Bo Pieper signs with ECHL Reading Royals

Bo Pieper (photo by Jenn Hoffman, Pucks & Rec)

Former Quinnipiac former Bo Pieper ('18) signed an ECHL contract with the Reading Royals an affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers per a press release as announced by the team. The Roseville, Minnesota native completed a four year career with Quinnipiac in which scored 65 points (32 goals, 33 assists) in 165 career games played.

He concluded his senior season in 2017-2018 by playing in 38 games played in which he recorded 18 points (11 goals, 7 assists). At the conclusion of the season he signed with the Adirondack Thunder (ECHL), skating in three games and recording four penalty minutes with a minus 2 rating. Pieper was part of two Quinnipiac teams that reached the NCAA tournament along with the 2015-2016 team that reached the Frozen Four and was the National Runner-up.


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John Furgele signs with ECHL Maine Mariners

John Furgele, center in game against Colgate (photo copyright BobcatsHockeyBlog)

Former Quinnipiac Bobcats defenseman John Furgele has signed with the Maine Mariners of the ECHL according to a press release announced by the team. The Mariners will begin play in the 2018-2019 season, were formally the Alaska Aces but were relocated to Maine for the upcoming season and will be an affiliate of the New York Rangers. Furgele, who played one season at Quinnipiac after transferring from the University of New Hampshire following two seasons there, played in 38 games for the Bobcats recording 14 points (1 goal, 13 assists) with 14 penalty minutes and was a minus five for the season.

A native of Glen Mills, PA, Furgele had one year of college eligibility remaining but graduated this past May. Furgele was a reliable defenseman for Quinnipiac and earned the respect of his teammates as he was an alternate captain for the team in the 2017-2018 season. In 111 NCAA games between the University of New Hampshire and Quinnipiac, Furgele recored 37 points (4 goals, 33 assists).


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Landon Smith signs with Karlskrona HK (Sweden)

Landon Smith, right in a game at Union (photo copyright BobcatsHockeyBlog)

Former Quinnipiac Bobcats forward Landon Smith has signed a one year contract with Karlskrona HK in the second-tier Swedish league Hockeyallsvenskan per a press release from the team. The 24-year-old Smith just concluded a four year career with Quinnipiac in which he played in 143 games scoring 43 goals with 66 assists. He was limited to 21 games played in the 2017-2018 season due to an upper body injury.

The Greenwood Village, Colorado native graduated from Quinnipiac this past May, helped lead the Bobcats to two NCAA tournament appearances, two ECAC regular season championships, one ECAC tournament championship and a Frozen Four appearance in 2015-2016 in which Quinnipiac finished as the National Runner-Up to North Dakota in Tampa, Florida. He was named to the ECAC All-Rookie team as a freshman after the 2014-2015 season.

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Bo Pieper signs with ECHL Adirondack Thunder

Bo Pieper (photo by Zack Wittman, Tampa Bay Times)

Quinnipiac men's ice hockey senior forward Bo Pieper has signed with the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL, an affiliate of the New Jersey Devils. He becomes the third Quinnipiac player to sign a professional contract following Tanner MacMaster and Kevin McKernan. Pieper played in 38 games for the Bobcats this season recording 11 goals and 7 assists with a minus 6 rating. This was the second consecutive season in which Pieper had double digit goals scored for Quinnipiac after scoring 13 a season ago. Over his four year career for Quinnipiac, the Roseville, Minnesota native played in 158 games recording 32 goals and 33 assists with a minus 1 rating. The past two seasons he combined for nine power play goals for the Bobcats.

He was part of two Quinnipiac teams that won the Cleary Cup for the ECAC regular season champion in 2015 and 2016 along with winning the schools first ever Whitelaw Cup in 2016 as the champions of the ECAC tournament. He also played in the NCAA Tournament twice in 2015 and 2016 with the latter year making it all the way to the National Championship game in Tampa, FL before falling to North Dakota. He recorded his lone NCAA tournament point in the 2015 first round loss to North Dakota when he assisted on Quinnipiac's only goal by Andrew Taverner. He also scored a power play goal in the 2016 ECAC Championship win over Harvard. His senior class will leave Hamden with 94 wins during his time as a Bobcat.

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Kevin McKernan signs with Fort Wayne Komets of ECHL

Senior assistant captain Kevin McKernan (photo copyright BobcatsHockeyBlog)

Quinnipiac men's ice hockey senior assistant captain Kevin McKernan has signed with the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL, an affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes. McKernan played in 33 games for the Bobcats this season recording 3 goals and 9 assists with a minus 4 rating. Over his four year career for Quinnipiac, the Milbury, Massachusetts native played in 138 games recording 12 goals and 24 assists with a plus 5 rating. He showed some versatility this season when he was moved to forward in the ECAC playoffs scoring a goal in game one of the first round series against Yale.

He was part of two Quinnipiac teams that won the Cleary Cup for the ECAC regular season champion in 2015 and 2016 along with winning the schools first ever Whitelaw Cup in 2016 as the champions of the ECAC tournament. He also played in the NCAA Tournament twice in 2015 and 2016 with the latter year making it all the way to the National Championship game in Tampa, FL before falling to North Dakota. He scored presumably the biggest goal of his career in the National Semifinals against Boston College just 2:31 into the opening period which helped the set tone for Quinnipiac the rest of the game. His senior class will leave Hamden with 94 wins during his time as a Bobcat.

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Tanner MacMaster signs with AHL Utica Comets

Tanner MacMaster, left in game against Maine earlier this season

Quinnipiac University Men's Ice Hockey senior forward Tanner MacMaster has signed an amateur tryout contract with the Utica Comets of the AHL, as announced by the club in a press release. The Comets are the minor league affiliate of the NHL Vancouver Canucks. MacMaster completed the best season of his four-year collegiate career with 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists) and his 13 goals tied him for second on the team behind Alex Whelan's 16. He finished his career in Hamden with 84 points (30 goals, 54 assists) in 150 games played.

He was part of two Quinnipiac teams that won the Cleary Cup for the ECAC regular season champion in 2015 and 2016 along with winning the schools first ever Whitelaw Cup in 2016 as the champions of the ECAC tournament. He also played in the NCAA Tournament twice in 2015 and 2016 with the latter year making it all the way to the National Championship game in Tampa, FL before falling to North Dakota.

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K.J. Tiefenwerth signs with ECHL Reading Royals

K.J. Tiefenwerth (photo by John Crouch)

The Reading Royals of the ECHL, an affiliate of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers has announced the signing of former Quinnipiac forward K.J. Tiefenwerth to a standard players contract. Tiefenwerth played 127 games in three seasons for the Bobcats after transferring from UMass Amherst after his freshman season. He finished his Quinnipiac career with 10 goals and 33 assists along with being a plus 9. His transfer to Quinnipiac likely saved his life after a physical discovered a heart defect which led to open heart surgery in the summer of 2013. He made the ECAC All-Academic Team four times and was a key member of the 2016 Quinnipiac team that reached the Frozen Four before falling to North Dakota in the National Championship game. He finished his collegiate career with 49 points (12 goals and 37 assists) in 137 games played between UMass and Quinnipiac. Congratulations to K.J. on signing his first professional contract.

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

Connor Clifton signs contract with AHL Providence Bruins

Connor Clifton '17 (photo by Mickey Bedell, Bangor Daily News)

Former Quinnipiac Bobcats captain Connor Clifton ('17) has signed an American Hockey League contract with the Providence Bruins as first reported by Mark Divver of the Providence Journal.

Mark Divver‏ @MarkDivver  47m47 minutes ago

Rugged @QU_MIH defenseman Connor Clifton signs AHL contract with Providence. Arizona 5th round in 2013 opted for free agency

Mark Divver‏ @MarkDivver  41m41 minutes ago

LT. Connor Clifton will attend #NHLBruins rookie camp & main camp next month

Clifton, a 2013 5th round draft pick by the Arizona Coyotes elected free agency instead of coming to terms with the Coyotes. In 4 seasons for the Quinnipiac Bobcats He had 19 goals and 37 assists in 156 games played while helping the program reach three NCAA tournaments including the 2016 Frozen Four. He will give the Providence Bruins a right shot defenseman with skating ability who brings physicality to the blue line. This is a solid pickup for the baby Bruins and someone that possibly could get an NHL deal with the big club in Boston down the road with continued development.

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

Chris Truehl leaves Quinnipiac hockey program, set to sign pro contract

Chris Truehl (photo by Mickey Bedell/Bangor Daily News)

In a surprise move based on the timing, the New Haven Register's Chip Malafronte is reporting that Quinnipiac senior goaltender Chris Truehl has left the program after graduating from the university in May. However the BobcatsHockeyBlog has learned that Truehl's departure is due to him signing a professional contract in the near future but details are not yet known at this time.

With rising sophomore goaltender Andrew Shortridge entrenched as the current number one and talented freshman Keith Petruzzelli, a third round draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings joining the program this fall, Truehl was likely going to be third on the team's depth chart which makes his departure less surprising.

Truehl finished the 2016-17 10-8-2 with a 2.66 goals against average and an .899 save percentage in 21 games played with one shutout. He could head to another program as he still has a season of NCAA eligibility remaining. With the season getting underway in two months time the timing of this is not ideal and Quinnipiac should look to find a third goaltender in the juniors ranks that is willing to come in this season. The BobcatsHockeyBlog wishes Chris the best in his future endeavors and thanks you for your time at Quinnipiac the past two seasons.

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

Sam Anas called up to the Minnesota Wild

Sam Anas (photo courtesy of Iowa Wild)

Former Quinnipiac Bobcat standout forward Sam Anas was called up to the Minnesota Wild along with 14 other players for the teams postseason push as put out in a press release by the organization. It is the first NHL call up for Anas who had 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) in 66 games played for the Iowa Wild (AHL). He is the fourth former Quinnipiac player called up to the NHL following Michael Garteig (Vancouver Canucks), Matthew Peca (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Connor Jones (New York Islanders).

Anas was an integral part of three Quinnipiac teams that reached the NCAA tournament and the 2016 team that reached the Frozen Four before falling in the National Championship game. He finished his Quinnipiac career with more than a point per game average (1.09) as he had 132 points (69 goals, 63 assists) in 121 games played.  He was the NCAA top collegiate rookie as freshman back in the 2013-2014 season as well as the ECAC rookie of the year. He was a two time second team All-ECAC player (2014, 2015) and was on the first team All-ECAC in 2016. In 2014-15 he was a second team East All-American.

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

Connor Jones called up to New York Islanders

Connor Jones, Courtesy: Puck Stopper Photography

Former Quinnipiac Bobcats standout forward Connor Jones, '14 was recalled today by the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. Its the first call NHL call-up for the 26 year-old Jones, who in 56 games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers has 18 points (5 goals, 13 assists) with a plus-8 rating. He is expected to be in the Islanders lineup tomorrow when they play the Buffalo Sabres.

On February 22, 2017 the third-year pro signed a one-year, two-way (NHL/AHL) contract with the Islanders through the remainder of the season. He plays in Bridgeport along three other former Bobcats in his brother Kellen, Devon Toews and Travis St. Denis. This is his second season with the Sound Tigers as a season ago he recorded 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 51 games last year. He also appeared in three Calder Cup Playoff games with the Sound Tigers in 2015-16.

In four seasons at Quinnipiac, Connor played in 153 games totaling 129 points on 49 goals and 80 assists. In his junior season he helped lead the Bobcats to the programs first ever Frozen Four in Pittsburgh back in the 2012-2013 season. After finishing his standout career with the Bobcats, Jones signed with the AHL Oklahoma City Barons and then had a stint with the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL before arriving in Bridgeport. Congrats to Connor on this great achievement in his hockey career.

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

Matthew Peca becomes first Quinnipiac alum to score NHL goal

Former Quinnipiac Bobcat forward Matthew Peca (2015) scored his first career NHL goal on Tuesday in the Tampa Bay Lightning's 6-4 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Peca took a blue line to blue line pass from Vladislav Namestnikov where he skated to the top left circle and sniped a wrist shot to the far corner past Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck for the goal. It was a shot that Quinnipiac students, alums and fans have seen from him in the past. Peca now has points in his last two games as he had an assist on New Year's Eve against the Carolina Hurricanes for his first NHL point. With his first NHL goal in the books, I expect we will see more of this from Peca for the Tampa Bay Lightning as he becomes more comfortable in the NHL. Last night he logged the second most minutes from the Tampa Bay forwards in only his fourth NHL game. He is seeing consistent time on the ice as he has the ability to play in all three zones. Peca also won 50% of his face-offs on the night.

Matthew Peca, 1st NHL goal (photo by Tampa Bay Lightning)

Below are the links for the video to Peca's first NHL goal and his post game interview.

Peca's first NHL goal

Peca's post game interview

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

Matthew Peca recalled by Tampa Bay Lightning

Former Quinnipiac University forward Matthew Peca (class of 2015) has been recalled by the Tampa Bay Lightning from the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL as it was announced by vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman. This is the first call up of Peca's career and the Lightning host the Montreal Canadiens tomorrow where Peca could make his NHL debut after being with the Lightning's AHL affiliate the past two plus seasons.

Matthew Peca (photo by Michelle Bishop)

Peca, of the best players in the history of the Quinnipiac program, was drafted by Tampa in the 7th round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He scored 143 points for the Bobcats in his four seasons in Hamden and had one of the more memorable games as a sophomore when he scored a natural hat trick in the 2013 East Regional Final against Union College which helped lead the Bobcats to the programs first ever Frozen Four.

The 23 year old Peca, has 17 points (5 goals and 12 assists) in 28 games played for Syracuse this season. Peca is fourth on the team with 12 assists and tied for fourth for points. He has been on a hot streak recently recording at least a point in seven of Syracuse's previous nine games, notching a goal and seven assists in that span. In 101 career AHL games he has records 14 goals and 64 points.

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

Former Quinnipiac goaltender Michael Gartieg called up by Canucks

Former Quinnipiac University goaltender has been recalled by the NHL's Vancouver Canucks as it was announced in a press release today. Garteig was currently playing for the ECHL's Alaska Aces. He has appeared in six games for the Aces totaling a 5-1 record with a 2.52 goals against average and a .916 save percentage.

Michael Garteig (photo by Kim Klement/USA Today Sports)

The former Bobcat standout is a Prince George, British Columbia native who signed with his hometown Canucks on April 29, 2016. Garteig played 124 games for the Bobcats finishing with a record of 78-25-16, a 1.98 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. He holds the school career record for shutouts at 19. He was part of two Quinnipiac teams that reached the Frozen Four (2013, 2016) and reached the NCAA tournament each of his four seasons in Hamden.  

Prior to arriving in Hamden, Garteig played three seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League for the Powell River Kings and Penticton Vees.  He won the BCHL Top Goaltender Awards in 2011 and 2012, and was a member of the 2012 Royal Bank Cup-winning Powell River Kings team.

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