The Notre Dame hockey regular season is quickly approaching its end with the Tritons riding high, winning eight of their last nine matchups and claiming the FRCC tournament title for the eighth consecutive season.

The Tritons dominated this season in the 5-team FRCC, winning all six games, including in the tournament, and coming out with a +21 goal differential. 

To officially claim the title, the Tritons had to come through with a double overtime win arch rival Bay Port, 5-4.

“It is definitely one of them,” senior Callan Budinger said when asked if the win was his favorite moment in conference play. “When Gruber scored the game winner, we were all super pumped and had a lot of fun after the game.”

A total of nine Tritons also received all-conference honors, including junior Michael McIntee receiving first-team all-conference. McIntee tallied nineteen points for the Tritons this season, with four goals and fifteen assists.

Even outside of the conference, the Tritons have put together a tremendous season against top talent in the Midwest, including wins over University School of Milwaukee, Madison Edgewood and even defending Minnesota state champion Gentry Academy. 

“Our record is overall solid, but there are multiple games we lost that should have been won,” Budinger said.

Some of those losses include a back-and-forth loss to NHM and losing all three matchups to Eau Claire Memorial.

And still, a tough road lies ahead to close out the regular season as the Tritons will travel to Michigan to play against three solid foes in Detroit Catholic Central, De La Salle and Calumet, with a matchup with defending D2 state champion Fond du Lac Springs sandwiched in between as well.

However, these are the games that the Tritons use to get ready for the big dance.

“They will help us end our season playing some of the best competition we have had all year,” Budinger said. “It will give us an opportunity to gain some confidence entering the postseason.”

Year in and year out, Coach McCracken’s group has put together tough schedules to prepare themselves for the playoffs. With back-to-back trips to state coming into the season, the Tritons will look to make it three in a row and try to come home with a state title.