Quinnipiac University
Union
No. 2 Bobcats Round Out Regular Season at Union, RPI
2/23/2023 6:11:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Click Here
Saturday, Feb. 25 | 7:00 PM EST | No. 2 Quinnipiac Bobcats (26-3-3, 18-2-0 ECAC Hockey) at RPI Engineers (13-18-1, 8-12-0 ECAC Hockey)
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Click Here
HAMDEN, Conn. — The No. 2 Quinnipiac University men's ice hockey team rounds out its regular season schedule on Friday and Saturday night, taking on Union and RPI in the Capital Region as it looks to stay hot heading into the postseason.
Both puck drops are slated for 7 p.m., and can be seen live on ESPN+.
CLEARY CLINCHED
For the third consecutive season and fourth out of the last five, the Bobcats clinched the Cleary Cup and the ECAC's regular season title with a sweep of Yale and Brown at M&T Bank Arena this weekend.
The Bobcats earned the title Friday night, with a win and Cornell's loss to Clarkson and then celebrated along with its seniors on Saturday night to earn the top seed in the upcoming ECAC postseason.
HOME ICE ADVANTAGE
For the first time in its Division I program history, the Bobcats finished undefeated on home ice during the 2022-23 campaign, winning each of its last 13 games to finish 13-0-1 at M&T Bank Arena, the only team in the country to do so.
Over the last two seasons, Quinnipiac is 30-2-2 in Hamden.
CHASING RECORDS
Collin Graf is currently having one of the best seasons by any sophomore in program history, as his 47 points are the best in the program's Division I era.
He bests Reid Cashman's Division I mark of 45, set during the 2004-05 season. He also has 29 assists on the year, which is good for fourth, all-time by a sophomore in program history.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Bobcats enter the final weekend of the regular season with the nation's best scoring defense, allowing just 1.66 goals-per-game and outscoring teams by an NCAA-best 2.31 goals per night.
The back end of that defensive unit, goaltender Yaniv Perets, leads the country in goals-against average (1.59), shutouts (eight) and winning percentage (.859).
HOME PLAYOFF HOCKEY
The Bobcats have clinched a bye in the ECAC Hockey Postseason, ensuring a best-of-3 quarterfinal series will be played at M&T Bank Arena on March 10-12, with the winner advancing to the semifinals in Lake Placid the following weekend.
Quinnipiac has had home ice in each of the last four postseasons, with the Bobcats and Saints matching up in last season's quarterfinals. The Bobcats skated to a 4-1 victory on Friday night before a double-overtime thriller on Saturday that Desi Burgart won at the 9:09 mark of the second extra session.
Rand Pecknold's club is looking for its second Whitelaw Cup in program history.
For an inside look at the Quinnipiac men's ice hockey program, be sure to follow it on social media @QU_MIH or go to gobobcats.com/mih.
