Men's ice hockey team earns spot in NCAA Tournament

March 21, 2021

Men's ice hockey team with Cleary Cup

The Quinnipiac men's ice hockey team — the 2021 Cleary Cup winner — has earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament, as the No. 3 seed in the first round of the West Regional in Loveland, Colorado. The Bobcats will face the Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET at the Budweiser Events Center. Watch the game on ESPN 3.

Quinnipiac students are invited to a watch event at the Quinnipiac Field Hockey Stadium.

This is Quinnipiac's sixth appearance in the NCAA Tournament in the past eight seasons, not including last year's cancelation. The Bobcats have made two national championship appearances — in 2013 and 2016. Overall, the program has a record of 7-6 in 13 total games.

The team has been recognized for its success on the ice in earning multiple awards this season, including:

  • Captain Odeen Tufto has been named the ECAC Hockey Player of the Year. He was also named to the All-ECAC Hockey First Team for the first time in his career. He is a four-time all-league honoree after being named to the All-Rookie Team as a first year in 2017-18 and back-to-back second team selections in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
  • Keith Petruzzelli has been named the ECAC Hockey Ken Dryden Goaltender of the Year. Petruzzelli was named to the ECAC Hockey First Team on Wednesday, his first all-league selection and was the third goaltender in program history named to the All-ECAC Hockey First Team.
  • Tufto and Petruzzelli have also been named Top 10 Finalists for the 2021 Hobey Baker Award. Quinnipiac is one of just three schools with two Top 10 Finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, joining Boston College and the University of Wisconsin. Tufto is one of five forwards among the finalists and Petruzzelli is one of four goaltenders.
  • Head coach Rand Pecknold has been named the ECAC Hockey Tim Taylor Coach of the Year. Pecknold's coach of the year honors are his third in ECAC Hockey after winning the award in 2013 and 2016. He has now won four league coach of the year awards after also taking home Atlantic Hockey Coach of the Year honors in 2005.

Get all the details at gobobcats.com

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