Notre Dame Hockey Adds Two Graduate Transfers

In the last week, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Hockey team has announced the additions of two graduate transfers. Those two additions are forward Jack Adams, from Providence College and Union College, and defenseman Adam Karashik from the University of Connecticut. Adams and Karashik join former Cornell goaltender Matthew Galajda, whose transfer to Notre Dame was announced back in April.

Adams, originally from Boxboro, MA, joins Notre Dame from Providence College, where he played in six games last season while recovering from injury after missing the entire 2019-2020 season. Prior to Providence he spent two seasons at Union College from 2017-2019. Notre Dame issued the following press release announcing Adams’ transfer.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Notre Dame hockey head coach Jeff Jackson has announced the addition of graduate transfer Jack Adams to the 2021-22 roster. A forward, Adams was a sixth round selection (162nd overall) by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2017 NHL Draft.

“Jack is a big, rangy forward with great hands and a track record of putting the puck in the net,” said Jackson. “He’s worked extremely hard over the last two years to fully recover from a major injury and is poised to have a breakout season.”

Adams spent two seasons (2017-19) at Union College (ECAC) before rehabbing from an injury and appearing in six games for Providence College last season.

All told Adams, a Boxboro, Massachusetts native, has played 72 collegiate games while scoring 14 goals and adding 21 assists for 35 points. He was forced to miss the entire 2019-20 season with an injury and then transferred to Providence after Union was unable to compete in the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a sophomore with Union in 2018-19, Adams played in 38 games, scoring 10 goals and adding 12 assists for 22 points, each marking a career-high total. As a freshman in 2017-19, he scored four goals, added nine assists for 13 points.

Adams was an ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team selection in both 2017-18 and 2019-20.

Prior to Union, Adams spent two seasons with the Fargo Force (USHL) and led the league in goals (37) and finished fifth in scoring with 60 points during the 2016-17 season.

Adams is the brother of the late Mark “Roo” Adams, who played for Providence College from 2010-15 and Jack wore his brother’s No. 4 while skating for the Friars last season.

Karashik, originally from Ridgefield, CT, joins Notre Dame after four seasons with the UCONN Huskies, where he served as team captain during the 2020-2021 season. That leadership history will be a welcome addition to a team that is losing a few seasoned members. Notre Dame sent out this press release for Karashik:

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Notre Dame hockey head coach Jeff Jackson has announced the addition of graduate transfer Adam Karashik for the 2021-22 season. A defenseman, Karashik played the past four seasons in Hockey East at the University of Connecticut.

“Adam is the type of young man and hockey player that makes your program better,” Jackson said. “As a former captain, he brings an infectious attitude and work ethic to our team. He will add grit and tenacity to our back end and will challenge to be a top four defenseman right away.”

Karashik has skated in 119 career games, scoring five goals and notching 19 assists for 24 points. He served as a team captain for the 2020-21 season after serving in the alternate captain role as a junior.

A Ridgefield, Connecticut, native, Karashik played in all 23 of UConn’s games this past season while scoring a goal and adding eight assists for nine points. His nine points were tied for eighth on the team and second among defensmen. He also tied for the team lead with 27 penalty minutes on eight penalties.

As a junior, he played in 33 games and ended the season with three points on three assists while ranking second in Hockey East with 51 blocked shots. He played in all 34 games during his sophomore campaign and had four points on four assists. As a freshman, he played 29 games and totaled eight points on four goals and four assists.

Prior to joining UConn, Karashik skated for the Chicago Steel (USHL) for two seasons (2015-17), winning a Clark Cup with the Steel in 2016-17. A two-time Hockey East All-Academic Team honoree, he also skated for Avon Old Farms during the 2015-16 season.