Ryan Siedem has a hockey pedigree.
The ex-USNTDP, USHL and Harvard defenseman brings a wealth of experience to South Bend as one of two graduate student transfers on a young Irish squad this year. Siedem arrived in South Bend over the summer to prepare for the coming season, and to start work on his master's degree at the Mendoza College of Business.
Siedem graduated from Harvard in the spring. He departed with two NCAA tournament berths and an ECAC conference title on his resume. Over three full seasons with the Crimson, he rose to a leadership role on the top defense pair. After Harvard canceled his sophomore season due to COVID-19, Siedem played 2020-21 in the USHL and left Cambridge with one more year of eligibility to burn.
“I was debating what to do based on my options and stuff,” Siedem said. “I talked to a small list of schools and Notre Dame was always a place that I had heard so much about. When I was younger, it was definitely one of the schools I hoped to maybe play at one day.”
Selling Siedem on Notre Dame did not take long. When asked when he knew Notre Dame would be the spot for him, Siedem said it didn't take long at all.
“Honestly, just pulling up right out here [in front of the rink], seeing the football stadium, all the school spirit all over the school,” Siedem said. “I also have some friends who have gone here who just loved it.”
The graduate student transfer strategy has dominated college sports with the NCAA granting all athletes an extra year of eligibility in 2020. But that type of player is soon to become a rare breed in hockey as athletes graduate or turn pro. Last season, Notre Dame had six graduate students on its roster. Only one of them spent their entire college career in South Bend. This year, Notre Dame has just four and that number is expected to decline.
Siedem and forward Patrick Moynihan, formerly of Providence College, are the only two transfers, although this isn’t their first time playing together. Both suited up for the USNTDP under-17 team during the 2017-18 season.
“Before I figured out what I was going to do, I heard that he committed here,” Siedem said. “[Providence] wasn’t in the tournament last year, so he was deciding earlier than me just because I was still playing. So then I reached out to him, and on my visit I knew Landon a little bit too, so we talked about how he was coming. I definitely knew he was coming and that was exciting for me too.”
Siedem’s final Harvard season ended in the first round of the NCAA tournament with a loss to Ohio State. After choosing Notre Dame, he was quickly on his way to South Bend, arriving in the area in time to attend summer classes at the Mendoza College of Business.
ki88iWith a short commute between Mendoza and the rink, Siedem has settled into graduate student life so far. Like most of the student body, Siedem and his teammates will be in the crowd at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday when the Irish football team hosts Pittsburgh.
“We’re fired up, it’s the last one that we can go to so it will be pretty fun,” Siedem said.
But first, there’s work to do. Before football kicks off on Saturday, the main event for Siedem will take place on the ice at Compton Family Ice Arena, as Notre Dame hosts Mercyhurst on Thursday and Friday night. Both games begin at 7:30 p.m.
The Irish are looking to bounce back from last Saturday’s 8-2 loss to No. 9 Boston University. Perhaps the only Irish highlight came courtesy from Siedem, who netted his first goal in an Irish uniform.
“That was awesome. It was a great feeling, just to get that first one. Just playing here, the fans are so into it, so it was really cool to hear how loud the building was once I scored. It was a big game too, so just helping the team in any way I can.”
The Irish will need to show some pushback this weekend against the Lakers. Siedem, and the rest of the Irish, understand that these two games are an important opportunity to build momentum before conference play begins next week.
“I think we are excited. If we can win two this weekend, we’re 4-3, which is pretty solid. Obviously just getting these two wins before the Big Ten starts would be big, having a winning record going into those [conference games]. And then to just gain some momentum and feel confident about everything, just being ready to play this weekend is the biggest thing.”
Irish Updates
As reported yesterday, Notre Dame is a bit banged up on the blue line. While freshman Paul Fischer practiced in full this week, sophomore Michael Mastrodomenico is day-to-day and senior Jake Boltmann may be out a number of weeks, according to Irish head coach Jeff Jackson.“We got three defensemen that are injured right now and a fourth coming back from injury," Jackson said. "So it's been a tough couple weeks, losing three of our top six defensemen, but hopefully other guys step up.”
To make matters worse, junior Ryan Helliwell will also be unavailable for Thursday’s contest. Helliwell was ejected from Saturday’s game against Boston University, a penalty that carries a one-game suspension. He will be able to return on Friday.
Notre Dame picked up a commitment from 2006-born forward Owen Tylec on Tuesday night. Tylec, who announced his commitment on social media, becomes the fifth member of Notre Dame’s projected 2025 class. Tylec hails from upstate New York and came up through the Buffalo Jr. Sabres organization before joining the USHL Chicago Steel this year. So far, Tylec has two points through seven games with the Steel.
The Notre Dame athletics department also announced on Wednesday that Jim and Mary Catalino of Lansdale, Pa. have made a gift to endow the hockey head coach position. It’s a significant move in further cementing the program.
“Most of these situations with endowments for positions, just like endowments for scholarships, have an impact on solidifying the program in its future. Obviously, it takes expenses away from the hockey program, coming out of the athletic budget,” Jackson said Wednesday.
Jackson, who is in his nineteenth season as head coach of the Irish, is the first to hold the title.
“I don’t take it lightly, I think it’s important that when somebody puts forward a gift like that, you have to make sure you’re representing them. You’re not just representing the university, you’re representing the people whose name is attached to your position.”
Around the Nation
The biggest sight on college hockey’s weekly schedule this week? The Ivies are joining the fray. After sitting out the first three weeks of the school year, as is their custom, the six Ivy League schools start up play this weekend. A few jump out of the frying pan and into the fire.No. 12 Cornell hosts No. 11 Minnesota Duluth, looking to avenge last year’s sweep at the hands of the Bulldogs. UMD will arrive at Lynah Rink undefeated in regulation, with a 3-0-2. It will be a steep test for the Big Red in their first weekend of the season. No. 17 Harvard also jumps into the action this week, traveling to Hanover for a matchup against Dartmouth.
The biggest games this weekend will play out at Conte Forum in Boston, as No. 8 Michigan State travels to take on No. 3 Boston College. The Thursday-Friday series will be the first big test for the Spartans, who are 5-1-0 with an upset loss to Air Force to start the season. The Eagles are coming off a close loss to No. 2 Denver at home last Saturday.
In another big series, No. 1 Minnesota hosts neighboring rival No. 14 Wisconsin. After sweeping Michigan Tech on the road last weekend, Wisconsin is in the top 20 for the first time this season. They’ll be looking to make a statement in their first rivalry weekend of the Mike Hastings era.
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