I always want to see them do well, obviously not this weekend. They are a very important part of my history and I'll never forget my time there."
Jackson said the Lakers' most dangerous weapon was their versatility, and the fact that their best players are spread out over four lines.
"The guys are confident right now, a little bit loose, but not cocky in my estimation," Irish coach Jeff Jackson said. "It's good that they're starting to see the fruits of their labor."
Jackson said even after the big win in Chestnut Hill, he wasn't worried about his team having a letdown against the Lakers.
"If anything, we should have had a letdown against Providence [on Saturday night], and I think we did for maybe 10 minutes," Jackson said. "The guys understand if they want to be an elite team, they've got to show signs of consistency. They've got to play at a high level every night, regardless of who the opponent is."
Notre Dame captain Erik Condra said the solution to staying hot was simple.
"We just got to make sure we're intense," Condra said. "And bring the same intensity in practice that we do in the games."
Lake Superior is tied for second in the CCHA, along with four other teams. The Irish sit in 10th place, but have played two fewer conference games than the Lakers and at this early stage of the conference season, all 12 teams are within eight points of each other.
"Everybody in our conference can win, I don't care who it is," Jackson said. "If you're not ready to play, you're going to get beat on a given night."
This game is more than just a regular conference game for Jackson, though. The Irish coach spent 10 years with the Lakers, from 1986 to 1996, and won two national championships in 1992 and 1994.
"It's always going to have a special place in my heart," Jackson said. "I always want to see them do well, obviously not this weekend. They are a very important part of my history and I'll never forget my time there."
Jackson said the Lakers' most dangerous weapon was their versatility, and the fact that their best players are spread out over four lines.