South Bend, Indiana, native Graham Slaggert already got a taste of what it will be like to skate with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish next season.

But this past Sunday was from the opposite side, as Slaggert’s National Team Development Program Under-18 Team side skated to a 5-1 loss against the Irish at Compton Family Ice Arena.

“It was incredible,” Slaggert said about the experience. “Growing up in South Bend and being around the rink, since I’m older, I know the guys more and have played against some of them. I consider them my friends.  They are going to be my future teammates.

“I expected a tough game and maybe even a little slashing behind the play or a few chirps in my ear. Being able to look over on the other side of the ice and see my dad on the bench, that was special for sure.”

Slaggert’s father Andy, who played for the Irish from 1986-89, enters his 23rd year as a coach in South Bend. Growing up as a coach’s kid can have its perks, and for Slaggert, it was something he truly appreciated.

“It hasn’t been that tough,” he said. “My dad has never been a guy to overrule what my actual coach is saying. He will be there to give me pointers and details of the game. He is there to support me and help me along the way.

“He has been there to give me great opportunities and it has been up to me to take advantage of them. He helped me with a plan to be successful and it’s my turn to pay him in a sense and do the work.”

Slaggert’s connections with the university run even deeper. His current head coach, John Wroblewski, played for the Fighting Irish from 1999-2003 and some of Slaggert’s earliest memories are of him.

“I was really young when he played there,” remarked Slaggert who earned the nickname “Stick Boy” from Coach Wrobo. “I looked it up before the season and his first year was 1999, the year I was born. He saw me from when I was a baby until I was four. There is some familiarity for sure.

“One memory I do have is that I would be at the rink and standing at the glass, and he would always try to make me laugh. He would skate full speed into the glass and then hit the glass and fall in front of us just to try and get us to smile. It’s definitely something I remember.”

That is just one of the reasons why he has such a special bond with the Fighting Irish program. Slaggert understands that he will have even bigger expectations.

“It will be really special to play at Notre Dame next year,” he remarked. “I have been around the guys my whole life. Coach [Jeff] Jackson comes over for dinner sometimes. He has been around the game a ton and he can give you pointers. I know it will be tough, even though they are close friends and family members, I know I will have a target on my back and they will expect a lot out of me.”

For now though, the 5-foot-11, 184-pound forward is focused on improving his game as a member of Team USA. He already has seen a tremendous difference between last year as a member of the Under-17 Team and this year with the Under-18 Team.

“I think confidence and knowing what to expect during the course of the game,” he explained. “It’s a lot different. The pace kind of slows down. Last year, in those close games, the older guys had that knowledge and experience to play the full 60 minutes, and I think that is one of our challenges at this time. We are trying to play out the whole 60 minutes and play a complete game. We have learned how to do that.”

Slaggert credits this success to Coach Wroblewski.

“I think our practices have a little more intensity,” he said. “Coach demands a lot out of us. He makes sure that we hear about it, if we do something wrong. He has great presence out there. He likes to have fun but he also knows the fine line between fun and coaching. They are intense practices which is something we need to have for sure.”

Slaggert had an opportunity to pick up some valuable experience this summer in Sweden.

"There is a camp that my dad helps run in Stockholm," he explained. "The Nylanders are family friends of ours and I got to spend time with them.  William (2014, Toronto Maple Leafs) and Alex (2016, Buffalo Sabres) were eighth overall draft picks in their respective drafts. You get to play with great competition, both with them and against them. You get to learn how to become a pro in a sense and know the steps it takes to get to the next level."

He learned and took away from lessons from this summer. One thing did stick out to him from his experience.

“I learned so many lessons this summer. One thing I did learn how they can find a balance between having fun and being serious, and getting better while doing it,” he remarked. “They love the game and love hanging out with each other. It’s good to see them doing what they love and succeeding as well.”

It is something small that he tries to model in his own game.

“I have always told myself it’s just a game but I’ve always loved it,” he remarked. “It’s something that I want to make a career out of and I love hockey so it’s something I try and live by. My dad always tells me to play hard and have fun. It’s a little reminder.”

That reminder will be something that Slaggert will continue to live by as he continues his journey in hockey.

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.