Eric Ringel
Righthanded defenseman 6'2, 190 (6'0 189 per ND)
Committed 2/8/2007
4/4/90 birth
Played for Mahoning Valley of the USHL
NAHL profile:
http://www.pointstreak.com/templatepreview/pro/playerpage.html?playerid=891101&seasonid=2025
Signing story:
http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/112907aac.html
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The dew has fallen with a particularly sickening thud this morning.
And that thud is my reaction to the news that Notre Dame has been ranked 3rd in the USA Today / USA Hockey Magazine preseason poll. I'm going to take the probably unpopular position that, right now, we're overrated.
Don't get me wrong, I think we'll be a very good team this year. We'll return to the NCAA's, and more like 2006 than 2007 we'll likely be expected to advance beyond our first game. We'll get better as the season progresses and have a chance to make a postseason run like we did this past season.
But while ND returns a boatload of talent, it also loses some key pieces that will cause some early growing pains as on-ice skill and all-around leadership voids must be filled.
Chief among these is its captain, most experienced player, emotional rock, and third leading scorer in terms of both goals and points, Mark Van Guilder.
Also leaving is arguably our best defenseman last year, Brock Sheahan. Though not the one with the most talent, or the most potential, he was the most solid throughout the season, and his stay-at-home qualities hopefully have been well-studied by the three phenoms. He was our leader in +/- by more than 50% over his nearest teammate (+21 versus +13) and the team leader in penalty minutes -- not because of stupid penalties, but rather taking one when necessary to avoid a goal or to protect a teammate.
Also leaving is a solid gritty defenseman who deserved far more credit than he generally got (Dan VeNard), and a solid off-line forward who chipped in 19 points, +5 skating, and a nice mix of skills that let him play on either a scoring or checking line as needed (Evan Rankin).
Notre Dame can reasonably expect that, by the end of the year, we'll have a realistic shot to make a run that will stake the claim for the third year in a row that this has been the best year in Irish hockey history. But that doesn't mean we're number three in the country right now, because we're not. In the north dome magic 8 ball, I keep shaking, but I keep getting the same response: ask again later, preferably after the MU/NMU/BC five-game gauntlet.
As far as our opponents in the poll, Notre Dame faces six teams in the preseason top 15: #1 Boston College and #6 Denver (both on the road), and the four other CCHA teams among the contingent making up one third of the poll: #2 Michigan, #8 Miami, #12 Michigan State, and #14 Northern Michigan. Another possible Irish opponent, UMass-Lowell, is in the ARVs.
Don't get me wrong, I think we'll be a very good team this year. We'll return to the NCAA's, and more like 2006 than 2007 we'll likely be expected to advance beyond our first game. We'll get better as the season progresses and have a chance to make a postseason run like we did this past season.
But while ND returns a boatload of talent, it also loses some key pieces that will cause some early growing pains as on-ice skill and all-around leadership voids must be filled.
Chief among these is its captain, most experienced player, emotional rock, and third leading scorer in terms of both goals and points, Mark Van Guilder.
Also leaving is arguably our best defenseman last year, Brock Sheahan. Though not the one with the most talent, or the most potential, he was the most solid throughout the season, and his stay-at-home qualities hopefully have been well-studied by the three phenoms. He was our leader in +/- by more than 50% over his nearest teammate (+21 versus +13) and the team leader in penalty minutes -- not because of stupid penalties, but rather taking one when necessary to avoid a goal or to protect a teammate.
Also leaving is a solid gritty defenseman who deserved far more credit than he generally got (Dan VeNard), and a solid off-line forward who chipped in 19 points, +5 skating, and a nice mix of skills that let him play on either a scoring or checking line as needed (Evan Rankin).
Notre Dame can reasonably expect that, by the end of the year, we'll have a realistic shot to make a run that will stake the claim for the third year in a row that this has been the best year in Irish hockey history. But that doesn't mean we're number three in the country right now, because we're not. In the north dome magic 8 ball, I keep shaking, but I keep getting the same response: ask again later, preferably after the MU/NMU/BC five-game gauntlet.
As far as our opponents in the poll, Notre Dame faces six teams in the preseason top 15: #1 Boston College and #6 Denver (both on the road), and the four other CCHA teams among the contingent making up one third of the poll: #2 Michigan, #8 Miami, #12 Michigan State, and #14 Northern Michigan. Another possible Irish opponent, UMass-Lowell, is in the ARVs.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Murphy, you're turning into a penguin. Stop it.
Kyle Murphy is the youngest member of this year's incoming class, born May 11, 1990. He was also one of the last players into the class -- joining Nick Condon and Rich Ryan in the spring signing period. With a name like Kyle Patrick Murphy he had to consider the Irish program; though his brother played at Irish Catholic competitor BC several years ago. A lefty LW, he hails from New Jersey but prepped at Minnesota powerhouse Shattuck Saint Mary's (the same school as Kevin Deeth).
Murphy is variously listed between 5'8 and 5'10 and about 170 pounds. He's a good skater and skill player, but his size will be a hurdle, at least early. This is especially true considering his age and coming direct from high school. Though I don't expect him to retreat to juniors mid-career, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him sit as a freshman -- he's probably not a flight risk as far as the pros are concerned and he has a lot of potential if his slick offensive game translates to this level and he can improve his defensive presence, so preserving a 5th year wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
Perhaps since he's coming straight to HS, or because he's not an immediate pro prospect, the net is pretty quiet on Murphy, so I think this'll have to do. He doesn't even have a hockeyDB profile!
Murphy is variously listed between 5'8 and 5'10 and about 170 pounds. He's a good skater and skill player, but his size will be a hurdle, at least early. This is especially true considering his age and coming direct from high school. Though I don't expect him to retreat to juniors mid-career, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him sit as a freshman -- he's probably not a flight risk as far as the pros are concerned and he has a lot of potential if his slick offensive game translates to this level and he can improve his defensive presence, so preserving a 5th year wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
Perhaps since he's coming straight to HS, or because he's not an immediate pro prospect, the net is pretty quiet on Murphy, so I think this'll have to do. He doesn't even have a hockeyDB profile!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Condon, you're turning into a penguin. Stop it.
Defenseman Nick Condon comes to Notre Dame from the North American Hockey League. Born in January 1987, he's the oldest member of the incoming class, having played high school hockey in Wisconsin (Wausau West High School) before moving on to the development system. He started with Minnesota and North Iowa for the '05-'06 season before moving on to Marquette Rangers for '06-'07. His NAHL bio can be found here, since hockeyDB doesn't show his later NAHL stats.
At Marquette his first season was productive, appearing in 52 games (1-10-11) and accumulating 50 penalty minutes. The following season he played 42 games with Marquette, becoming a vital cog in the offense (3-29-32) before being dealt to the St. Louis Bandits where he accumulated 6 points in 8 games.
The lefty blueliner committed in March 2008, making him the second-to-last member of this class, and signed in the spring signing period. He is the older brother of Minnesota recruit Nate Condon. Though listed at 5'10 and 170ish pounds for recruiting purposes, he was perceived by many scouts to be too small to develop into a top-tier defenseman -- other sources have him as small as 5'8 and 155 pounds. He makes up for his small size with a strongly skilled playing style, including excellent skating ability and puck-handling.
Minnesota Ice Hawks coach Nick Fatis was quoted about Condon: "Nick is a great kid. He's had to work pretty hard to get past the stigma of being too small to play D-I hockey, so it's nice to see him get that brass ring. The Fighting Irish are getting a great player and even a better young man in Nick Condon. I wish him luck and look forward to seeing him skate in the gold and blue."
His coach with the Bandits described Condon as "a slick-skating, dynamic defenseman" who "should be able to compliment Notre Dame’s defensive group with excellent speed and puck-handling ability."
At Marquette his first season was productive, appearing in 52 games (1-10-11) and accumulating 50 penalty minutes. The following season he played 42 games with Marquette, becoming a vital cog in the offense (3-29-32) before being dealt to the St. Louis Bandits where he accumulated 6 points in 8 games.
The lefty blueliner committed in March 2008, making him the second-to-last member of this class, and signed in the spring signing period. He is the older brother of Minnesota recruit Nate Condon. Though listed at 5'10 and 170ish pounds for recruiting purposes, he was perceived by many scouts to be too small to develop into a top-tier defenseman -- other sources have him as small as 5'8 and 155 pounds. He makes up for his small size with a strongly skilled playing style, including excellent skating ability and puck-handling.
Minnesota Ice Hawks coach Nick Fatis was quoted about Condon: "Nick is a great kid. He's had to work pretty hard to get past the stigma of being too small to play D-I hockey, so it's nice to see him get that brass ring. The Fighting Irish are getting a great player and even a better young man in Nick Condon. I wish him luck and look forward to seeing him skate in the gold and blue."
His coach with the Bandits described Condon as "a slick-skating, dynamic defenseman" who "should be able to compliment Notre Dame’s defensive group with excellent speed and puck-handling ability."
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
If your travel plans today do not include Washington, D.C., now would be a perfect time to disembark.
Notre Dame has officially announced its schedule. It surprised approximately zero people on USCHO, but I suppose it's worth a mention here and a brief rundown of the key series. One thing remains uncertain; a date of 10/6 has been speculated for the drop-the-puck dinner, but I've heard no confirmation of this. It's also unclear whether the Blue-Gold Game will happen this year as it did last year in conjunction with that event.
A return trip to Denver for their series here last season will provide a stern early test for a team with sky-high expectations coming off an appearance in the final game of the college hockey season. (Hopefully our visit for the HOF game will not involve a tornado warning causing evacuation of the arena).
Notre Dame then returns home to face a second and third consecutive game against the Pioneers ... well, excepting the fact that the latter two are against Sacred Heart, not Denver. Apparently the consecutive games against LSU, Auburn, and Clemson didn't work out due to none of those three schools sponsoring NCAA hockey? Hopefully the students will stick around the Friday 10/18 at the start of fall break to welcome in a new hockey season; especially since the game that night is the home opener and will likely feature a ceremony to unveil new banners and whatnot (a third year on the NCAA banner, and however they want to do the Frozen Four and championship game).
As it was last year, the only series with Miami comes early in the season -- this year at home in the season's third weekend. The second game of the set (7pm Saturday 10/25) is up nearly exactly head-to-head with the Schadenfreude Bowl (ND @ UW, 8pm on ABC), so hopefully there's enough of a turnout to support the troops in this critical early season matchup against a team that may well be in the preseason top 10. A rematch of the Don't Kiss Your Sister CCHA Consolation Special follows, as the Irish trek to the UP to take on a Northern team expected to merit preseason ranking consideration and its highest expectations in several years. A rematch of the national championship game the following weekend in Conte against a BC team expected to be in the preseason top two and a trip to PC, who returns 20 of 25 letterwinners from last season, round out the most taxing portion of the Irish schedule.
A series against expected bottom-dwellars Lake Superior State and two home-and-homes against a BGSU program that Notre Dame is undefeated against (7-0-1) in the Jackson era, sandwich a tough pair of series as November cedes its hold on the calendar to December. Thanksgiving weekend WMU resumes their always intense rivalry with the Irish, and no doubt Saturday will give easy access to the Lawson Lunatics as the series finale drops the puck only an hour before the football contest at USC kicks off. Again, hopefully fans will show up in support of the Irish icers, as with the geographically closest opponent on our docket scheduled for that night, we run the risk of losing home ice advantage in our own place. The following weekend the Irish travel up the road to Big Rapids to take on a Ferris State team whose scrappy, aggressive, infuriating play is always a test for ND and has produced a very respectable 4-6-1 record against the Irish in recent years.
Just after the new year, Notre Dame will host the new replacement for the Lightening Classic, the Shillelagh Tournament, in Chicago. Following is a home series against a TAFKAF program in crisis, another trip to the UP for a return trip to Lake State, and an off week. This lull in the schedule should allow the Irish to focus their energies on (but hopefully not look too much ahead to) a much anticipated clash with the other expected preseason top-2 school, the University of Michigan. Notre Dame, presumably having learned from the embarrassment that was the "home game" in the Palace last season, actually hosts the Friday matchup at home this season in the biggest home game of the year. Michigan will be looking to atone for the humiliating loss in the Frozen Four last season. (And, dare we hope, a loss to the Irish on the gridiron in September?)
Road trips to Columbus and Omaha intersperse with a return trip from NMU and a regional final rematch home-and-home slate with Sparty, who return the shortest player in college hockey, captain Jeff Lerg, for seemingly his 9th season. The MSU series may determine seeding for the CCHA tournament, as well as potentially the NCAA tournament. Michigan State is expected to start slowly due to mass defections to the pro ranks, but by the last series of the year, will no doubt be firing on all cylinders with hopes of additional postseason glory.
Here's the full schedule, according to the ND athletic department release linked above (but edited for formatting):
October
11 Sat. at Denver
17 Fri. Sacred Heart
18 Sat. Sacred Heart
24 Fri. Miami
25 Sat. Miami
31 Fri. at Northern Michigan
November
1 Sat. at Northern Michigan
7 Fri. at Boston College
8 Sat. at Providence College
14 Fri. Lake Superior State
15 Sat. Lake Superior State
21 Fri. Bowling Green
22 Sat. at Bowling Green
28 Fri. Western Michigan
29 Sat. Western Michigan
December
5 Fri. at Ferris State
6 Sat. at Ferris State
12 Fri. at Bowling Green
13 Sat. Bowling Green
January
Shillelagh Tournament
(Hoffman Estates, Ill.)
2 Fri. UMD vs. UM-Lowell
Notre Dame vs. Union
3 Sat Winners of Friday's games
Losers of Friday's games
9 Fri. Alaska
10 Sat. Alaska
16 Fri. at Lake Superior State
17 Sat. at Lake Superior State
30 Fri. Michigan
31 Sat. at Michigan
February
6 Fri. at Ohio State
7 Sat. at Ohio State
13 Fri. Northern Michigan
14 Sat. Northern Michigan
20 Fri. at Nebraska-Omaha
21 Sat. at Nebraska-Omaha
27 Fri. Michigan State
28 Sat. at Michigan State
March
6-8 Fri.-Sun. 1st Round CCHA Playoffs
13-15 Fri.-Sun. 2nd Round CCHA Playoffs
20-21 Fri.-Sat. CCHA Championships
(Joe Louis Arena, Detroit)
27-29 Fri.-Sun. NCAA Regionals
April
9/11 Thur./Sat. NCAA Frozen Four
(Washington, D.C.)
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