Quinnipiac Hands Clarkson First League Loss

Box score

HAMDEN, CONN. - In front of the largest home crowd in Quinnipiac men's ice hockey history, the men's ice hockey team stunned nationally ranked No. 8 Clarkson, 3-2, for their first ECAC Hockey win of the year, while the Golden Knights took their first loss in conference play. The win marked the first time Quinnipiac defeated a team ranked in the top 10 nationally in the history of Quinnipiac men's ice hockey.

The Bobcats improve to 3-3-1 overall and 1-1-1 in ECAC Hockey while Clarkson drops to 6-3-0 overall and 3-1-0 in ECAC Hockey play.

"This was a great win for our program," head coach Rand Pecknold said. "Anytime you can beat the first place team in the conference and No. 8 team in the country it certainly gives our guys something to build on."

Despite four previous sellouts of 3,286 last season, the TD Banknorth Sports Center held 3,444 screaming Bobcat fans for the largest home crowd in Quinnipiac hockey history.

"I think the crowd was a big part of the game," Pecknold commented. "Our student section was great, as usual. I think it gave us great energy."

Both teams would trade goals through three periods. With a 1-1 tie heading into the final frame, Quinnipiac scored twice to secure the win.

Senior captain Jamie Bates (Toronto, Ont.) scored the game's first goal with just under two minutes to play in the first period. Andrew Meyer (St. Louis, Mo.) set up the play when he cleared the puck to Bryan Leitch (Coquitlam, B.C.). Leitch attempted to dump the puck into the Clarkson zone, but Bates made an acrobatic catch, reaching back behind his head, and was able to drive it past Clarkson's David Leggio to put Quinnipiac on top, 1-0.

"I think [Bryan] Leitch was trying to clear the puck," said Bates. "I just caught and put it down quick. It found the stick and I was able to sneak it by their goalie."

Clarkson's Chris D'Alvise would even the score at 1-1 at the 11:15 mark in the second period. Lauri Touhimaa connected with Shea Guthrie to the right of the goal. Guthrie then found D'Alvise out in front of the net to tie the game.

With the score even after two, Jean-Marc Beaudoin (St. Paul, Alb.) scored just over six minutes into the third period to break the tie. Beaudoin was set up by Brandon Wong (Victoria, B.C.) and Dan Travis (Wilton, N.H.). The goal was Beaudoin's first of the season while the assist was Wong's team-leading fifth of the year.

Golden Knights' forward David Cayer would once again tie the game at the 11:17 mark on a pass from Nick Dodge. Scott Freeman was also credited with an assist on the play as he hooked up with Dodge.

Leitch would score what would be the game-winner with just under five minutes to play at the 14:39 mark. The goal came on Quinnipiac's fifth and final power play of the game. Defenseman Dan Henningson (Edmonton, Alb.) started the play with a pass to Bates. Bates would then find Leitch who converted on the power play goal to give Quinnipiac the lead and the eventual win. The goal give Leitch a team-high four goals in seven games while the assist give Bates 99 career points.

In goal for Quinnipiac, Peter Vetri (Windham, N.H.) had 21 saves in the game. Vetri stopped 10 shots in the third period including two power play attempts late in the third period. His counterpart, Leggio, would finish with 22.

Quinnipiac returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 10, when St. Lawrence comes to town for an ECAC Hockey showdown set for 7 p.m. at the TD Banknorth Sports Center in Hamden, Conn.