Quinnipiac Hockey: A Tradition of Excellence
Contents
The Quinnipiac Bobcats are a Division I college hockey team that competes in the Ecac Hockey conference. The Bobcats are one of the most successful teams in the conference, and have won 3 ECAC Championships in the last 5 years.
Introduction
Since its founding in 1870, Quinnipiac University has been committed to providing students with a transformative educatioinal experience. Our students come from all over the world and represent a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives. This diversity enriches our community and enhances our ability to prepare students to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.
Quinnipiac is home to a rich tradition of excellence in academics, athletics, and student life. Our faculty are leaders in their fields, and our students are engaged in meaningful research, service, and internships both on and off campus. We compete at the Division I level in 24 varsity sports and our athletes are known for their dedication to excellence both on and off the playing field. Quinnipiac students are also active in a wide variety of student organizations, including cultural clubs, service groups, honor societies, and more.
Whether you’re a prospective student or a current member of the Quinnipiac community, we hope you will take some time to learn more about what makes Quinnipiac such a special place.
History
The Quinnipiac Bobcats ice Hockey Team is a NCAA Division 1 program that competes in the ECAC Hockey conference. The team is based in Hamden, Connecticut and plays its home games at the High Point Solutions Arena at the TD Bank Sports Center. The Bobcats are coached by Rand Pecknold, who has been at the helm of the program since 1994.
The Quinnipiac Bobcats boast a rich history of success on the ice, having won 10 conference championships and 2 National Championships TheBobcats first made history in 2013, when they won their first ever NCAA Division 1 National Championship The team followed up their historic 2013 season with an even more impressive 2014 campaign, winning their second National Championship in just two years.
In addition to their success at the national level, the Quinnipiac Bobcats have also been dominant at the conference level, winning 10 ECAC Hockey championships. The Bobcats have won back-to-back conference titles on three separate occasions, most recently doing so in 2016 and 2017.
The Quinnipiac Bobcats are one of the premier college hockey programs in the country and have established themselves as a perennial power both at the conference and national levels.
Championships
The Quinnipiac Bobcats men’s Ice Hockey team has a long-standing tradition of excellence, winning 5 conference championships and appearing in 2 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice hockey Tournaments. The team is currently a member of the ECAC Hockey conference, and plays its home games at the High Point Solutions Arena at the Quinnipiac University campus in Hamden, Connecticut.
The Bobcats have won 5 conference championships in their history, most recently winning back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014. They have also appeared in 2 NCAA Division I Men’s ice hockey Tournaments, reaching the Elite Eight in 2013.
The team has had numerous players go on to successful professional careers, including NHL All-Star goalie Brian Elliott and current NHL players Matt Bartkowski, Connor Clifton, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Alex DeBrincat.
Notable Players
The Quinnipiac Hockey Program has produced a number of excellent players over the years. Here are some of the most notable:
Zac Jones: A defenseman from West Chester PA, Jones was Quinnipiac’s first ever Hobey Baker Award finalist in 2020. He is currently playing for the New York Rangers organization.
Logan Cockerill: A forward from Brighton, MA, Cockerill was a key player for Quinnipiac during their run to the National Championship game in 2016. He currently plays for the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres
Connor Clifton: A defenseman from Matawan, NJ, Clifton captained Quinnipiac during their 2018 National Championship season. He is currently playing for the Arizona Coyotes organization.
Rivalries
Rivalries
There are a few rivalries in college hockey but undoubtedly the fiercest is between Quinnipiac and Yale. The two schools are separated by only 10 miles, and the games between them are always hotly contested. The rivalry was stoked even further when Quinnipiac joined Yale in the ECAC in 2013, making them conference rivals as well.
The Future
With a new season comes new hope. The Quinnipiac Hockey Team is no different. They are looking to build on their recent success and take the next step towards becoming a national powerhouse.
The team has made the NCAA tournament in each of the past two seasons, and they are looking to make it three in a row this year. They have the talent and the coaching to make a deep run in the tournament, and they are determined to get over the hump and win it all.
This is a team that is on the rise, and they are poised to make a lot of noise in the Hockey World for years to come.
Fanbase
The Quinnipiac Bobcats have a long-standing tradition of excellence on the ice, dating back to their days as a Division III program. The team has won four ECAC championships and made seven NCAA Tournament appearances since moving to Division I in 1998. Their greatest moment came in 2013, when they made it all the way to the Frozen Four, ultimately falling to Yale in the national semifinals.
The Bobcats have developed a strong fanbase in recent years thanks in part to their success on the ice. Quinnipiac games are well-attended, and the team has a large following on social media The Bobcats are also one of the most popular teams in the NCAA’s merchandising partner, Fanatics.
Media Coverage
In recent years Quinnipiac Hockey has seen an uptick in media coverage, with the team regularly appearing on national TV and in popular publications. This increased attention is well deserved, as the team has established itself as one of the premier programs in NCAA Division I hockey.
During the 2017-18 Season Quinnipiac appeared on ESPN’s flagship show “SportsCenter” multiple times, most notably after upset victories over then-#1 St. Cloud State and eventual National Champion Minnesota Duluth The team was also featured in a New York Times article about its rare perfect season (30-0-0), and had several players named to various All-American teams at the end of the year.
With this increased media coverage comes higher expectations for the team, but Quinnipiac has shown time and again that it is up to the challenge. Thanks to a tradition of excellence on and off the ice, Quinnipiac Hockey is poised for continued success in the years to come.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Quinnipiac hockey is a tradition of excellence. The team has won multiple conference championships and has made it to the NCAA tournament several times. Quinnipiac is a perennial power in the college hockey world and is respected by its peers. The team’s success is a testimony to the hard work and dedication of the players, coaches, and staff.
References
In addition to the school’s website, the following sources were used in researching this paper:
-“A History of Quinnipiac University hockey ” Quinnipiac Bobcats. Accessed April 01, 2017. https://www.quinnipiacbobcats.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/102116aaa.html.
-Benson, Michael. “Chasing a Dream: How Kelly Babstock Helped Put Quinnipiac Women’s Hockey on the Map.” USCHO.com – U.S. college hockey Online, October 01, 2013. http://www.uscho.com/2013/10/01/chasing-a-dream-how-kelly-babstock-helped-put-quinnipiac-womens-hockey -on-the-map/.
-“ECAC Hockey League Records Books.” ECAC Hockey League Records Books | ECAC Hockey League Records Books | ECAC Hockey League Records Books | ECAC Hockey League Records Books | ECAC Hockey League Records Books | Ecac Hockey Leagu (2016): n. pag. Web. 02 Apr 2017