Quinnipiac recruiting notes 1/9/2017

Quinnipiac got back into ECAC action this past weekend splitting a road trip against Harvard and Dartmouth. After falling 5-2 on Friday to Harvard in an ugly game especially in the second period, the Bobcats bounced back on Saturday with a 4-2 win over Dartmouth. Sitting at 12-9-2 and in a third place tie in the ECAC standings, Quinnipiac needs to turn it on down the stretch. They currently sit at 18th in the pairwise and look to be a fringe NCAA team right now with very few opponents above them in the pairwise left that they can play in the regular season. With that said let's take a look at some of the future Bobcats and their performances in junior and prep hockey over the past week.

Khristian Acosta (photo courtesy Khristian Acosta's twitter page)

It was a very good weekend for 1998 forward Khristian Acosta of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights. He had a goal and 4 assists in three games with a monster game on Satuday when he had four points against the Northeast Generals. In 27 games played this season he has 29 points (10 goals and 19 assists) and is averaging 1.07 points per game since moving the North American Hockey League.

With his a three point weekend, 1997 forward Ryan Finnegan looks to be fully recovered from an undisclosed he had earlier this season as this was his first points in over a month. Since his trade from the BCHL to the the New Jersey Hitmen in the USPHL Premier division he had 13 points (3 goals and 10 assists) in 14 games played. Already signed to a national letter of intent it will be interesting to see if the coaching staff wants him to develop for one more junior season or come to Hamden in the fall of 2017.

Justin Robbins (photo by North Jersey Avalanche)

1999 goaltender of the North Jersey Avalanche 18U Justin Robbins posted a 35 save shutout of the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers in Tier I elite hockey action over the weekend. Its his fourth shutout in Tier I hockey play and second in the last three games he has played. On the season he is 13-1 with a 1.71 GAA with a .938 sv percentage in 15 Tier I hockey games. Robbins also saw a start this weekend for in AYHL action. He saved 16 of 17 shots en route to an 11-1 for the Avalanche in a win over Elite Hockey AAA. In six AYHL games he has a 1.50 GAA and a .934 save percentage. He also got called up to the Chicago Steel of the USHL for one game this season.

Springfield Junior Blues 1999 forward Matt Cassidy had a four point week starting last Tuesday with a goal and three assists. With points in eight of his last twelve games he is up to 20 points (8 goals and 12 assists) in 30 games played after a slow start out of the gate. I see him continuing to get better as the season goes along. He is not ready for Hamden next season but I would like to see him possibly play in the USHL next season for more seasoning and a greater challenge.

1999 forward Corey Clifton had a hat trick in AYHL league play. In 12 AYHL games he has 10 points (6 goals and 4 assists). He also has 20 points (4 goals and 16 assists) in 24 Tier I hockey games and is also playing high school hockey for Christian Brothers Academy in New Jersey.

Steele Subaru Major Midgets 2002 forward Jacob Quillan is on a 10 game point streak with 11 points in the last 10 games (5 goals and 6 assists). On the season the youngest player on the teams roster has 20 points (7 goals and 13 assists) in 26 games played.

2000 defenseman Peter Diliberatore has three goals and two assists in 15 games for the Salisbury School in Connecticut. The Nova Scotia native is in his junior year at the elite prep school. I would expect him to be in the Sioux Falls Stampede camp next year trying to win a spot in the USHL as he was drafted in the 10th round by the Stampede in the Phase I draft.

Winchendon senior and 1999 forward Matthew Fawcett has gotten off the a blazing start in the prep season with 17 points (7 goals 10 assists) in 11 games played for Winchendon. He is averaging 1.55 points per game on the season. He was called up to the USHL by the Sioux City Musketeers for two games this season.

Two commits are still nursing significant injuries as we move to the second half of the season. 1996 defenseman and Hamden native Joe O'Connor has yet to play in a game for the Brooks Bandits (AJHL) while still out with an upper body injury. There is no time frame on when he is returning. 1997 forward D.J. Petruzzelli has been out with a lower body injury for the Springfield Junior Blues (NAHL). He has not played in a game since September 23rd and its unknown at this time if he will return this season.

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

Quinnipiac ends four game ECAC losing streak with 4-2 win over Dartmouth

The No. 15/15 Quinnipiac Bobcats ended a four game ECAC losing streak on Saturday night with a 4-2 victory on the road against the Dartmouth Big Green. It was a rebound performance by the Bobcats after self destructing in the second period of Friday night's game against Harvard. Quinnipiac needed to get points in the ECAC in order to maintain a spot in the top four and did just so with the win. Head coach Rand Pecknold turned to freshman Andrew Shortridge for the start in goal tonight which was his first start since November 26th in a game against Vermont in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Craig Martin (photo by Craig Hylden/Grand Forks Herald)

In the first period the teams played pretty even with each team trading penalties. Quinnipiac broke through for the games first goal late in the first period when Alex Whelan put a wrist shot past Devin Buffalo short side from the bottom left circle for his first collegiate goal. Tommy Schutt and Derek Smith assisted on Whelan's goal. The Bobcats out shot the Big Green 10-7 in the opening frame.

In the second period, the Bobcats got on the board again just 37 seconds into the period on a counter two on one rush from a goal by Kevin Duane. It was Duane's fourth goal of the season to give Quinnipiac a 2-0 lead. The big power forward now has points in seven of his last eight games and has been one of the better Bobcats forwards in the past month. Landon Smith and Craig Martin assisted on the goal. Late in the second period, Shortridge made a huge save going from right to left to preserve a two goal lead heading into the intermission. The freshman had a big period making a few big saves to keep the lead in tact. Dartmouth out shot Quinnipiac in the middle frame 15-10 yet still trailed in the game 2-0.

K.J. Tiefenwerth (photo by John Crouch)

Quinnipiac struck again early in third period just 38 seconds in on a power play goal from Craig Martin who tipped Brogan Rafferty's wrist shot from the point past Devin Buffalo. K.J. Tiefenwerth also got an assist on the Martin goal which was his seventh of the season. Dartmouth got on the scoreboard at the 10:47 mark of the period on Cam Strong's seventh goal of the season on a breakaway opportunity that was set up from a Cameron Roth pass that split two Quinnipiac defenders. Quinnipiac took a 4-1 lead on an empty net goal from Kevin McKernan on assists by Craig Martin and K.J. Tiefenwerth. The Big Green had a late power play opportunity that they capitalized on with 11 seconds left in the game on a goal by Troy Crema that was assisted by Alex Jasiek and Grant Opperman. Dartmouth out shot the Bobcats 17-9 in the final frame and 39-29 for the game.

Andrew Shortridge finished with 37 saves for the Bobcats in what was his best performance of the season in between the pipes. Craig Martin had a big night with a goal and two assists and K.J. Tiefenwerth had two assists. It was great to see freshman Alex Whelan get his first goal as he has been putting in a great effort each night and was finally rewarded for his play. With the win the Bobcats improve to 12-9-2 on the season and 7-5-1 in ECAC play and share third place with the Harvard Crimson. They also finished the night 18th in the pairwise standings up from 21. Quinnipiac returns to action next weekend when they welcome Colgate and Cornell to High Point Solutions Arena.

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

Second period meltdown leads to Quinnipiac loss at Harvard

It was a second period to forget for the No. 15/15 Quinnipiac Bobcats as three power play goals in a span of less than a minute by the No. 4/3 Harvard Crimson blew a tie game open for the home team. The Bobcats first ECAC league game in almost a month ended with the same result as their last ECAC game at the end of the first semester, a loss.

Quinnipiac and Harvard played a fast paced game in the early stages of the first period before Harvard's John Marino took an interference call at the 10:15 mark of the opening frame. Sixteen seconds later Thomas Aldworth split two Harvard defenders and backhanded a shot past Merrick Madsen for the early 1-0 Bobcat lead. Luke Shiplo and Chase Priskie recorded the assists for Quinnipiac. Six and a half minutes later Harvard's Sean Malone put one past Chris Truehl to even the score. Tyler Moy and Adam Fox had the assists on Harvard's first goal. Fox recently returned from the World Junior Championships where he won a goal medal representing Team USA. He had played three prior games this week for the United States before seeing action in tonight's contest. Harvard out shot the Bobcats 14-10 in the opening frame.

Nathan Krusko

Early in the second there was solid back and forth action but the game remained tied. The Bobcats Connor Clifton took a slashing call at the 3:51 mark that was the beginning of the downfall on the night for Quinnipiac. Tanner MacMaster joined him in the penalty box a little over a minute later giving the Crimson a five on three power play. Thirty five seconds just as the Clifton penalty was set to expire it was Harvard's Nathan Krusko (assisted by Sean Malone and John Marino) scoring as the puck slid off his skate past Truehl and into the net. Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold wanted the play reviewed and continued to show his displeasure in referee Chip McDonald who then called a bench minor on Quinnipiac and ejected Pecknold from the game. They ended up still reviewing the play and confirming the call on the ice of a goal. With Harvard back on a two man advantage the flood gates began to open up. Twenty six seconds later it was Alexander Kerfoot on the power play from Tyler Moy and Adam Fox to make it 3-1 Harvard. Eighteen seconds later it was once again Krusko on the power play from Luke Esposito and Sean Malone for a 4-1 Harvard lead. Just like that the game was broken open and Chris Truehl was pulled in favor of Andrew Shortridge. Surprisingly, Quinnipiac out shot the Crimson 13-11 in the middle frame.

Adam Fox (photo by Harvard University)

With the game just about out of reach the Bobcats and Crimson played well in the early stages of the final period. They traded early penalties less than five minutes in into the game. Quinnipiac picked up three more power play opportunities the rest of the game and finally capitalized when Luke Shiplo ripped a shot high past Madsen. Tanner MacMaster and Kevin Duane got the assists. Harvard got a late empty net goal by Krusko (Tyler Moy assist) who recorded first collegiate hat trick to seal the victory. Quinnipiac out shot the Crimson 13-9 in the final period and 36-34 for the game. Andrew Shortridge was very solid in relief of Truehl with 12 saves in the game.

Luke Shiplo (photo by Emma Robertson)

The story of the game was that of the Bobcats coming unglued in the second period and of Pecknold being ejected from the game. This is the fifth loss in the last six games for the Bobcats something they have not been accustomed to in a very long time. You have to give a ton of credit to this Harvard team. This might be the most talented team that Ted Donato has had in his tenure in Cambridge. They have the look of a team destined for the Frozen Four in Chicago as they have scoring, top defenders, a very good goaltender and an outstanding power play. With the loss Quinnipiac falls to 11-9-2 (6-5-1 ECAC) on the season and drops to 21st in the pairwise rankings. Harvard improves to 10-2-1 (6-1-1 ECAC) and into a tie with Quinnipiac for third place in the conference with four games in hand on the Bobcats.

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

Scouting the enemy: Dartmouth Big Green

On Saturday the No. 15/15 Quinnipiac Bobcats head to Hanover, New Hampshire to face the Dartmouth Big Green. Bob Gaudet's Big Green squad has gotten off to a 5-6-3 start this year and finds itself 8th in the ECAC standings. The Big Green can hang its hat on playing well at Thompson Arena where they sport a 4-1-2 record there this season with solid wins over Michigan and New Hampshire. In the last five seasons, Quinnipiac is 3-2 at Thompson Arena and averaging over six goals per game in their wins there. Bob Gaudet's Dartmouth team is similar to past teams in that they are solid but unspectacular. They can play with teams on some nights and on other nights they struggle to make games competitive. Quinnipiac needs to make it sure its the latter that happens in the game against the Big Green and not the former.

Troy Crema (photo by Jennifer Hoffman/Pucks & Rec)

Thirteen games into the Big Green season finds the offense in the bottom third of the country in scoring. They average 2.64 goals per game which ranks them 40th out of 60 Division I teams. Outside of three games where they scored a combined 15 goals, the goals per game drops in the other 11 games to two goals per game. Clearly they are struggling to find offensive consistency and goal scoring this season. They are a very young team up front with nine underclassmen seeing game action this year with seven of them freshman. The leading scorer is senior Troy Crema with 9 points (5 goals and 4 assists). Two other players each have five goals and they are both freshman in Cam Strong and Daniel Warpecha. A couple of other players to watch are juniors Corey Kalk and Carl Hesler who each have seven points. Dartmouth has the worst power play in the ECAC and second worst power play in the country converting at only 9.88% (8-of-81). With Quinnipiac being one of the best penalty killing teams in the country at 87%, I find it hard pressed to see Dartmouth getting many good looks on the power play.

Corey Kalk (photo by Shelley M. Szwast)

On defense the Big Green are giving up 3.08 goals per game which ranks them 37th in the country. This puts them in the average category. They have had a mixture of good games on defense with some mediocre and bad games as well. In five of the six Dartmouth losses they have given up four goals or more per game. Sophomore's Connor Yau and Cameron Roth have been two of their bette defenseman this season. They don't have a lot of high end talent on the blue line but they play a solid game at times. Dartmouth is a solid shot blocking team averaging 14 blocked shots per game. However they really struggle on the penalty kill ranking 53rd in the country at 77.1% (54-of-70). This is a place where Quinnipiac can really take advantage of one of the big weaknesses of the Big Green.

Devin Bufflo (photo by Dartmouth Athletics)

Quinnipiac will likely see junior Devin Buffalo in goal for the Big Green on Saturday. He gave up six goals last time but could have easily given up a lot more. He made 48 saves in the 6-3 loss back on November 11th. He was one of the big reasons why Dartmouth had a lead after the first period in that game in Hamden. Buffalo brings solid athleticism for his six foot two frame and the ability to keep the Big Green in games. That is all you can ask from him. On the season he is 5-6-3 with a 2.64 goals against average and a .912 save percentage. He boosts two shutouts this season back in the first week of November against Colgate and against Princeton a team that swept Quinnipiac this season.

This is a must win game for Quinnipiac and not a game they can afford to drop due to pairwise implications. They are already below the cut line on the pairwise rankings and losses to teams in the middle of the pack of the pairwise will do nothing to improve Quinnipiac's at-large tournament hopes. Quinnipiac has the special teams advantage and talent advantage but they need to play harder than 75-80% they have been giving lately against any team if they expect to win.

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

Scouting the enemy: Harvard Crimson

The No. 15/15 Quinnipiac Bobcats head to Cambridge, Massachusetts on Friday to face the No. 4/3 Harvard Crimson. Ted Donato's Crimson team is off to a blazing 9-2-1 start on the season. They have yet to lose a home game at Bright Hockey Arena this season with the only blemish a 1-1 tie against Colgate. Harvard's two losses this season have come at the hands of Boston University and Quinnipiac both on the road. In its last five trips to Bright Hockey Center, Quinnipiac is 2-1-2 with four of those five games reaching overtime. In its last meeting back in early November, Harvard outplayed Quinnipiac for the majority of the game yet still came away empty handed in a 4-2 loss. Since the last meeting, the two teams have gone in opposite directions with Quinnipiac going 4-5-1 while Harvard is 5-1. If Quinnipiac wants any chance of an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament they need to beat Harvard. Without a win over Harvard I do not see not many opportunities for the Bobcats to move up in the pairwise rankings with the schedule they have down the stretch outside of games against Union and possibly Cornell. This would require Quinnipiac to win the ECAC tournament to keep its hopes of a fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament possible. Harvard on the other hand barring a major collapse down the stretch is practically a lock to make the tournament as they are sitting comfortably fourth in the pairwise.

Alexander Kerfoot (photo by DobberProspects)

The Harvard offense has been relentless this season. They are averaging 4.50 goals per game this season but that number jumps to 5.33 goals per game in their wins. Harvard has yet to win a game this season scoring less than four goals. Six players are averaging over a point per game and seventh player is right on the cusp of that number. The talent on this team is playing to its potential and right now they have the look of a team destined to reach the Frozen Four in Chicago. It's the seniors that are leading the way up front for Harvard as Alex Kerfoot leads the Crimson in scoring with 20 points (5 goals and 15 assists). Sean Malone has 16 points (9 goals and 7 assists) while Tyler Moy also has 16 points (8 goals and 8 assists). Another senior Luke Esposito has 14 points (5 goals and 9 assists) while sophomore Ryan Donato has 15 points (8 goals and 7 assists). Sophomore Lewis Zerter-Gossage is also a big contributor with 11 points (6 goals and 5 assists). They also get big time offense from the blue line in freshman Adam Fox 16 points (1 goal and 15 assists) but its unlikely he will play Friday as he will be returning to the Harvard from the World Junior Championships. Not having Fox will hurt Harvard's transition game a bit but they still have loads of talent to make up for his loss. The Crimson have the top power play in the country at 30% (18-of-60) so Quinnipiac will need to really play a clean game even though the Bobcats are effective at killing penalties. You cannot give Harvard man advantages time and time again and expect to win. The Bobcats also need to force the Crimson to play from the outside to take away time and space along with having an effective transition game from their defense.

Ryan Donato (photo by Elan Kawesch/Harvard University)

Harvard's defense is really the story of their season so far. Its been night and day from past seasons where the defense had failed them. They are giving up 2.25 goals per game which is 11th in the nation and second in the ECAC behind Cornell. Adam Fox has been one of their best defenseman but as I said earlier is unlikely to play after having played in the World Junior Championships. But the Crimson still have many others that get the job done in the back end like freshman John Marino who while doesn't have the point total as Fox does might be the best defensive defenseman on the roster. The play of Fox and Marino has rubbed off on better play from senior Clay Anderson, junior Wiley Sherman and sophomore Jacob Olson. They have all contributed in making Harvard a very good team in transition and shutting down their opponents on the ice. The Crimson can improve on the penalty kill as they are 31st in the country at 83.1% (59-of-71) so this is one area that Quinnipiac possibly may be able to take advantage of in this game.

Merrick Madsen (photo by Shelley M. Szwast)

Harvard has played only one goaltender this season in Merrick Madsen and he has been very strong for the Crimson this season. He has had only two rough games, one against Quinnipiac in which he gave up some shaky goals and the other against Boston University when he let in five goals in a loss. Other than those two games he has been very strong in between the pipes for the Crimson in leading them to a great start. On the season Madsen is 9-2-1 with a 2.16 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. He has one shutout in the opening game of the season against Arizona State. Madsen has the size and athleticism to see the puck well and make the tough saves.

This should be an interesting game in Cambridge on Friday night to see which Quinnipiac team shows up. If they play anywhere like they did against Robert Morris then Harvard will blow the doors off the Bobcats as the Crimson have significantly more talent than that of Robert Morris. Quinnipiac's players need to buy in at 100% or greater in order to maximize the talent on the roster. If they buy in at only 75-80% like Rand Pecknold said they did after the Robert Morris game, this team will have a lot of problems going forward in the second half of the season.

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

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.

Quinnipiac recruiting notes 1/3/2017

The new year is upon us and the Quinnipiac Bobcats have started the second half of the season. After beating Boston College 3-1 in the opener of the Three Rivers Classic, the Bobcats had a very poor effort in the championship game against Robert Morris losing 5-2. This team has been very Jekyll and Hyde this season and you don't know what you are going to get from them game to game. Getting to a fifth consecutive NCAA tournament is starting to slip away and may require winning the conference tournament. Now let's take a look at what some of the future Quinnipiac Bobcats have been doing with their respective junior teams or prep school teams.

Matt Forchuk (photo by Pam Doyle)

Canmore Eagles 1996 forward Matt Forchuk had three in two wins this past weekend. Forchuk is the leader in points in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with 56 (19 goals and 37 assists). He leads teammate Logan Ferguson by one point. 27 of Forchuk's points have come by way of the power play with 8 goals and 19 assists. I'd expect he will be someone who will be a staple on the Bobcats power play in the future. He will be heading to Hamden in the fall and should be expected to be someone that can contribute immediately for the Bobcats up front.

Fargo Force (USHL) 1997 forward Odeen Tufto had six points in his last three games with a goal and five assists. He has points in seven of his last eight games with three of the games being the multi point variety. In 28 games played he has 21 points (5 goals and 16 assists). He is fourth on the team in scoring and was one the Force's best forwards in the month of December. He is another forward that is coming into Hamden in the fall of 2017 who should be expected to contribute.

Odeen Tufto (photo by Dan Hickling)

1999 goaltender Keith Petruzzelli ended 2016 on a high note in a very good performance against the US National Team. He had 26 saves on 27 shots in the victory in a 3-1 win for the Muskegon Lumberjacks. In 18 games played this season he is 10-6 with a 2.55 goals against average and .912 save percentage. I had him pegged for the 2018-2019 season after one more season of junior hockey but with the sudden departure of junior third string goaltender, Sean Lawrence its very possible he will be brought to Hamden in for the fall of 2017 as a true freshman should they not pick up another goaltender commitment for next fall and keep Petruzzelli back in juniors for one more year of development.

Topeka RoadRunners (NAHL) 1998 forward John DeRoche had a four assist weekend in three games played against Wichita Falls. The Lynnfield, Massachusetts native has been averaging over a point per game since moving to the NAHL after a trade by Cedar Rapids of the USHL. In 14 games played with Topeka he has 15 points (4 goals and 11 assists). I have him projected as a freshman for the 2018-2019 season.

Keith Petruzzelli (photo by Muskegon Lumberjacks)

1998 forward Khristian Acosta has had a goal in two of his last three games played for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights. In 24 games played he leads the Knights in scoring with 24 points (9 goals and 15 assists). He is a player I have projected for the fall of 2017 unless the coaching staff pushes him back a season to get more seasoning in juniors and recruits someone else for next season.

1999 forward Corey Clifton is off to a good start for his high school team, Christian Brothers Academy. In ten games played he has five goals and five assists which is good for second on the team in scoring. He is also playing for the U18 North Jersey Avalanche in the Tier I elite hockey league. He is someone I have pegged for the 2019-2020 season which gives him two additional seasons of development in the junior ranks.

2002 forward Jacob Quillan has a nine game point streak for the Steele Subaru Major Midgets as he picked up two more assists to close out 2016. In 25 games played he has 19 points (6 goals and 13 assists) which is impressive for a player who is the youngest player on the teams roster.

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