No. 5/7 QU Men's Ice Hockey Hosts RPI, No. 20 Union on SNY, TSN2

Friday, December 2

Hamden, Conn.

7:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

Rensselaer

Tickets

No. 5/7 QU Men's Ice Hockey Hosts RPI, No. 20 Union on SNY, TSN2

12/1/2016 9:55:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey

By: QU Sports Information

No. 5/7 QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY BOBCATS
Record: 9-4-2 ECAC HOCKEY: 5-1-1
Head Coach: Rand Pecknold
Record at QU: 455-268-85 (.615), 23rd Season
Pecknold vs. Rensselaer: 12-5-9
Pecknold vs. Union: 15-11-4

RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE ENGINEERS
Record: 3-12-1 ECAC HOCKEY: 1-5-0
Head Coach: Seth Appert
Record at RPI: 147-205-48, 11th Season
Appert vs. Quinnipiac: 5-12-9
Date: Dec. 2, 2016
Location: Hamden, Connecticut
Rink: High Point Solutions Arena at the TD Bank Sports Center (3,286//200x85)
Series vs. RPI: 12-5-9
Last Meeting: W, 5-4 (OT) (Feb. 19, 2016//Hamden, Conn.)
First Meeting: L, 4-6 (Oct. 16, 1999//Albany, N.Y.)

Live Stats: QuinnipiacBobcats.com
FREE Live Video: Quinnipiac All-Access
Live Audio: AM 1220 WQUN
Follow on Twitter: @QU_MIH

NO. 20 UNION COLLEGE DUTCHMEN
Record: 8-3-2 ECAC HOCKEY: 4-1-1
Head Coach: Rick Bennett
Record at Union: 120-62-29, 6th Season
Bennett vs. Quinnipiac: 3-9-1
Date: Dec. 3, 2016
Location: Hamden, Connecticut
Rink: High Point Solutions Arena at the TD Bank Sports Center (3,286//200x85)
Series vs. Union: 15-11-4
Last Meeting: T, 3-3 (OT) (Feb. 20, 2016//Hamden, Conn.)
First Meeting: W, 3-2 (Dec. 3, 2000//Schenectady, N.Y.)

Live Stats: QuinnipiacBobcats.com
FREE Live Video: Quinnipiac All-Access
Live Audio: AM 1220 WQUN
Follow on Twitter: @QU_MIH

GAME NOTES
Quinnipiac | RPI | Union

The Bobcats are back in action this weekend when they host Rensselaer on Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. and No. 18 Union on Saturday, Dec. 3. Saturday night's game against the Dutchmen can be seen live on SNY and TSN2, where available.

A LL-TIME AGAINST RENSSELAER
• Friday night's match-up at High Point Solutions Arena will be 27th meeting between the two teams, with Quinnipiac owning a 12-5-9 record all-time against RPI.
• The Bobcatts enter the match-up with a 12-game unbeaten streak against the Engineers at 7-0-5 including a six-game unbeaten streak at home at 3-0-3.
• In 10 games all-time at High Point Solutions Arena, Quinnipiac is 5-1-4 against RPI with its lone lose coming on Jan. 8, 2010.

SCOUTING THE RPI ENGINEERS
• RPI enters the weekend with a record of 3-12-1 overall and 1-5-0 in ECAC Hockey.
• The Engineers are coming off a 2-0 win at Arizona State on Nov. 26 that ended a seven-game losing streak.
• Evan Tironese leads RPI in assists (14) and points (17) while Riley Bourbonnais and Jared Wilson are tied for the team lead in goals with seven each. Bourbonnais has also distributed six assists for 13 points.
• In goal, Chase Perry is 1-9-1 with a 3.67 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage while Cam Hackett is 2-3-0 with a 2.71 GAA and a .913 save percentage.

ALL-TIME AGAINST UNION
• Quinnipiac and Union have faced each other 30 times with the Bobcats owning a 15-11-4 record all-time.
• Quinnipiac is 4-0-2 in the last six regular season games against the Dutchmen on its home ice.
• Overall, Quinnipiac is 9-3-3 in its last 15 meetings with the Dutchmen.
• Quinnipic is also 4-3-0 against Union in the postseason, which featured a 4-1 win in the 2013 NCAA East Regional and a five-overtime thriller that stood as the longest game in NCAA history for five seasons.

SCOUTING THE NO. 20 UNION COLLEGE DUTCHMEN
• Union enters the weekend with a record of 8-3-2 overall and 4-1-1 in ECAC Hockey and are currently ranked 20th in the latest USCHO.com Division I Poll.
• Union headed into last weekend with wins in eight of its first 11 games including a 4-0-0 record in ECAC Hockey, but skated to a 2-2 tie against St. Lawrence and lost to Clarkson, 3-1.
• Mike Vecchione steers the ship in Schenectady to the tune of 14 goals and 12 assists for a team-best 26 points. Vecchione has also totalled six goals and six assists for 12 points in six league games.
• Vecchione has also compiled 56 goals and 83 assists for 139 points in 124 games, making him the active career scoring leader in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey.
• Spencer Foo checks-in with a team-leading 15 assists to go along with six goals for 21 points.
• In goal, Alex Sakellaropoulos is 7-1-1 with a 2.64 GAA and a .906 save percentage.

ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS
• Tim Clifton's 18 career power play goals rank second among all active NCAA Division I men's ice hockey student-athletes behind Omaha's Austin Ortega (21).
• Clifton also ranks tied for 21st with 84 career points on 40 goals and 44 assists in 131 career games. His 40 career goals are tied for 17th among active players.
• Clifton is also one of 14 active players with 40 goals and 40 assists for his career.
• Clifton's 10 game-winning goals are tied for fifth among active players.
• Clifton is one of 28 players with three or more shorthanded goals for his career.
• Landon Smith is one of three non-seniors ranked among the top 30 active career scorers. Smith's 76 points have come on the strength of 31 goals and 45 assists.
• Smith's 45 assists rank tied for 36th among active players.

REALLY GOOD AT HOME
• Quinnipiac is 10-0-3 in its last 13 overall regular-season games at High Point Solutions Arena.
• In addition, the Bobcat are 14-0-6 in its last 20 regular-season ECAC Hockey games on its home ice. Its last loss to a league opponent in Hamden came in a 5-2 loss to Harvard on Dec. 6, 2014.

NOW TEE-ING OFF...RAFFERTY, BROGAN
• Freshman Brogan Rafferty scored his first career goal in the Bobcats' 5-2 win against UConn on Oct. 19 while also adding an assist.
• Rafferty currently leads Quinnipiac in assists (12) and is second in points (14) through is first 15 career games.
• Rafferty leads all ECAC Hockey freshmen in assists (12) and points (14).

THE KAR(LIS) SHOW
• Karlis Cukste's three goals are tied for fourth among all ECAC Hockey freshmen.
• Cukste also leads ECAC Hockey freshmen with two power-play goals and 30 blocked shots.

OUR FAVORITE MARTIN
• Sophomore Craig Martin has doubled his career goal output with goals in back-to-back games against Maine on Oct. 15 and UConn on Oct. 19.
• Martin picked up "Play Maker" honors in the Bobcats 5-3 win at Clarkson on Friday, Nov. 4. Martin dished out a career-high three assists in the Bobcats ECAC Hockey opening night victory.
• Martin has a point in six of his last seven games and stands at five goals and seven assists for 12 points to date.

IT'S TIMMY!!!
• Assistant captain Tim Clifton's team-high nine goals sit second in the league to Mike Vecchione's 14 goals to date.
• Clifton and Vecchione are tied for the league lead with six goals in conference games only.

SHOT-BLOCKING
• Quinnipiac's 241 blocked shots rank 11th among all NCAA Division I men's ice hockey teams while its 14.33 per game ranks 15th.
• Quinnipiac's forwards have combined for 97 blocked shots to date, making the Bobcats one of four teams (Army, 110; RPI, 107; Mercyhurst, 98) to block as many or more to date.
• Tim Clifton (20) is one of four forwards in the country to block 20 shots to date, joining Omaha's Tyler Vesel (25), Army's Clint Carlisle (23) and RPI's Riley Bourbonnais (22).
• Karlis Cukste leads all Quinnipiac players with 30 blocked shots and is one of 30 players in the country to block as many.

SPREAD IT AROUND
• 18 of the 22 skaters to dress for Quinnipiac this season have tallied a point, with 17 of those 18 registering multiple points to date.
• Nine of the 18 players to register a point have scored multiple goals.STRIKE FIRST AT HOME
Throught this past weekend, Quinnipiac is also riding a 33-game (28-0-5) unbeaten streak when it scores the first goal at High Point Solutions Arena. Over the last four seasons, Quinnipiac is 52-4-8 when scoring the first goal on its home ice. All-time, Quinnipiac is 89-18-19 when it scores first on its home ice.

14 • Derek Smith (Senior, Captain, Apple Valley, Minnesota/Coulee Region Chill (NAHL)
In 2016-17: Picked up his first point of the year with an assist on Bo Pieper's go-ahead goal in the third period of Quinnipiac's 2-2 tie against Northeastern on Oct. 7 ... Had an assist in Quinnipiac's 4-3 overtime loss at Maine on Oct. 14 ... Ran his point-streak to two games with an assist against UConn on Oct. 19 ... Had an assist in Quinnipiac's 5-3 win at Clarkson on Nov. 4 ... Had an assist in a 3-1 win at Cornell on Nov. 18 .... Had an assist in a 7-3 win at Colgate on Nov. 19.

4 • Connor Clifton (Senior, Captain, Matawan, New Jersey/ U.S. National Developmental Team/Jersey Hitmen (EJHL)
In 2016-17: His first point of the season came on an assist in Quinnipiac's 4-3 overtime loss at Maine on Oct. 14 ... Had an goal and an assist in a 5-2 win against UConn on Oct. 19 ... Scored in a 7-3 win at Colgate on Nov. 19.

11 • Tim Clifton (Senior, Asst. Captain, Matawan, New Jersey/New Jersey Hitmen (EJHL)
In 2016-17: Scored twice in the Bobcats' 5-2 win against No. 15 Northeastern on Saturday, Oct. 8 ... Had a power play goal and also set-up the game-winner in the Bobcats' 3-2 overtime win at Maine on Oct. 15 ... Had an assist in a 5-2 win against UConn on Oct. 19 ... Had a three-point night with two goals and an assist in a 5-3 win at Clarkson on Nov. 4 ... Had a goal and an assist in a 6-3 win against Dartmouth on Nov. 11 ... Had an assist in a 4-2 win against No. 10/10 Harvard on Nov. 12 ... Scored in a 3-1 win at Cornell on Nov. 18 ... Scored twice in a 7-3 win at Colgate on Nov. 19.

23 • Tommy Schutt (Senior, Assistant Captain, Chanhassen, Minnesota/Lincoln Stars (USHL)
In 2016-17: Put Quinnipiac out in front with his first goal of the year in Quinnipiac's 3-2 overtime win against Maine on Oct. 15 ... Scored in the Bobcats' 3-2 win against UMass on Oct. 25 ... Had an assist in a 6-3 win against Dartmouth on Nov. 11 ... Scored an empty-net goal a 4-2 win against No. 10/10 Harvard on Nov. 12 ... Scored twice in a 7-3 win at Colgate on Nov. 19.

2 • Karlis Cukste (Freshman, Riga, Latvia/Latvia U20/Chicago Steel (USHL)
In 2016-17: Scored his first career goal in the Bobcats' 5-2 win against No. 15 Northeastern on Oct. 8 ... Had an assist in 3-2 win against UMass on Oct. 25 ... Second career goal came in a 5-3 win at Clarkson on Nov. 4 ... Had a goal and an assist in a 6-3 win against Dartmouth on Nov. 11 ... Had an assist in a 4-2 win against No. 10/10 Harvard on Nov. 12 ... Had an assist in a 7-3 win at Colgate on Nov. 19.

3 • Joe Fiala (Senior, Verona, Wisconsin/Indiana Ice (USHL)
In 2016-17: Saw his first action of the year in a 3-2 win against UMass on Oct. 25.

8 • Alex Whelan (Fr., Ramsey, New Jersey/New Jersey Hitmen (USPHL Premier)
In 2016-17: Made his collegiate debut in a 5-2 win against UConn on Oct. 19 ... Picked up his first collegiate point on an assist in a 3-2 win against UMass on Oct. 25.

10 • Kevin Duane (Junior, New Canaan, Connecticut/Boston University (Hockey East)
Before Quinnipiac: Named to the 2015-16 ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team ... Sat out the 2015-16 season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules ... Played two seasons at Boston University before transferring to Quinnipiac in 2015 … At the start of the 2016-17 season, Duane will be in his junior season … In 36 games at Boston University, Duane totaled six goals and four assists for 10 points … After appearing in 32-of-35 games in his freshman season, Duane saw time in just four games in his sophomore campaign … A local product out of New Canaan, Connecticut, Duane is a power forward listed at 6-foot-5 … He played prep hockey at the Brunswick School in Greenwich … Also played Midget hockey with the Mid-Fairfield Blues, showing a deft scoring touch to go with his size prior to college … He captained Brunswick, scoring 29 goals as a senior, before a season of Junior hockey split between Waterloo (Iowa) of the United States Hockey League and the Boston Junior Bruins, in which he combined for 18 goals in 46 games.

12 • Thomas Aldworth (Sophomore, Keller, Texas/Vernon Vipers (BCHL)
In 2016-17: His first goal of the season came in Quinnipiac's 4-3 overtime loss at Maine on Oct. 14 ... Found the back of the net for the second-straight game in a 5-2 win against UConn on Oct. 19 ... Had an assist in a 7-3 win at Colgate on Nov. 19.

13 • Chase Priskie (Sophomore, Pembroke Pines, Florida/Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL)
In 2016-17: Scored his first goal of the season in a 5-2 win against No. 15 Northeastern on Oct. 8 ... His first multiple-point game of the season came in a two-assist outing in Quinnipiac's 4-3 overtime loss at Maine on Oct. 14 ... Had an assist in a 5-3 win at Clarkson on Nov. 4 ... Had three assists in a 6-3 win against Dartmouth on Nov. 11 ... Had an assist in a 4-2 win against No. 10/10 Harvard on Nov. 12 ... Had an assist in a 3-1 win at Cornell on Nov. 18 ... Had an assist in a 5-1 loss against No. 20 Vermont on Nov. 26 in the 2016 Friendship Four Championship Game in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

15 • Luke Shiplo (Sophomore, Oakville, Ontario/Vernon Vipers (BCHL)
In 2016-17: Picked up his first point of the season on an assist in a 6-3 win against Dartmouth on Nov. 11 ... Scored the go-ahead goal in a 4-2 win against No. 10 Harvard on Nov. 12.

16 • Landon Smith (Junior, Greenwood Village, Colorado/Salmon Arm Silverbacks (ECHL)
In 2016-17: Had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 win against No. 15 Northeastern on Oct. 8 ... Had an assist in Quinnipiac's 4-3 overtime loss at Maine on Oct. 14 ... Had an assist in a 5-2 win against UConn on Oct. 19 ... Recorded one assist in a 5-3 win at Clarkson on Nov. 4 ... Had a natural hat trick in a 6-3 win against Dartmouth on Nov. 11. It was the first natural hat trick since Matthew Peca did it against Union in the 2013 NCAA East Regional Championship game. ... It was also the first hat trick since Jan. 30, 2015 when he scored three times at Brown and was also the 30th hat trick in Quinnipiac's 41-year history and 22nd since 1998-99 when Quinnipiac joined the NCAA Division I ranks .. Had an assist in a 7-3 win at Colgate on Nov. 19.

17 • K.J. Tiefenwerth (Senior, Bellmore, New York/Massachusetts (Hockey East)
In 2016-17: Picked up his first point of the season on an assist on Bo Pieper's goal in a 2-2 tie against No. 15 Northeastern on Friday, Oct. 7 ... Had an assist in a 5-2 win against Northeastern on Oct. 8 ... Picked up an assist in Quinnipiac's 3-2 overtime win at Maine on Oct. 15 ... Had an assist in a 5-2 win against UConn on Oct. 19 ... Had an assist in a 6-3 win at Dartmouth on Nov. 11 ... Had an assist in a 3-1 win at Cornell on Nov. 18 ... Scored once and assisted on another goal in a 7-3 win at Colgate on Nov. 19.

18 • Nick Jermain (Freshman, Cos Cob, Connecticut/Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
In 2016-17: Made his first collegiate appearance in a 5-3 win at Clarkson on Nov. 4 ... Scored in a shoot-out in a 0-0 tie against St. Lawrence to send Quinnipiac to the 2016 Friendship Four Championship Game.

19 • Tanner MacMaster (Junior, Calgary, Alberta/Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL)
In 2016-17: Picked up his first point of the year with an assist on Andew Taverner's goal in the first period of Quinnipiac's 2-2 tie against Northeastern on Oct. 7 ... His first goal of the year came in Quinnipiac's 4-3 loss at Maine on Oct. 14 ... Had an assist in a 5-2 win against UConn on Oct. 19 ... Scored in a 3-2 win against UMass on Oct. 25 ... Scored in his second-consecutive game in a 5-3 win at Clarkson on Nov. 4.

20 • Craig Martin (Sophomore, Trail, British Columbia/Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL)
In 2016-17: His first point of the season came on the game-winning goal in the Bobcats' 3-2 overtime victory at Maine on Oct. 15 ... Scored in his second-straight game against UConn on Oct. 19 in a 5-2 win ... Had a career night with three assists in a 5-3 win at Clarkson on Nov. 4 ... Had one assist in a 6-3 win against Dartmouth on Nov. 11 ... Scored in a 4-2 win against No. 10/10 Harvard on Nov. 12 ... Had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win at Cornell on Nov. 18 ... Had two assists in a 7-3 win at Colgate on Nov. 19 ... Scored Quinnipiac's only goal in a 5-1 loss against No. 20 Vermont on Nov. 26 in the 2016 Friendship Four Championship Game in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

22 • Scott Davidson (Sophomore, Trail, British Columbia/Chilliwack Express (BCHL)
In 2016-17: Picked up his first point of the year with an assist in the Bobcats' 5-2 win against No. 15 Northeastern on Saturday, Oct. 8 ... Had an assist in a 5-2 win against UConn on Oct. 19 ... Had an assist in a 4-2 win against No. 10/10 Harvard on Nov. 12 ... Had a career-best three assists in a 7-3 win at Colgate on Nov. 19.

24 • Bo Pieper (Junior, Roseville, Minnesota/Coquitlam, Express)
In 2016-17: Scored his first goal of the year to give Quinnipiac a lead in a 2-2 tie against Northeastern on Oct. 7 ... Had a goal and an assist for a season-high two points in a 3-2 win against UMass on Oct. 25... Scored in Quinnipiac's 6-3 win against Dartmouth on Nov. 11 ... Scored in back-to-back games in a 3-1 win at Cornell on Nov. 18 and a 7-3 win at Colgate on Nov. 19.

25 • Brogan Rafferty (Freshman, Dundee, Illinois/Bloomington Thunder (USHL)
In 2016-17: Picked up his first point of the year with an assist on Andew Taverner's goal in the first period of Quinnipiac's 2-2 tie against Northeastern on Oct. 7 ... His first career multiple-point game came with a two-assist outing in the Bobcats' 3-2 overtime win at Maine on Oct. 15 ... Scored his first career goal, and also assisted on another, in a 5-2 win against UConn on Oct. 19 ... Dished out an assist in a 3-2 win against UMass on Oct. 25 ... Had two assists in a 5-3 win at Clarkson on Nov. 4 ... Scored in a 4-2 win against No. 10/10 Harvard on Nov. 12 ... Had a four-point weekend with an assist in a 3-1 win at Cornell on Nov. 18 and three assists in a 7-3 win at Colgate on Nov. 19 ... Had an assist in a 5-1 loss against No. 20 Vermont on Nov. 26 in the 2016 Friendship Four Championship Game in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

27 • Kevin McKernan (Junior, Millbury, Massachusetts/Boston Jr. Bruins (USPHL)
In 2016-17: Picked up his first point of the year with an assist on Tim Clifton's empty-netter in a 5-2 win against No. 15 Northeastern on Oct. 8 ... Had an assist in Quinnipiac's 3-2 overtime win at Maine on Oct. 15 ... Had an assist in a 5-2 win against UConn on Oct. 19 ... Had an assist in a 3-2 win against UMass on Oct. 25 ... Had a goal and an assist in a 5-3 win at Clarkson on Nov. 4.

33 • Chris Truehl (Junior, Madison, Wisconsin/Air Force (AH)
In 2016-17: Named the ECAC Hockey Goalie of the Month on Nov. 2 ... Stopped 28 of Northeastern's 30 shots-on-goal in a 2-2 tie in his first career start with the Bobcats on Oct. 7 ... Picked up his first win at Quinnipiac after stopping 32-of-34 shots-on-goal in a 5-2 win against No. 15 Northeastern on Oct. 8 ... Stopped 29 of UConn's 31 shots on goal in a 5-2 win on Oct. 19 ... Stopped 17 of 19 shots on goal in a 3-2 win against UMass on Oct. 25 ... Stopped 32 of St. Lawrence's 34 shots on goal in a 2-1 loss on Nov. 5 ... Stopped 30 of Harvard's 32 shots on goal in a 4-2 win on Nov.12 ... Had back-to-back 21-save performances against Cornell in a 3-1 win on Nov. 18 and at Colgate in a 7-3 win on Nov. 19 ... Had a 30-save shutout in a 0-0 tie against No. 20 St. Lawrence before stopping all three shoot-out shots against St. Lawrence on Nov. 25.

35 • Andrew Shortridge (Freshman, Anchorage, Alaska/Vernon Vipers (BCHL)
In 2016-17: Stopped 20 of Boston University's 22 shots on goal in a 3-0 loss on Oct. 22 ... His first career start saw the first-year Bobcat stop 19 of Maine's 20 shots on goal in a 3-2 overtime win ... Picked up his first ECAC Hockey win with a 24-save outing in a 5-3 win at Clarkson on Nov. 4 ... Had 17 saves in a 5-1 loss to No. 20 Vermont at the 2016 Friendship Four Championship Game on Nov. 26, 2016.

39 • Andrew Taverner (Junior, Edmonton, Alberta/Sherwoo=d Park Crusaders (AJHL)
In 2016-17: Scored Quinnipiac's first goal of the year in teh first period of a 2-2 tie against Northeastern on Oct. 7 ... Had a goal and an assist in the Bobcats' 4-3 overtime loss at Maine on Oct. 14 ... Had a goal and an assist for the second-straight game in a 5-2 win against UConn on Oct. 19 ... Had one assist in Quinnipiac's 6-3 win against Dartmouth on Nov. 11 ... Had an assist in a 4-2 win against No. 10/10 Harvard on Nov. 12.