Jeff Jackson Updates Season Progress, Previews Boston College

Notre Dame hockey head coach Jeff Jackson met with the media this week prior to his team’s home rivalry contest Friday night against No. 5 Boston College.

His No. 9/10 Irish are currently riding the nation’s longest unbeaten streak at 12 games (9-0-3). Below are some of Jackson’s comments updating the current play of his team and previewing the match against the Eagles.

How are you handling the team’s current unbeaten streak?: “I just try to keep them right now focused on the next game. If we start getting distracted — one of our goals for the year is to make the NCAA Tournament, to get to Boston Garden and have a chance to play for a championship.

“In order to do that, to finish in the top four of the league would be a real bonus because you get a bye in the first round … that’s what we’re shooting for. Every game is magnified. The two games last weekend against UNH have just as much value as the Boston College game … for us there’s two points on the line, and that’s how we have to approach it.”

You say you want to maintain focus, so how can you go about doing that?: “I talked to them just a little after practice today. It’s not just the physical details that we have to take care of; it’s the mental details, too.

“Where we start getting a little loose, or too loose. That’s what happens when you have success — you get comfortable. We have a sign down in the stick room that says, ‘Good is the enemy of great.’ There’s a lot of truth to that; that’s why the sign is up there.”

Does the air of the locker room change with a bigger group of freshmen and sophomores?: “We have a really good senior class. So even though two-thirds of our team are freshmen and sophomores, the senior class is still in charge. They’re the leaders of this team.

“They’ve done a really good job of helping the freshmen and sophomore feel welcome; acclimated and a part of things. I give them a lot of credit for the culture and camaraderie of our team.”

On Mario Lucia’s six goals in last six games after a slower start to the season: “I think it’s helped him having more speed on his line; it’s helped all three seniors frankly. He’s played with more of an edge right now. The game-winning goal he scored on Saturday night, that’s a tough goal to score.

“It takes courage and intensity. He stuck with it; he was on his knees when he finally put it in the net. To me that’s the best sign of all, is I see a little more edge to his game. And now all of a sudden he’s getting in those dirty areas where he’s able to finish.”

Are the pieces in place for where you want the program to be?: “They’ve been in place. I’d like for this program to win a national championship, and we get so close — like this year was supposed to be that year we were going to have a breakout-type of team. And we’re doing really well. But when you look deeper into it, there’s four guys that we expected to be here that aren’t here. Three of them were recruits, and one of them went on to the Blackhawks last year as a sophomore.

“But I’m happy with the guys we have here, that’s what I’m worried about. And these kids are doing as much as they can for being a younger group. They keep me young. They’re exciting to be around and exciting to coach.”

How would you assess the play of sophomore goaltender Cal Peterson so far?: “He’s grown from last year; there’s more consistency in his game. We’re still working on that ability to play the 20-shot game by getting a shutout or a one-goal game maybe. The 40-shot nights he’s really good, and he may see that on Friday night. That’s usually when he’s at his best.

“The consistency comes into play, though, when there’s nights where it’s not Boston College, or maybe he’s only facing 23 shots. For me, that’s the next step for him. The best goaltenders that have played the game have had the ability to do both. Some of the great goaltenders played on great teams that never faced more than 25 shots, and that’s hard to play goal when you’re only facing that many shots.”

How big is the rivalry between Notre Dame and Boston College?: “I think it’s huge. It’s such a good rivalry because there’s respect amongst the two programs. I think it goes deeper than just athletics.

“For us, it’s a great rivalry because BC in hockey is predominantly one of the top programs in the country on an annual basis … that program has had so much success over the last 20 years. When I took over this job, that’s what I tried to emulate, that level of success.”

What are some keys to the game?: “Against any good teams you have to play with discipline. Penalties become a factor. Turnovers become a factor; making bad plays with the puck.

“And frankly, you’re going to have to have great goaltending … we’re going to have to make sure we protect the puck and play well and stay out of the box.”