Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com DECEMBER 2017 43 IRISH IN THE PROS BY COREY BODDEN A fter registering 52 points (21 goals and 31 assists) during his junior season while leading Notre Dame to an appearance in the 2017 Frozen Four, forward Anders Bjork made the decision to move on to a career in the NHL. Bjork, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2014 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins, signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the orga- nization in May. In 115 career games with the Irish, he scored 40 goals and recorded 69 assists. He is one of 51 players to eclipse the 100-point mile- stone in an Irish uniform. In the first 16 games of his rookie campaign with the Bruins, Bjork con- tributed nine points (three goals and six assists). He notched his first ca- reer point with an assist in the season opener against the Nashville Preda- tors, while his first goal came against the Arizona Coyotes Oct. 14. Five days later, Bjork notched his first career multi-goal game with a pair of tallies against the Vancouver Canucks. "It's an amazing feeling," Bjork told BostonBruins.com. "I think get- ting your first goal [is huge], espe- cially after a few games you start thinking about it too much. "It's nice to get it out of the way and just focus on playing hockey and playing the right way." During his first NHL training camp, Bjork skated with the Bruins' top line along with veterans Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. Bjork impressed Bergeron, who is in his 14th NHL season, during the team's preparation for the season. "Anders plays the game fast. He makes plays," Bergeron told The Patriot Ledger in Quincy, Mass. "He makes good passes at a high tempo, and that's what we like to do. [Bjork] being a lefty changes a few things, like plays on draws, things like that. You've got to adapt." The rookie has been shifting along different lines for Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy throughout the first 16 games of the 2017-18 campaign, which he sees as a positive. "I think it helps you learn how to adapt and be comfortable, no mat- ter what situation you're in," Bjork said. "As every player knows, inju- ries happen all the time. They can happen at the most unexpected time, so you have to be ready. "Being able to adapt is very im- portant." Bjork was placed on injured re- serve Nov. 16 with an undisclosed injury after he missed the team's Nov. 15 contest with the Anaheim Ducks. Boston had not released a timetable for his return as of Nov. 20. NHL PLAYERS UPDATE Through Nov. 19 • Anders Bjork (Played at Notre Dame from 2014‑17), F, Boston Bruins: Tallied nine points (three goals and six assists) in 16 games for the 8‑7‑4 Bruins … Stood minus‑2 with 21 shots. • Ian Cole (2007‑10), D Pittsburgh Penguins: Posted three points (one goal and two assists) in 19 games for 11‑8‑3 Pittsburgh … Stood minus‑4 with 23 shots. • Stephen Johns (2010‑14), D, Dallas Stars: Re‑ corded five points (two goals and three assists) in 17 games for the 10‑9‑1 Stars … Stood plus‑3 with 27 shots. • Anders Lee (2010‑13), F, New York Islanders: Ranked second on the team in goals (11) and third in points (21) in 20 games for the 11‑7‑2 Islanders … Stood plus‑2 with 47 shots. • Kyle Palmieri (2009‑10) F, New Jersey Devils: In 12 games played for 11‑5‑3 New Jersey, con‑ tributed nine points (four goals and five assists) … Stood minus‑3 with 38 shots. • Bryan Rust (2010‑14), F, Pittsburgh Penguins: Notched 12 points (two goals and 10 assists) in 22 games played for the 11‑8‑3 Penguins … Stood minus‑4 with 41 shots. • Riley Sheahan (2009‑12), F, Pittsburgh Pen‑ guins: Notched one goal and three assists in 13 games with the 11‑8‑3 Penguins after being traded from the Detroit Red Wings in October … Did not score a point in eight games with Detroit … Stood plus‑2 with 20 shots. NBA PLAYERS UPDATE Through Nov. 19 • Pat Connaughton (Played at Notre Dame from 2011‑15), G, Portland Trail Blazers: Has played in 16 games for the 9‑7 Blazers … Averaging 6.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per night, while shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from three‑point range. • Jerian Grant (2011‑15), G, Chicago Bulls: Started all 14 games for 3‑11 Chicago … Averag‑ ing 7.9 points, 5.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds per contest. • Demetrius Jackson (2013‑16), G, Houston Rockets: Has seen action in 11 games for the 13‑4 Rockets … Averaging 5.5 minutes, 0.7 points and 1.0 rebound per game. ✦ Anders Bjork Off To Solid Start During Rookie Campaign NOTRE DAME IN THE NFL: Week 11 Highlights • TJ Jones (Played at Notre Dame from 2010‑13), WR, Detroit Lions: Hauled in four catches for 55 yards in a 27‑24 win at Chicago … Had 24 catches for 347 yards through 10 games for 6‑4 Detroit. • Kyle Rudolph (2008‑10), TE, Minnesota Vikings: Caught five passes for 58 yards in a 24‑7 win over the Los Angeles Rams … Had 42 receptions for 366 yards and three touchdowns through 10 games for the 8‑2 Vikings. • KeiVarae Russell (2012‑15), CB, Cincinnati Bengals: Recorded a blocked field goal during a 20‑17 win at Denver … Notched five tackles in five games played for 4‑6 Cincinnati. • Stephon Tuitt (2011‑13), DE, Pittsburgh Steelers: Notched a sack among three tackles in a 40‑17 win over Tennessee … Compiled 13 tackles and two sacks in six games played for the 8‑2 Steelers. Bjork scored three goals and recorded six assists in his first 16 games played for the Boston Bruins. PHOTO BY BRIAN BABINEAU/COURTESY BOSTON BRUINS