Metsa Named Captain, de Jong Tabbed Assistant Captain
7/21/2022 1:00:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
HAMDEN, Conn. – Quinnipiac men's ice hockey head coach Rand Pecknold has announced two members of the Bobcats' leadership group for the upcoming 2022-23 season. Zach Metsa will serve as the next Captain, while Ethan de Jong has been tabbed Assistant Captain.
Metsa is the 49th captain in Quinnipiac program history, succeeding Wyatt Bongiovanni – who served as QU's captain during the 2021-22 campaign.
Both Metsa and de Jong previously served as an Assistant Captain last year under Bongiovanni's leadership.
"Zach & Ethan have elite character and an excellent work ethic," Pecknold said. "They both contribute so much to our culture. We are excited to have them lead us in the upcoming season. We will name the rest of our leadership group in September."
Zach Metsa – Captain
Zach Metsa will return for his fifth season at Quinnipiac in 2022-23. The Delafield, Wisconsin-native earned First Team All-ECAC honors last year, and was named the league's Best Defensive Defenseman. Metsa led the entire nation in plus/minutes (+38), while recording 10 goals and 27 assists for 37 total points.
Metsa has tallied 84 career points with the Bobcats over his first four seasons, with his point total growing each year. He's a two-time ECAC Hockey First Team selection, and earned QU's 7th Player Award as a sophomore in 2019-20.
He also earned the program's first Michael Torello award in June of 2022. The Torello award was created in honor and remembrance of Michael Torello, the program's former Team Impact teammate who passed away prior to last season.
He played in 32 total games as a first year (2018-19), chipping in with two goals and two assist or four total points. Metsa's scoring numbers jumped significantly as a sophomore (2019-20) when he scored five goals to go along with 12 helpers for 17 total points. As a junior (2020-21), the defenseman tallied five goals and 21 assists for 26 total points. He led the Bobcats in assists (27) and total points (37) this past season.
Metsa announced his return to Quinnipiac for a fifth year in April.
Ethan de Jong – Assistant Captain
Ethan de Jong also returns for his fifth season with the Bobcats, having already played in 143 total games for QU.
The forward from North Vancouver, British Columbia surpassed 100 total points last season, raising his current career total to 104 points. de Jong has recorded double-digit point totals in each of his first four seasons in Hamden, earning a career-high mark of 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 2021-22.
de Jong played in 38 games as a first year (2018-19), tallying 10 goals and 15 assists. He chipped in with 18 more points as a sophomore (2019-20), scoring seven goals to go along with 11 helpers. de Jong tallied 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points as a junior (2020-21), then turned in a career-best 32 points this past season.
He's a two-time ECAC All-Academic selection. de Jong earned QU's 7th Player Award in 2020-21.
Quinnipiac men's ice hockey is slated to kick off the 2022-23 season with an exhibition contest against the University of Toronto on October 1 at the Frank Perotti, Jr. Arena in Hamden. QU will then play host to Providence on October 2 in Hamden for the regular season opener.
To stay updated with the Quinnipiac men's ice hockey team, follow us on Twitter/Instagram @QU_MIH or visit www.gobobcats.com.
Metsa is the 49th captain in Quinnipiac program history, succeeding Wyatt Bongiovanni – who served as QU's captain during the 2021-22 campaign.
Both Metsa and de Jong previously served as an Assistant Captain last year under Bongiovanni's leadership.
"Zach & Ethan have elite character and an excellent work ethic," Pecknold said. "They both contribute so much to our culture. We are excited to have them lead us in the upcoming season. We will name the rest of our leadership group in September."
Zach Metsa – Captain
Zach Metsa will return for his fifth season at Quinnipiac in 2022-23. The Delafield, Wisconsin-native earned First Team All-ECAC honors last year, and was named the league's Best Defensive Defenseman. Metsa led the entire nation in plus/minutes (+38), while recording 10 goals and 27 assists for 37 total points.
Metsa has tallied 84 career points with the Bobcats over his first four seasons, with his point total growing each year. He's a two-time ECAC Hockey First Team selection, and earned QU's 7th Player Award as a sophomore in 2019-20.
He also earned the program's first Michael Torello award in June of 2022. The Torello award was created in honor and remembrance of Michael Torello, the program's former Team Impact teammate who passed away prior to last season.
He played in 32 total games as a first year (2018-19), chipping in with two goals and two assist or four total points. Metsa's scoring numbers jumped significantly as a sophomore (2019-20) when he scored five goals to go along with 12 helpers for 17 total points. As a junior (2020-21), the defenseman tallied five goals and 21 assists for 26 total points. He led the Bobcats in assists (27) and total points (37) this past season.
Metsa announced his return to Quinnipiac for a fifth year in April.
Ethan de Jong – Assistant Captain
Ethan de Jong also returns for his fifth season with the Bobcats, having already played in 143 total games for QU.
The forward from North Vancouver, British Columbia surpassed 100 total points last season, raising his current career total to 104 points. de Jong has recorded double-digit point totals in each of his first four seasons in Hamden, earning a career-high mark of 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 2021-22.
de Jong played in 38 games as a first year (2018-19), tallying 10 goals and 15 assists. He chipped in with 18 more points as a sophomore (2019-20), scoring seven goals to go along with 11 helpers. de Jong tallied 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points as a junior (2020-21), then turned in a career-best 32 points this past season.
He's a two-time ECAC All-Academic selection. de Jong earned QU's 7th Player Award in 2020-21.
Quinnipiac men's ice hockey is slated to kick off the 2022-23 season with an exhibition contest against the University of Toronto on October 1 at the Frank Perotti, Jr. Arena in Hamden. QU will then play host to Providence on October 2 in Hamden for the regular season opener.
To stay updated with the Quinnipiac men's ice hockey team, follow us on Twitter/Instagram @QU_MIH or visit www.gobobcats.com.
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