Quinnipiac Extends Pecknold's Contract

HAMDEN, Conn. -- Quinnipiac University Director of Athletics Jack McDonald today announced that Men's Ice Hockey Head Coach Rand Pecknold has signed a contract extension through the 2012-13 season. Quinnipiac was 20-15-4 overall in 2007-08, including a 9-9-4 mark in ECAC Hockey play, and swept Brown in the first round of the ECAC Hockey Tournament to face Harvard in the quarterfinals.

"Rand and his staff continue to guide the elevation of our men's ice hockey program in ECAC Hockey and the national rankings," said Quinnipiac Director of Athletics and Recreation Jack McDonald. "His success with the team has not just been relegated to the ice, but has also been realized within the community and in the classroom. We have been very fortunate to have Rand at Quinnipiac for the past 14 years and it will be exciting to experience hopefully many more years of competitive, academic and community service excellence."

Quinnipiac is coming off its 12th consecutive winning season which includes nine 20-win marks in the past 10 seasons, including four straight - all at the Division I level. In addition, Quinnipiac ranks sixth among all NCAA Division I men's ice hockey programs in wins (194) over their first 10 years (1998-2007) at the Division I level. The Bobcats trail only Michigan (250), Boston College (235), Michigan State (220), New Hampshire (219) and Cornell (195). The Bobcats also rank sixth in winning percentage (.629), behind Michigan (.695), Boston College (.687), New Hampshire (.671), Michigan State (.660) and Cornell (.656).

"I've extremely appreciative of the commitment displayed once again by Quinnipiac University and its senior administrators to myself, my family and our men's ice hockey program," Pecknold said. "I am very proud of our accomplishments over the past 14 years, but I feel that the best is yet to come as we continue to build a nationally ranked program."

The Quinnipiac men's ice hockey 2007-08 season started off on a high note when the team was ranked in the top 15 by both the USCHO.com/CSTV Division I and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine College Hockey Preseason Polls. The Bobcats became mainstays in the national rankings for most of the season, rising to 10th in both polls while also being featured in College Hockey News' first NCAA Tournament prediction of the season.

January 21, 2008 marked the date for Quinnipiac's highest ranking all-time in a national poll. The Bobcats locked down the 10th slot in the InsideCollegeHockey.com poll while also being ranked in the top 15 in the RPI and PairWise Standings.

Pecknold is currently 214-123-39 (.621) at the Division I level with a combined 263-165-47 mark at both the Division I and Division II levels. His win total (263) and winning percentage (.603) over the past 14 years rank first all-time at Quinnipiac.

During his career, Pecknold was a two-time finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award, given annually to the nation's top Division I college hockey coach. Pecknold guided Quinnipiac to two MAAC regular-season titles, one Atlantic Hockey regular-season title, one MAAC tournament title and the first-ever NCAA berth in program history in 2002.

In 2006-07, Pecknold led the Bobcats to the ECAC Hockey Championship Game in just their second year in the league. He has coached 21 All-League selections, including 14 First-Team picks. Eleven of his players have earned All-Rookie Team honors. In addition, five players have been named Conference Player of the Year, with another five taking home League Rookie of the Year laurels.

In all, a Quinnipiac player has received All-America honors four times during Pecknold's tenure. One Academic All-American and one Hobey Baker Memorial Award Top-10 finalist have also donned the Quinnipiac sweater.

Equally as impressive, 84 players have earned All-Academic Team honors since 1994, including 14 this past season.

Season tickets are now on sale and can be purchased either at the TD Banknorth Sports Center box office or by calling 203-582-3905. Individual game tickets will go on sale in late September and can also be purchased by visiting www.quinnipiacbobcats.com.