Peter Diliberatore named ECAC Rookie of the Week

Peter Diliberatore (photo copyright BobcatsHockeyBlog)

For the fourth time this season the Quinnipiac Bobcats have had a player win the ECAC Rookie of the Week award. Peter Diliberatore finished with a goal and an assist with a plus five rating in Quinnipiac's 6-0 win over Colgate this past Saturday which gave head coach Rand Pecknold his 500th career win and Monday the league announced the him as the rookie of the week in a press release.

Diliberatore, a true freshman and a draft pick of the Vegas Golden Knights has played in all 18 games for the Bobcats this season scoring 8 points this year on a goal and seven assists. The goal Saturday against Colgate was his first NCAA goal of his career. He is also fourth on the Bobcats in plus/minus at a plus 12. He follows previous winners Wyatt Bongiovanni, Ethan de Jong and Michael Lombardi as Bobcats to have won the ECAC Rookie of the Week award this season. 

Quinnipiac returns to ECAC play next weekend with a home series against Colgate and Cornell. 

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Weekend Preview: Colgate Raiders

Rand Pecknold, center seeks his 500th win Saturday against Colgate

Colgate Head Coach: Don Vaughan (26th Season) 411-429-100

2018-2019 Colgate record: 4-9-2 (1-3-2 ECAC)

All-time vs. Colgate : Quinnipiac leads 22-15-2

Colgate Key Players: Bobby McMann (F), Adam Dauda (F), Josh McKechney (F), Nick Austin (D), Trevor Cosgrove (D), Mitch Benson (G)

The Raiders ended the first half of the season on a winning note shutting out Niagara 2-0. However the rest of the first half was not memorable as Colgate stumbled to a 4-9-2 record. The highlight was an opening weekend sweep over New Hampshire. But not much went right for Colgate and I cannot imagine it will get better either. The only positive for Colgate is they lead the country in face-off percentage at 58.1%

Colgate is an offensively challenged team. They are averaging 1.26 goals per game this season. They have been shutout four times already this season. Not one player is averaging a point per game and their top scorer has eight points this year which is Bobby McMann who has four goals and four assists. No one else on the roster has more than two goals. The Raiders power play is also poor as well connecting at 12.7% which is tied for ninth worst in the Division I ranks. I don't see anywhere we this improves this season as there just is not a lot of talent up front for Colgate.

Colgate's defense has given up a shade over three goals per game this season. Nine different defenseman have played for the Raiders this season as they have struggled to find consistency on the back end. Its an area where a talented team like Quinnipiac can exploit and punch in goals on them. The Raiders penalty kill is the worst in college hockey at 69.4%, the only program in the country that is sub 70%. Quinnipiac needs to force penalties to exploit the biggest weakness that Colgate has on the ice with their penalty kill. If they can do that this game could be a one-sided affair.

The Raiders are not going to be able to fill Colton Point's play in net and frankly no one expected them to. Freshman Mitch Benson has done all he can to keep Colgate in games and has a 2.94 goals against average and a .909 save percentage to show for it. He is going to have to stand tall for this team to have a chance this weekend against Quinnipiac.

This is game Quinnipiac cannot afford to lose even though it is considered a non-conference game. Colgate just is not a very good team and it would be a negative impact to the Bobcats pairwise if they were to lose this game. They need to take it to this team early and often and get out healthy and give Rand Pecknold his 500th career victory.

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Q&A with Quinnipiac commit CJ McGee

CJ McGee (photo by Shreveport Mudbugs of NAHL)

Quinnipiac recently picked up another tri-state area player along with a former Don Bosco Prep (NJ) player in Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL) defenseman CJ McGee. A native of Pearl River, New York, McGee is in his first season with Shreveport after being a tender by them at the end of the last season. He is currently tied for the team lead in scoring with 24 points in 29 games from the blue line including 9 power play points. Thanks to CJ for taking the time out of his busy hockey schedule to do this Q&A for the BobcatsHockeyBlog.


BobcatsHockeyBlog: First off congratulations. What are your emotions like after making the decision to commit to Quinnipiac?

CJ McGee: Thank you and I am just very thankful for the opportunity and very excited to be committed to a great program.

BobcatsHockeyBlog: Tell us about your overall recruiting process with Quinnipiac. When did they first start to show interest in you as a player? Have you had a chance to visit the University and the hockey facilities and if so what are your thoughts?

CJ McGee: Well I played for the North Jersey Avalanche so the coaching staff had seen me play a few times. Then I moved to Louisiana to play and met head coach Rand Pecknold at a showcase in Blaine, Minnesota. From there, I began a relationship with coach Joe Dumais. I also have been up to the school a few times before they began to recruit me and I loved the campus and the area around it. I was also very impressed with the hockey facilities.

BobcatsHockeyBlog: Did any other NCAA schools start to show interest in you and if so which ones and what separated Quinnipiac from those other schools?

CJ McGee: A few schools did but out of respect for those schools I prefer to keep them private. But Quinnipiac stood out to me because of the level of the staff is unmatched compared to other schools. It was also very clear how much time, not only the coaches, but the video guy and the trainer put in to make sure the guys are in the best possible position to succeed.

BobcatsHockeyBlog: Last year you played a full season with North Jersey Avalanche after graduating from Don Bosco Prep the prior year. What went into the decision to play midgets as an 18/19 yr old?

CJ McGee: Well I actually played with the Avalanche the whole time I was at Don Bosco and I decided to finish my last year of midgets before playing juniors because I had a great coaching staff with the Avalanche.

BobcatsHockeyBlog: After playing with the Avalanche you were tendered with Shreveport in the North American Hockey League. What went into signing the tender with the Mudbugs? Did other leagues show interest in you as well and what separated the NAHL from those other leagues if that was the case?

CJ McGee: Shreveport was one of the first teams to show interest in me, and then from there I went down to Shreveport to meet the coaching staff and see the rink. When I watched a game and saw the atmosphere with the fans and the players it was just something I wanted to be a part of and that was how I made my decision.

BobcatsHockeyBlog: You have gotten off a to a good start with Shreveport going 7-17-24 in 29 games. What do you attribute to this hot start and how has the level of play been for you in the NAHL this season?

CJ McGee: Well I struggled early when I got here before the season started. After playing a couple of pre-season games, I got more of a feel for the speed of the game and then our team has a ton of really good players that make it easy to play with and they have helped me with the start I have had.

BobcatsHockeyBlog: Tell us about your overall game as a player. Are you a defenseman leans more towards being an offensive defenseman more than a stay at home defenseman? What would you say your strengths are as a player?

CJ McGee: I always struggled with skating but I started working with a skating coach the past two years that has helped me a lot and allowed me to get more offensive but I still play a pretty defensive game. My biggest strength as a player from what I have been told is my IQ and my ability to see the ice well.

BobcatsHockeyBlog: When are you set to enroll at Quinnipiac? Will it be for 2019-2020 or 2020-21?

CJ McGee: Right now that is currently undecided.

BobcatsHockeyBlog: What are some of the areas of your game that you want to improve upon prior to enrolling at Quinnipiac?

CJ McGee: I always just want to work on my skating and my ability to move the puck up ice as fast as I can.

BobcatsHockeyBlog: You at played at Don Bosco which has seen former and current players like John Campomenosi and Liam McLinskey commit to Quinnipiac as well. How good has the level of hockey improved in the New York/New Jersey area say the last five plus years?

CJ McGee: The area around New York, New Jersey including Pennsylvania and Connecticut has been on a steady incline in the level of play as far as I know.

BobcatsHockeyBlog: You a Pearl River, New York native which is the same hometown as Liam McLinskey another recent Bobcat commit. Can you tell us what Quinnipiac is getting in him as a player and does it make it easier committing to Quinnipiac knowing that guys you played with will also be joining you?

CJ McGee: He is a great player and he actually happens to be my cousin so it definitely helps knowing he will be going there as well.

BobcatsHockeyBlog: Is there a player in the game today that you try to model your game after?

CJ McGee: Not necessarily. I just try to play a sound game defensively and join the offense as much as I see fit.

BobcatsHockeyBlog: To this point in your life who has been the biggest influence to get to achieving an NCAA Division I opportunity?

CJ McGee: I would say my father as he was drafted in the NHL and pushes me to be my best.

BobcatsHockeyBlog: What should the Quinnipiac community expect from you as a person on and off the ice?

CJ McGee: They should expect me to be the best person I can be off the ice and the best player i can on the ice.

BobcatsHockeyBlog: What does CJ McGee like to do when he is not playing hockey?

CJ McGee: I like to spend time with my family and hang out with my friends or play a little Xbox with them.

You can follow the BobcatsHockeyBlog on Twitter @QHockeyBlog.

Ethan Leyh commits to Quinnipiac

Ethan Leyh (photo by Langley Rivermen)

The Quinnipac Bobcats remain hot on the ice and hot on the recruiting trail. The Bobcats picked up a verbal commitment from former University of Wisconsin commit and current Langley Rivermen forward Ethan Leyh. The left shot 6'0, 187 pound Leyh is a native of Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada. Leyh has played for Langley for the past one and a half seasons. Originally he committed to the Wisconsin Badgers back in November of 2016.

Neutral Zone‏ @_Neutral_Zone 2m2 minutes ago

4.25 prospect Ethan Leyh commits to Quinnipiac. A graceful skater with smooth hands, speed and creativity. Unafraid in the corners, can undress defenders in small areas and can score. He’ll enroll this fall; former Wisconsin commit. @LangleyRivermen

Leyh is rated as a C prospect on the NHL Central Scouting Players to Watch list which is a potential candidate to be drafted in the 4th, 5th or 6th round of the 2019 NHL Draft. This season, Leyd has been more than a point per game player as a 17-year-old with the Rivermen. In 29 games played he has 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) which leads the Rivermen in scoring. This includes five power play goals and a shorthanded goal. As a 16-year-old last season he put up 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) in 53 games. In six playoff games for Langley he had 6 points (3 goals, 3 assists).

Recently, Leyh helped lead Canada West to the bronze medal at the 2018 World Junior A Challenge in which he had a strong tournament with 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) in six games played. He was recently selected to partake in the CJHL Prospects Game for the Team West roster that will be held January 22, 2019.

Neutral Zone has him enrolling this fall as a true freshman. Congrats to Ethan and welcome to Bobcat Nation.


Links

EliteProspects Player Page
BCHL Player Page

You can follow the BobcatsHockeyBlog on Twitter @QHockeyBlog.

Cam Boudreau joining Quinnipiac for second semester

Cam Boudreau will be joining Quinnipiac in the 2nd semester (photo by Junior Bruins)

The Quinnipiac Bobcats will get a jolt on the blue line as they begin the second half of the season. The program has decided to accelerate NCDC Junior Bruins defenseman Cam Boudreau for the second semester of the 2018-2019 as was announced in a press release by the USPHL.

Boudreau will give Quinnipiac depth on the blue line as they make a push for the ECAC championship in the second half of the season and a potential deep NCAA tournament run. The left shot, 6'1, 180 pound Boudreau gives the Bobcats ten true defenseman on the roster but with both Zach Metsa and Joe O'Connor, both playing forward due to injuries, it looks like the coaching staff felt additional depth was necessary and therefore the acceleration of Boudreau took place. I originally had Boudreau as part of the 2019-2020 freshman class. 

The Salem, New Hampshire native was the captain of the Junior Bruins this season and finished with 14 points (3 goals, 11 assists) in 29 games played this season. Overall in a season and a half with the Junior Bruins, Boudreau finished with 30 points (6 goals, 24 assists) in 74 games played. 

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In the Pipeline: 12/11/2018

Its officially the first semester break for Quinnipiac. After a 14-3 start and a #5 ranking, Quinnipiac has put themselves in excellent position for a return to the NCAA tournament with a quality second half of the season. Over this past weekend the Bobcats split a series with #1 UMass winning 4-0 Friday in Hamden before falling 3-1 the following night in Amherst. With no hockey for the next few weeks we will just have to follow more of the future Bobcats so let's see how some of them did over the past week.

Evan Fear won USHL goaltender of the week for the second time this season

BCHL commits

Jayden Lee had another strong week with four points (1 goal, 3 assists) in three games played. The Powell River Kings defensemen now has 24 points (3 goals, 18 assists) in 31 games played.

Skyler Brind'Amour picked up a goal in three games played this past week for the Chilliwack Chiefs. He now has 23 points (8 goals, 15 assists) in 32 games played.

Tyler Ghirardosi picked up three assists in three games for the Trail Smoke Eaters. On the season in 32 games played he has 16 points (5 goals, 11 assists).

PJ Fletcher picked up an assist in two games played for the Wenatchee Wild. On the season, Fletcher has 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) in 31 games played.

Christophe Tellier had a goal in two games this weekend for the Wenatchee Wild. He now has 24 points (9 goals, 15 assists) in 29 games played.

USHL commits

Evan Fear picked up his second USHL goaltender of week award after going 1-0 with a .963 save percentage in a 2-1 shootout win over Cedar Rapids. Fear on the season is 7-6-2-0 with a 3.30 goals against average and a .904 save percentage.

Justin Robbins went 1-1 in two games this past week for the Chicago Steel. He gave up two goals in each game. On the season he is 10-6-1-0 with a 3.29 goals against average and an .880 save percentage.

NAHL commits

CJ McGee picked up a goal and an assist in two games for the Shreveport Mudbugs. McGee, now has taken over the team lead in scoring with 20 points (6 goals, 14 assists) in 26 games. Look for a Q&A with CJ this week.

The points continue to pile up for Jack Silich of the Chicago Mission

NCDC commits

Cam Boudreau had one goal in two games played for the Junior Bruins. In 26 games played he has 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) from the blue line.

Arytom Borshyov picked up two assists in two games played for the Northern Cyclones. He now has 6 points (1 goal, 5 assists) in 7 games played.

Yaniv Perets gave up three goals in a loss this weekend for the Junior Bruins against the New Hampshire Monarchs. He made 31 saves in the game. In 20 games played he is 14-5-0-1 with a 2.19 goals against and a .936 save percentage.

Midget, Prep & High School commits

Jack Silich had three goals and three assists for the Chicago Mission U-15 team in four games over the weekend. On the season he has 75 points (29 goals, 46 assists) in 52 games played.

Oscar Plandowski was selected to the Nova Scotia team for the Canada Games that will take placed in Red Deer. He was also named as a first team All Beast Team for the U-15 level.

Victor Czerneckianair had a two goals and an assist in two games played for the Selects Academy at South Kent U-16. On the season in 33 games played he has 48 points (23 goals, 25 assists).

Liam McLinskey had a goal and one assist in a sing;e game this past week for the Don Bosco Prep hockey team. On the season he has a 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists) in four games played.

Jacob Quillan picked up a goal and two assists in two games for Salisbury this past week. In five games played he has 9 points (3 goals, 6 assists).


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Andrew Shortridge named ECAC goaltender of the week

Andrew Shortridge (center), won ECAC goaltender of the week

The weekly awards continue to pile up for Quinnipiac players. After splitting a weekend series with UMass in which Quinnipiac goaltender Andrew Shortridge shutout the Minutemen 4-0 Friday night behind 32 saves many of which were spectacular, he was named the ECAC goaltender of the week as was announced by the league office in a press release today.

Shortridge, with the shutout win moved to 6-0 on the season and lowered his goals against average to 0.83 along with a .966 save percentage. The shutout was the third this season for the junior goaltender and sixth overall for the team. 

This is the first weekly award this season for Shortridge and second of his career following winning the goaltender of the week honors for the week of November 21, 2017. Quinnipiac is now on first semester break with a 14-3 record and a #5 ranking in the USCHO.com polls. They return to action December 29th in a non-conference match-up against Colgate at the Nassau Coliseum.  

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