Connor Clifton suspended 1 game by ECAC

Senior captain Connor Clifton has been suspended one game by ECAC Hockey as it was announced today stemming from contact to the head hit in Saturday's Friendship Four final against the Vermont Catamounts. The hit occurred at the 13:26 mark of the first period when the defenseman was assessed a major penalty for contact to the head and a game misconduct penalty. The Bobcats ended up losing the game 5-1 to Vermont. This is Clifton's second game misconduct penalty of the season as he was assessed one at the end of the UMass game back on October 25th stemming from a major spearing penalty. ECAC Hockey did not give him any additional discipline from that game.

Connor Clifton (photo by Mickey Bedell/Bangor Daily News)

Clifton's suspension will take place this Friday when the Bobcats return home to face RPI in an ECAC league game. The hope is that Derek Smith will return to the lineup to mitigate the blow of Clifton's suspension. Smith missed the Bobcats last two games in Belfast, Northern Ireland due to undisclosed reasons. If Smith cannot play on Friday in Clifton's absence then the Bobcats will likely go with senior Joe Fiala back on defense. Quinnipiac then plays host to Union College the next night in which Clifton should return to the Bobcats lineup.

Jonathan Singer is a 2004 Quinnipiac alum. You can follow him on Twitter @jonathan_singer.