Quinnipiac Bobcats 2023 Off-Season: The View from the Top

[MarkEagleUSA]

The banquet was last night so the means the 2022-23 season is complete. Lots of memories to carry us through the summer.

I talked to a few of the guys last night and they're looking forward to next season as defending national champions.

We have some big holes to fill but Rand & staff seem to have done well in the portal so it'll be a reload and not a rebuild.

There was no mention of next year's OOC opponents but captain-elect Jayden Lee was confident our home opener would be BC and a banner raising.

Hoping all my fellow fans have a safe, enjoyable summer.

Is it October yet?

[QUAlum2004]

The home opener is Boston College.

[QUAlum2004]

Also two with Maine in Hamden.

[DrewQU99]

The home opener is Boston College.

Good.

I hope the two gentlemen sitting in the visiting radio booth that night gets a good view of the banner raising.

[ZYanksRule]

That was a good season. I would definitely watch it again.

[QU87]

Still basking in the afterglow of the National Championship!

I thought an interesting off season topic discussion would be what recruits were most instrumental (not necessarily the best) in elevating program to where it is today.

My two choices are:

1. Reid Cashman 2003-2007 - Among the greatest defenseman to ever wear the Bobcat sweater. Averaged about a point a game (148 points in 151 games). Our first Hobey Baker top 10 finalist. Twice an ALL-ECAC First Team. He showed that the newest ECAC member was a place a prominent player could call home. More importantly he returned as an assistant coach and mentored our fine defensive teams from 2011-2016 when the team made the leap to being a perennial top 20 team. He helped develop Toews, Clifton, Dalhusien, Priske, Derek Smith, Tolkenin, etc. He also served as a "Craig Patrick" to Rand's "Herb Brooks" I feel as a link between the players and the head coach in those early years when Rand may have been more distant with the players.

2. The Jones Brothers 2011-2014 - Connor and Kellen - A two for one recruiting coup that gave us two top line forwards for all four years they were here. Total buy in guys to Rand's culture and style of play. Tremendous playmakers and puck hunters. Also started the chain of undersized forwards that played above their size - see Peca, St. Denis, and Anas. They were the sparkplug for the first Frozen Four team.

Obviously we have been blessed to see a lot of talent to come through Hamden the past two decades ... Wong, Peca, Anas, St. Denis, Leitch, Hartzell, Toews, the Cliftons, Garteig, Toews, Tufto , Bongiovanni, etc and the current stars. I just feel the above mentioned guys came along at times when the team began to make the leap to national prominence.

[MarkEagleUSA]

Still basking in the afterglow of the National Championship!

I thought an interesting off season topic discussion would be what recruits were most instrumental (not necessarily the best) in elevating program to where it is today.

My two choices are:

1. Reid Cashman 2003-2007 - Among the greatest defenseman to ever wear the Bobcat sweater. Averaged about a point a game (148 points in 151 games). Our first Hobey Baker top 10 finalist. Twice an ALL-ECAC First Team. He showed that the newest ECAC member was a place a prominent player could call home. More importantly he returned as an assistant coach and mentored our fine defensive teams from 2011-2016 when the team made the leap to being a perennial top 20 team. He helped develop Toews, Clifton, Dalhusien, Priske, Derek Smith, Tolkenin, etc. He also served as a "Craig Patrick" to Rand's "Herb Brooks" I feel as a link between the players and the head coach in those early years when Rand may have been more distant with the players.

2. The Jones Brothers 2011-2014 - Connor and Kellen - A two for one recruiting coup that gave us two top line forwards for all four years they were here. Total buy in guys to Rand's culture and style of play. Tremendous playmakers and puck hunters. Also started the chain of undersized forwards that played above their size - see Peca, St. Denis, and Anas. They were the sparkplug for the first Frozen Four team.

Obviously we have been blessed to see a lot of talent to come through Hamden the past two decades ... Wong, Peca, Anas, St. Denis, Leitch, Hartzell, Toews, the Cliftons, Garteig, Toews, Tufto , Bongiovanni, etc and the current stars. I just feel the above mentioned guys came along at times when the team began to make the leap to national prominence.

Two excellent choices QU87!

Rand has said the Reid was instrumental in setting the example for Quinnipiac culture as we know it today.

He credits the Jones' with changing the approach to practice, going hard from start to finish.

As you said, there's really several that have brought many positive attributes to the team on the ice.

[ZYanksRule]

I think Devon Toews being an NHL star is going to have a bigger impact on recruiting and the culture than any other player. He's the first guy to really blossom into an NHL star after playing for us, and now players see it's possible to come out of Quinnipiac and play that sort of role in the Show.

[MarkEagleUSA]

I think Devon Toews being an NHL star is going to have a bigger impact on recruiting and the culture than any other player. He's the first guy to really blossom into an NHL star after playing for us, and now players see it's possible to come out of Quinnipiac and play that sort of role in the Show.

Probably need to include Clifton as well. While not a "star" he embodies the Quinnipiac culture. Hard work and determination, or as Rand loves to say "embrace the grind".

[ZYanksRule]

Probably need to include Clifton as well. While not a "star" he embodies the Quinnipiac culture. Hard work and determination, or as Rand loves to say "embrace the grind".

Sure, but my point is which player will recruits see as the template to follow? They're going to look at a guy who starred on a Stanley Cup-winning team, not a role player.

(Connor Clifton is a very good NHL player, that isn't meant to disparage him. But Toews is a legit star for the Avs)

[QU87]

There's no doubt Clifton and Toews are shining beacons of success coming out of Quinnipiac. Definitely have a positive impact on recruiting!! I was just more looking at what recruits helped QU elevate from middle of the pack program to one of the perennial top programs in the country year in and year out. I just feel the Jones era took us from an unknown program to elite. They were also there to mentor Toews and Clifton in the QU way and paved the way for that next generation players and passed the baton to them. We can also not diminish the vision of AD Jack McDonald, President Lahey and of course Rand.

[MarkEagleUSA]

I'd have to say we turned a corner when the Jones' came to Hamden. Most teams since have got it done by committee. No standout superstars, just a group of guys working together and willing to sacrifice for the team. Culture. Plain and simple.

Saturday night at the banquet I walked over to Jacob Quillan, shook his hand, and asked how it feels to be a hero? His reply? "We did it as a team, I just happened to be the one that put it in the net". That's the culture that we always hear about, and that's what Rand's teams do.

[ZYanksRule]

I'd have to say we turned a corner when the Jones' came to Hamden. Most teams since have got it done by committee. No standout superstars, just a group of guys working together and willing to sacrifice for the team. Culture. Plain and simple.

Saturday night at the banquet I walked over to Jacob Quillan, shook his hand, and asked how it feels to be a hero? His reply? "We did it as a team, I just happened to be the one that put it in the net". That's the culture that we always hear about, and that's what Rand's teams do.

That's an incredible answer. This team was so special.

[QU_Paul]

I'd have to say we turned a corner when the Jones' came to Hamden. Most teams since have got it done by committee. No standout superstars, just a group of guys working together and willing to sacrifice for the team. Culture. Plain and simple.

Saturday night at the banquet I walked over to Jacob Quillan, shook his hand, and asked how it feels to be a hero? His reply? "We did it as a team, I just happened to be the one that put it in the net". That's the culture that we always hear about, and that's what Rand's teams do.

Love it! That is exactly the type of kids you want to root for. Love our culture.

[DrewQU99]

The Bakersfield Condors sign Ethan de Jong to a two-year American Hockey League (AHL) contract beginning with the 2023-24 season.

https://www.bakersfieldcondors.com/n...ethan-de-jong/

Congratulations Ethan!