Check out NDP hockey coach Brian Barker's account of his team's big 4-3 win Wednesday vs. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard:
"As the team bus rolled into a chilly Ann Arbor Wednesday night to face Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, there was still a sense of the Winter Classic still in the air. While not the Leafs vs. the Red Wings, this particular classic game would be played between two rivals that actually share the same nickname, the 'Fighting Irish.' Leading up to this game, NDP's players in the Class of 2014 had not had any success against AA Richard and also had never won at legendary Yost Ice Arena, home to the Michigan Wolverines college hockey team.
"After trailing 2-0 after the first period, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame Prep had had enough. Led by the seniors on the team, NDP would tie the game, 2-2, at the end of the second period with senior captain Dallas Ingraham getting the team on the scoreboard first on a great individual effort scoring his fourth goal of the season. Ingraham snapped a quick shot from the high slot that was deflected off of a defender and ended up right over the opposing goaltender's glove. Senior Filippo Leone would add the second goal by driving to the net with reckless abandon and tipping a pass from junior Jack Dimefski past the Richard goalie.
"Notre Dame Prep started the third period determined not to leave Ann Arbor without a win. They came out flying and scored two quick goals, going up 4-2. Senior Jake Jeske let an absolute laser of a shot go from the hight point blue line right past the netminder. Sophomore James Damman would end up having the game-winning goal on a perfectly placed wrist shot over the goalie's glove. The defense for NDP would have to complete this win as GR scored a late goal to make it 4-3. Senior goalie Jacob Conroy put in another solid effort stopping 23 of 26 shots, ensuring the win."
Follow Notre Dame at @NDPMA.
About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.