Pecknold Tabs Groenewold, McGroarty, Pelosi as Assistant Captains
9/1/2026 3:10:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
HAMDEN, Conn. — The Quinnipiac men's ice hockey program and head coach Rand Pecknold rounded out its leadership group for the 2026-27 season on Tuesday afternoon, announcing its trio of assistant captains.
Juniors Elliott Groenewold and Chris Pelosi, as well as senior Matthew McGroarty, earned the "A" on their sweaters for the upcoming year, in recognition for both their play on the ice and their leadership and character off the ice.
Groenewold enters his third year in Hamden after a career year, earning both 2026 ECAC Best Defensive Defenseman and ECAC First Team All-Conference honors. He played in all 40 contests on the blue line, finishing with seven goals and 13 assists. He also recorded a nation's best, plus-39 rating, a mark not seen by an NCAA hockey player since three athletes marked it in 2015-16. It is also the third-highest mark by an NCAA men's defenseman since the turn of the millennium.
Pelosi also enters his junior season after an explosive sophomore campaign, posting collegiate bests in points (34), goals (18) and assists (16), tying for fourth on the roster in scoring. He punctuated his campaign with a breakaway tally against Providence in the NCAA Tournament, aiding a 5-2 victory over the Friars. He also ended the first half strong with a seven-game point streak from Nov. 8 to Dec. 5, earning a spot on the US Collegiate Selects and playing for the squad at the 2026 Spengler Cup.
McGroarty is a three-year member of the Bobcats, serving as one of the emotional leaders of the team as soon as he stepped on campus. The Westport, Conn., native has played in 79 games in a Bobcat sweater, including a collegiate-best 37 this season. He added three goals and three assists, including a point in each contest of a home-and-home sweep of Princeton.
The three will join captain Mason Marcellus when Quinnipiac drops the puck on Oct. 2 against New Hampshire at 7:00 p.m., to kick off Bobcat Weekend festivities.
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.
Juniors Elliott Groenewold and Chris Pelosi, as well as senior Matthew McGroarty, earned the "A" on their sweaters for the upcoming year, in recognition for both their play on the ice and their leadership and character off the ice.
Groenewold enters his third year in Hamden after a career year, earning both 2026 ECAC Best Defensive Defenseman and ECAC First Team All-Conference honors. He played in all 40 contests on the blue line, finishing with seven goals and 13 assists. He also recorded a nation's best, plus-39 rating, a mark not seen by an NCAA hockey player since three athletes marked it in 2015-16. It is also the third-highest mark by an NCAA men's defenseman since the turn of the millennium.
Pelosi also enters his junior season after an explosive sophomore campaign, posting collegiate bests in points (34), goals (18) and assists (16), tying for fourth on the roster in scoring. He punctuated his campaign with a breakaway tally against Providence in the NCAA Tournament, aiding a 5-2 victory over the Friars. He also ended the first half strong with a seven-game point streak from Nov. 8 to Dec. 5, earning a spot on the US Collegiate Selects and playing for the squad at the 2026 Spengler Cup.
McGroarty is a three-year member of the Bobcats, serving as one of the emotional leaders of the team as soon as he stepped on campus. The Westport, Conn., native has played in 79 games in a Bobcat sweater, including a collegiate-best 37 this season. He added three goals and three assists, including a point in each contest of a home-and-home sweep of Princeton.
The three will join captain Mason Marcellus when Quinnipiac drops the puck on Oct. 2 against New Hampshire at 7:00 p.m., to kick off Bobcat Weekend festivities.
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.
Players Mentioned
Defenseman
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Forward
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Forward
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Forward
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