Last weekend I had the pleasure of covering the 2011 NCAA Men’s Hockey Northeast Regional for the University of Notre Dame. The regional was hosted by the University of New Hampshire and played at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. This post is a big longer than my normal entries as I am bundling 3 days worth of experience in one post.

The UND team wastes no time getting into a grove as they practice Friday afternoon

Notre Dame head coach Jeff Jackson holds court center ice at the Verizon Wireless Arena during Friday’s practice session.

Saturday- Regional Semifinal versus Merrimack College

The University of Notre Dame kicked off the regional tournament by facing off against a tough Merrimack College team

Notre Dame  Senior Calle Ridderwall (#22) fights for the puck against Merrimack College’s Karl Stollery (#7). Ridderwall scored a goal in the first period.

Ben Ryan (#19) gets ready to riffle in a shot on goal

Tempers flared between both sides during the game

Sophomore  goaltender  Mike Johnson (#32) had a busy night stopping 29 of 32 shots

Notre Dame Head Coach Jeff Jackson addresses his players including Bryan Rust (#21 added and assist), T.J. Tynan (#18added an assist), Sean Lorenz (#18) and Calle Ridderwall (#22 added a goal) during a break in the actions.

Notre Dane’s Nick Larson (#26) gets driven into the boards by Merrimack College’s Adam Ross (#26)

Notre Dame’s Ben Ryan (#19) takes a shot against Merrimack College goalie Joe Cannata (#35)

Freshman T.J. Tynan (#18) takes a shot at net

The two teams played a hard fought game each seizing opportunities along the way

Freshman Anders Lee (#9) celebrates after his game winning goal in overtime to give Notre Dame a 4-3 victory and send them to the Northeast Regional final.

Sunday- Regional Final versus University of New Hampshire

Opening face off for the 2011 NCAA  Division 1 Men’s Ice Hockey Northeast Regional

UNH’s  Mike Borisenok (#14) and  Ben Ryan (#19) of Notre Dame get ready to face off

Senior Ben Ryan (#19) keeps an eye of the game as he awaits a line change

Notre Dame struck first scoring in the first and second periods

Sophomore Sam Calabrese (#8) keeps an eye of the puck in front of him

Freshman Stephen Johns (#28) scored Notre Dame’s first goal of the  night versus UNH

Notre Dame Head Coach Jeff Jackson mulls over his thoughts

UNH’s Blake Kessel (#20) and Notre Dame’s Riley Sheahan (#4) fight for the puck. Sheahan had two assists during the game

Sophomore Nick Larson (#26) looks on as the Fighting Irish take control against the Wildcats

Notre Dame Senior Captain Joe Lavin (#33) skates past UNH’s John Henrion (#16)

Billy Maday (#17) and UNH Mick Beck(#25) jockey for the puck. Maday scored the second Notre Dame goal on the evening

Sophomore Sam Calabrese (#8) gets into position

Riley Sheahan (#4) watches as his attempt hits the goal area

Sophomore Mike Johnson (#32) made 37 stops against a very tough Wildcat offense

Notre Dame’s Billy Maday (#17, goal) and  Anders Lee (#9, assist) vs both had a big weekend being named to the All Northeast Regional Team

Sophomore Mike Johnson #32 was named the Northeast Region tournament MVP

The University of Notre Dame defeated UNH 2-1 in front of 5900 fans

The University of Notre Dame men’s hockey team celebrates on the ice after winning the Northeast Regional championship

With the victory the University of Notre Dame will now move onto the Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minnesota. They will play The University of Minnesota Duluth on Thursday, April 7th.