Return of the Mack

we sold out both nights … I think this gives us momentum into next year.” two seasons. that no matter what, we’re not out of a game.”

Following Quinnipiac’s victorious weekend, there are a number of storylines I wanted to highlight going forward.

What’s next for CT Ice?

The third iteration of Connecticut’s collegiate state championship showcased the same high level of play as the first two, but a hectic buildup created a number of questions for the tournament’s future.

The tournament was not formally named “CT Ice” until Jan. 27, the day of the semifinal games, and was without a broadcast partner until the same time. New York-based network SNY, who put on the first two events, aired the games, but was not connected with this year’s tournament until the announcement on Jan. 27.

Previously held at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, this year’s tournament shifted sites to Quinnipiac’s own M&T Bank Arena. This trend is expected to continue in the future, with each participating school rotating years to host the event.

“I’ve always wanted the rotation,” Pecknold said. “I thought it was really important this year that we get momentum for the tournament, and

On the other hand, UConn head coach Mike Cavanaugh said he would like to see the tournament hosted at the same neutral site every year – creating a parallel with the Beanpot in Massachusetts, hosted at TD Garden. It’s an event Cavanaugh is very familiar with, coming to UConn with 18 years on the staff at Boston College under his belt.

“I think this should be played at the XL Center,” Cavanaugh said. “I think it should be played at a big venue. I think we’re shortchanging ourselves by limiting it to 3,600 fans. I really believe that this tournament would get 8-9,000 fans at the XL Center.”

It should be noted that the XL Center was previously the exclusive home site of UConn men’s hockey prior to the opening of the Toscano Family Ice Forum in January, and will continue to host Huskies’ home games at least through the 2023-24 season.

Home-ice advantage

While Quinnipiac suffered its second and third losses of the season a week and a half ago, the Bobcats are still unbeaten at M&T Bank Arena this season (11-0-1) and have only two losses on their home ice in 32 games the past in the game.

“It’s going to be a challenge with who’s playing well,” Fabbri said. “But you do get a flow and find a rhythm with who’s giving you what out there on the floor.”

Fans can expect DeWees to slowly accumulate starting minutes in the next couple of games. In Quinnipiac’s previous bout against the Manhattan Jaspers, DeWees only played 12, so Fabbri is progressively building her up.

A player of DeWees’ magnitude, with accolades like MAAC Player of the Year, two-time All-MAAC first team and a 1,000-point club member, will start when she’s fully healthy.

What DeWees also adds to the team is a defensive prowess beyond the arc. Last season, she led the team with 106 total steals, a number that tied her for fourth in the nation with 3.3 steals per game. This year, the Bobcats have turned the ball over more per game than their opponents (17.8 to 16.3). Besides limiting them, another solution to win the turnover battle is to force more, which DeWees is the perfect person for.

DeWees is like a magnet to the ball. In her three seasons of starting for Quinnipiac, she has finished third, second and second in total rebounds on the squad. For a guard to be able to grab a board and either drive in or distribute is something the Bobcats have sorely lacked.

Quinnipiac already has some power in the paint with Morris leading the team in blocks and Baskerville leading in steals, and both are first and second on the roster in rebounds, respectively. But what DeWees brings defensively is the ability to force turnovers and collect rebounds.

Finally, on the offensive side, DeWees brings the capability to score inside the arc. When DeWees is on, she can seamlessly drive in the paint, and either stop her momentum and put up a shot or force her way to the basket and earn two points.

DeWees’ ability to drive on the baseline or into the paint may be inhibited by the injury to her right knee, but when she’s fully healthy, driving to the basket comes naturally to her. It’s common for DeWees to score points like that or pass when a shot isn’t viable.

But there’s a twist: she’s a dual threat offensive player too. Right off a pass she can pop a three or deep two, keeping the defense on its toes.

DeWees is a priceless player to this team, whether it’s her mentality or what she brings to the court. The only way to see exactly what she does is to keep an eye on Quinnipiac’s next game on Feb. 2, when they host Rider at 6 p.m.

A big reason for this has been fan support. Quinnipiac has brought in over 3,000 fans for six of its last eight home games, including a 3,625 person crowd (as listed on the Quinnipiac Athletics website) in the CT Ice semi final against Sacred Heart on Friday, 239 more than the arena’s listed capacity by Centerbrook Architects.

“The crowd was great,” Brind’Amour said. “They helped us play a full 60 and it was a lot of fun out there.”

The Bobcats have at least four more home games this season, starting with the Battle of Whitney Ave. against Yale on Feb. 17, and concluding with an ECAC Hockey quarterfinal series the second weekend in March.

A balanced scoring attack

At first glance, looking at the scoring leaders on this Quinnipiac team, one name stands out from the rest: sophomore winger Collin Graf, who sits fifth in the NCAA with 36 points in 26 games. But Graf is just a portion of the Bobcats’ high-powered offense, which itself is fourth in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 3.89 goals per game.

Graf factored on none of the Bobcats’ four goals on Saturday against UConn, rather, it was graduate student winger Ethan de Jong who carried the scoring load, recording two goals and an assist in a four-goal game.

De Jong is just one of six Quinnipiac skaters above the 20-point mark this season, and one of six with seven-plus goals. While the Bobcats’ top unit of Graf, sophomore center Jacob Quillan and freshman winger Sam Lipkin have received a bulk of the praise this season, Quinnipiac’s talent pool up front is deep.

The aforementioned Brind’Amour is having a breakout campaign, already surpassing his career high in points in 15 fewer games and tripling his goal output as a tip artist in front of the net on the power play.

“To be honest it’s probably a little bit of puck luck right now,” Brind’Amour said. “It’s just getting to the right spots. A lot of these goals have been great plays by guys and I’m just there to tap it in.”

Graduate student TJ Friedmann is another forward on pace for a career year. The centerman has nine goals and 17 points on the season, even with a five-game point drought, which he snapped against Sacred Heart this weekend.

One of the reasons the Bobcats’ offense has been so successful this season is because of that depth. They come at teams in waves, mounting pressure shift-by-shift until the opposing defense cracks.