Oliver Makes College Commitment
October 7, 2023 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
Lincoln Stars forward Dashel Oliver has committed to play college hockey at the University of Notre Dame, an NCAA Division program in the Big Ten Conference.
Oliver has played in parts of the last three seasons with Lincoln, accumulating 63 combined games since debuting for the team on Oct. 29, 2021. The Bloomington, Ind. native has scored nine goals and added nine assists in his Stars career with seven of those goals coming last season. Oliver was named to the USHL 2022-23 All Academic Team after earning a 4.3 GPA. The Stars' 5'9 183-pound forward is the third member of the 2023-24 team to commit to Notre Dame, joining Jimmy Jurcev and Jack Larrigan.
"We played in Pittsburgh, I got approached by them and it is definitely a dream school," Oliver said. "I played in Chicago for a while and had a lot of teammates that are going there. I went with Jimmy this weekend and we met all the coaches and got to see all the facilities. Just walking around campus and looking around I could see myself there for four years."
Oliver helped Team USA win the 2021 Five Nations Tournament in the midst of his first season with the Stars. He scored a goal and added an assist in four games. Oliver also appeared in 18 games that season for the North Jersey Avalanche 16U AAA team. He recorded 40 points with 15 goals and 25 assists. The Stars selected Oliver in the second round of the 2021 USHL Phase I Draft.
Notre Dame went 16-16-5 in the 2022-23 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. The Fighting Irish made the NCAA Tournament in each of the prior six seasons that the tournament was held. Four former Stars are currently on Notre Dame's roster for the upcoming season (Brennan Ali, Jake Boltmann, Michael Mastrodomenico and Henry Nelson).
The Irish are led by head coach Jeff Jackson, who will begin his 19th season behind the bench this fall. He has led Notre Dame to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, including four Frozen Four berths. Jackson has also captured eight conference championships and is the NCAA Division I leader in career wins among active head coaches.
"We're really excited for Dash and his family," Stars head coach Rocky Russo said. "It's a great fit for Dash academically and athletically. It's close to home and is certainly a school that he has always aspired to go to. I'm sure that his family was pleased with the final decision that he was able tot make. I know that Coach Jackson and his staff are happy to add a player of such good skillset but even more importantly high in character to their locker room and their Notre Dame hockey community."
Oliver and the Stars return to action this weekend as Lincoln will play its first home games of the regular season this Saturday and Sunday against the Madison Capitols. Fans can purchase tickets to both games for a half-price value at lincolnstars.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from October 7, 2023
- Stars Fall to Capitols Home Opener - Lincoln Stars
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- Lancers Fall in a Fiesty Matchup with the Roughriders - Omaha Lancers
- Madison Beats Lincoln 6-1 on Road, Improves to 4-0-0-0 on Season - Madison Capitols
- Phantoms Sink Buccaneers 4-1 - Youngstown Phantoms
- Capitols Steal Stars' Home Opener - Lincoln Stars
- Hawks Suffer in the Siouxland - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Stampede Sticks Together To Claim Win Over Black Hawks - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Gamblers Fall Short in Exciting Home Opener - Green Bay Gamblers
- Madison Beats Lincoln 6-1 on Road, Improves to 4-0-0-0 on Season - Madison Capitols
- Des Moines Drops Pair on the Road - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Oliver Makes College Commitment - Lincoln Stars
- Phantoms Knock off Steel 5-3 - Youngstown Phantoms
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