NOTRE DAME, Ind.—Just eight days removed from the heartbreak of a first-round NCAA tournament loss to Bemidji State, the Notre Dame hockey team gathered in the Mendoza School of Business auditorium to honor the six departing seniors while recognizing the importance of the new hockey facility that will open for the 2010-11 season.

They also focused on the ultimate goal of winning a national championship.

"Despite all of the successes our team had this year, the strongest statement I can make as far as the state of the program is that all of those accomplishments weren't enough," said Irish head coach Jeff Jackson.

"Learning how to deal with expectations is the step we must now take. Once we learn that, it's just another step in the process of hanging that banner that we all crave for this program."

For the most part, however, the two hour and 45 minute program Sunday was a celebration of a great season that featured a CCHA regular season and tournament championships and a 31-victory season.

The seniors—captain Erik Condra, alternate captain Christian Hanson, Jordan Pearce, Garrett Regan, Justin White and Luke Lucyk—were honored for their combined 103 victories over four seasons. To put that in perspective, associate athletics director Tom Nevala pointed out that the Irish won 103 games in the seven seasons combined prior to their arrival.

Pearce, the highly decorated Irish goaltender, added more hardware to his collection, including the team's MVP award as well as the St. Joseph Valley Rockne Student-Athlete Award.

"It's nice to be recognized for being a nerd," Pearce quipped. "Usually, they're just making fun of me…When Coach Jackson (set the team goal) at a 3.4 (grade-point average), I knew I had to pull some guys up."

Pearce carries a 3.816 grade-point average in anthropology/pre-med.

Condra, the Irish captain, was named the team's offensive player of the year after leading the squad in points with 38 (13-25). He finished his career 13th on Notre Dame's all-time scoring list with 158 points (48-110).

"I get to play with the best players, I pass them the puck and they score," Condra said. "That's how I got so many points…Next year, these numbers are going to be blown out of the water with the guys we've got here and the guys we've got coming in."

White received the Charles "Lefty" Smith Coaches Award, presented by Jackson, who acknowledged the struggle that White went through to become a regular part of Notre Dame's offensive rotation.

Joked White, who scored nine goals with six assists this season: "I thought I had the offensive player of the year award wrapped up, but this works too."

Added White: "I want to thank the coaching staff for sticking with me and giving me the opportunity to play here."

Sophomore Calle Ridderwall, who finished with 32 points (17-15) after a seven-point rookie season, was named the Most Improved player, which was presented by former Irish player Neal Komadoski.

"To win this award means you either had a pretty good year or you were terrible the year before," Ridderwall cracked.

The William Donald Nyrop Defensive Player of the Year Award was presented to junior Kyle Lawson, who also was voted the CCHA's top defensive defenseman. The award was presented by Nyrop's daughters, Jessica and Hannah, in honor of their late father.

The Rookie of the Year Award went to freshman forward Billy Maday, who scored 16 goals and 30 points in 2008-09. Associate coach Andy Slaggert presented Ridderwall with the award and added, "We found out there was only one thing Billy Maday couldn't do, and that was grow a decent playoff beard."

Distinguished Alumni Awards were presented to former Irish goaltender Bob McNamara, a 1983 graduate in economics who now serves as the general manager of the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League; and Slaggert, who has served 16 years under head coaches Ric Schafer, Dave Poulin and Jackson.

"I'm truly humbled, shocked, and surprised mainly because I think there's so much more I can do for this program," Slaggert said.

Honorary alumni awards went to the late Mike Lockert, the radio voice of Notre Dame hockey from 2002-09, who died suddenly in February, and Dave Gilbert, Notre Dame's equipment manager.

Only three of the six seniors were on hand for the banquet. Hanson is playing an end-of-the-season stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs while Regan and Lucyk signed minor league contracts.

"It's been a dream come true to come to school here," White said. "I just feel honored to be a part of the program."

"I think I'll cherish the friendships and memories the most," Pearce said.

Condra, the team's captain, offered the lengthiest farewell speech.

"We've built a culture of winning and doing the right things on and off the ice," Condra said. "We're proud of that and we hope it stays like this.

"I've matured as a person. I've learned a lot, not just about hockey, but life and how to do things the right way. One of the hardest things for me is to say goodbye to the guys. They're like your family."

Condra commended associate head coach Paul Pooley for having a great mind for the game. "And I've enjoyed picking that brain," Condra said.

Condra also admitted to referring to Jackson as "grandpa," which proved to be a mistake despite the fact that Condra meant it as a compliment in recognition of Jackson's wisdom.

"He didn't like it," Condra laughed. "He said, 'I'm the same blanking age as your father!'"

Turning serious, Condra said: "(Jackson) puts more into this team and cares more about the guys than anybody knows. Ninety percent of the time the guys don't think he likes them, but he cares so much."

The three seniors on hand presented Jackson with a framed picture and puck commemorating his 100th win with the Irish. They also gave him a four-picture set of team pictures celebrating their various CCHA championships as well as their trip to the Frozen Four in 2007-08.

Last but not least, they gave Jackson a framed picture of the six seniors in the Notre Dame locker room—wearing nothing but hats, which were strategically placed to maintain a PG rating.

Jackson concluded the event with a look at what lies ahead.

"Our team is in great shape going into the future," Jackson said. "We have hit new territory. For the first time in four years, we haven't met expectations.

"We have to learn how to be a big dog while maintaining a little dog mindset. It's always one of the biggest obstacles to a successful program. Our goal is to hang a national championship banner.

"But we must remind the guys that it's not about hanging the banner, but the process on a day to day basis. We have to win the championship of tomorrow."