Printer-Friendly Format     E-mail this article     Sophomore defenseman Kyle Lawson was named the CCHA Defenseman of the Week for his play in Notre Dame's sweep of Western Michigan.

 
Kyle Lawson Named CCHA Defenseman Of The Week

Sophomore blue liner helps lead Irish to sweep of Western Michigan.

Nov. 20, 2007

Notre Dame, Ind. - Notre Dame sophomore defenseman Kyle Lawson (New Hudson, Mich.) has been selected as the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's (CCHA) defenseman of the week for his play in Notre Dame's home-and-home sweep of Western Michigan on Nov. 16-17.

In the two games, Lawson had two assists and was +2 while anchoring a defense that limited the Broncos to just two goals and a total of 23 shots in the series. Notre Dame took a 4-1 decision at the Joyce Center on Nov. 16 and followed with a 5-1 win in Kalamzoo, Mich., on Nov. 17.

On Friday night, Lawson contributed at both ends of the ice as he recorded assists on power-play goals by Erik Condra (Jr., Livonia, Mich.) and Mark Van Guilder (Sr., Roseville, Minn.) in the second period to break open a 2-1 game on the way to the 4-1 win. The preseason all-CCHA pick was +1 for the game as the Irish limited Western Michigan to just 12 shots in the game while killing off the lone Bronco power play in the game.

The teams met on Saturday at Lawson Arena and Lawson and the Notre Dame defense limited Western Michigan to a season-low 11 shots on goal. The Irish killed off all six Bronco power plays and Lawson was +1 in the 5-1 win.

The weekend sweep improved ninth-ranked Notre Dame to 9-4-0 on the season and 7-2-0 in CCHA play. The Irish are currently in third place in the league standings.

In 13 games this season, Lawson leads Notre Dame's defensemen in scoring with two goals and four assists for six points. That ties the Carolina Hurricane draft choice for ninth in the league in scoring among defensemen and ties him for sixth overall on the Irish scoresheet.

Lawson and his teammates are in action three times this week. On Tuesday night, Notre Dame plays host to Bowling Green at the Joyce Center in a 7:35 p.m. game. This coming weekend, the Irish will participate in the 57th annual Rensselaer Holiday Tournament in Troy, New York. Notre Dame faces Alabama-Huntsville at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 23 and will then face either Rensselaer (RPI) or American International College (AIC) on Nov. 24. Game times are at 4:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.