How the Slaggert brothers pushed Notre Dame to Big Ten Tournament semifinals vs. Michigan
Graham Slaggert knew the magnitude of the moment.
When he walked into the locker room at Compton Family Ice Arena on Sunday night kitted in a Notre Dame sweater and the full Fighting Irish getup from helmet to blades, he understood it might have been the last time he’ll ever make that triumphant amble.
A senior from South Bend, Slaggert grew up going to Notre Dame hockey games to support his father, Andy, now a 29-year Irish hockey coaching assistant. He has lived his dream of playing for his father and repping Notre Dame across his chest the last four years. Sunday’s 4-2 Irish victory over No. 6 seed Wisconsin (10-24-3) in a do-or-die Game 3 in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals could have been Slaggert’s last act in blue and gold on a rink that has been home to him for much longer than just his college career.
“There were a few tears shed after the game, for sure,” said Landon Slaggert, a Notre Dame sophomore forward and Graham Slaggert’s younger brother. “The realization this could be his last game at the Compton [set in]. It definitely it us a little bit. Our mom was there with tears coming down. My dad, my coach, he had a few tears in his eyes. It was pretty special.”
And oh, what a potential last act it was.
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Graham Slaggert set up on the half wall during one of No. 3 seed Notre Dame’s (27-10-0) three power plays. He saw Landon in front of the Badgers’ net. The elder sibling slipped a pass to the younger, who made a deft spinning motion to get the puck on his forehand. He quickly slid it through the Wisconsin goalie Jared Moe’s five-hole to give Notre Dame a 2-0 lead with just over five minutes left in the first period.
Landon Slaggert celebrated his 11th goal of the season. Graham Slaggert relished in his 11th assist. Like it has been for most of the season, that was a dynamite duo in the Irish’s series-clinching victory. Any surprise? Absolutely not.
“Honestly, I think it started in our basement,” Landon Slaggert added. “Mini sticks. Being down there, we have a unique chemistry and a unique bond. It’s a great experience being able to play with him. I’m so fortunate to be able to be on the same line as him.”
Landon Slaggert finished with a goal, a team-high six shots and numerous rushes up the ice to put the Badgers on their heels. Not every play shows up in a stat sheet. Landon had plenty of those, like ringing the post on a breakaway late in the third period. Notre Dame led 3-2 at the time. Junior Trevor Janicke ultimately put the game away with an empty netter in the last minute, but Landon came close a few minutes prior.
Graham Slaggert assisted on Janicke’s tally, his 15th of the year. The Slaggert brothers plus Janicke have been Notre Dame’s No. 1 line this season. The trio has combined for 37 goals and at least one in each of the last six games. Janicke scored Saturday’s game-winning goal with 20 seconds left to send Notre Dame into Sunday’s winner-take-all game three.
“That line has played well for us,” head coach Jeff Jackson said. “It took some time, but they eventually developed some good chemistry. They’ve been an effective line for us.”
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Janicke and Landon Slaggert will be back next year. As for Graham Slaggert, it might not be the end quite yet. He has a waiver from the NCAA as a result of playing in a season heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21. Jackson said he is still sorting out which seniors will return for a “super senior” season.
Right now, that isn’t top of mind. A decision for a later date. Notre Dame is two wins away from claiming a third Big Ten Tournament championship in the last five years. The Irish have to go on the road to face No. 2 seed Michigan (27-9-1) in Ann Arbor on Saturday in a single-elimination semifinal matchup. Notre Dame has beaten Michigan all four times the two teams have played this season.
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Can Jackson’s crew make it five?
“We got to focus on our game,” Jackson said. “We’ve played them well, but they did some scary stuff when we played them here two weeks ago. They’re very a skilled, very talented team. I’m sure they’re going to be highly motivated for us. That’s all well and good. For me, it’s about playing well.
“I wanted to get through this series. Now we’re in single-game elimination? Well, we just went through two of them. That’s good practice, playing for your life basically. Win or go home. We’d like to get to the Big Ten Championship Game. That’s our objective. Michigan is in our way right now. It’s going to be a tough, tough battle.”
Postgame notes and quotes
• Senior defenseman Nick Leivermann has a five-game point streak dating back to Feb. 25 against Michigan.
• Senior Jake Pivonka, who returned from an Achilles injury in December, scored his first goal of the season in his 22nd game. It ended up being the game-winner. Pivonka was Notre Dame’s 20th goal scorer of the season.
• Jackson: “It was a heck of a goal. It was something we practice. They executed it to perfection. It was good for Jake. For him doing what he has done already, it was incredible that he was even back at Christmas time. He’s still working on his skating, getting back to 100%. It doesn’t happen overnight. But I was happy for him. He has a heck of a shot, and he utilized it on that play.”
• Graduate student goaltender Matthew Galajda made 24 saves in his eighth straight start, six of which have been Notre Dame victories.
• The Notre Dame vs. Michigan winner will play the winner of No. 5 seed Penn State vs. No. 1 seed Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game on March 19.
