By: Kyle Levasseur
Joe Fiala, K.J. Tiefenwerth, Tommy Schutt, Derek Smith, and Tim and Connor Clifton took to the ice for their last regular season game ever. It will be a night they won’t forget, as Quinnipiac defeated Brown 4-1.
“It’s a nice win to get for our seniors on senior night,” said Rand Pecknold, head coach of Quinnipiac. “Six kids that have done a lot for our program. Great character, great students, great players.”
One of the six seniors, Smith, missed Saturday’s game after getting hit hard into the boards on Friday night. Smith still skated out for the senior day ceremonies, but walked back into the tunnel before the game started.
Smith wasn’t the only defenseman out of the lineup for Quinnipiac. Junior, Kevin McKernan was not listed either.
“For us right now, we just got to get healthier, and hopefully get some guys back for next week,” said Pecknold. “We’re a better team when we have our full lineup.”
With two key defenseman out of the lineup, Pecknold decided to change up his defensive units.
One of the seniors, alternate captain Schutt, was marked down as a defenseman on the line chart. While he’s played the majority of the season as a forward, he said he was still comfortable changing positions.
“This year I’ve had a couple shifts on ‘D.’ I’ve never played as many as I did tonight,” said Schutt. “Unfortunately we were a little bit short on ‘D’ tonight so I had to step in and shut down some key guys at moments. I think for the most part I did alright.”
Fiala suited up for his third game of the season, lined as a seventh defenseman.
“Yea he did really well,” said Pecknold. “We got him out there on the power play at the end, and he almost scored. I was happy for Joe, he played really well tonight. Great character.”
While the seniors were being celebrated before the game, the underclassmen were being celebrated during the game.
Freshman Nick Jermain broke the scoreless tie with less than five minutes left in the first period. The freshman toe dragged, dangled and backhanded the puck past Brown’s goaltender, Gavin Nieto for his fourth goal of the season.
“I think I’ve tried that move like fifteen times this year, and it was the first time it actually worked,” said Jermain. “I was pumped to get my first home goal in front of the fans.”
After a Brown goal from Charlie Corcoran to tie things at one after the first period, an explosive second period from Quinnipiac’s offense ended up being the difference.
Goals from Tanner Macmaster, Alex Whalen, and Thomas Aldworth gave the Bobcats a three goal cushion they never looked back at.
With the regular season over, this group of seniors will play in their last playoffs ever for the Bobcats.
“It’s a little sad,” said Schutt. “I don’t think about it too much, I kind of just take the moments as they come. It’s a special group. I’ve been honored to play with this group of guys the whole year, and I think we’re going to take one series at a time.”
Quinnipiac ends it’s regular season in fifth place in the ECAC, sporting a 13-8-1 conference record. Next weekend Quinnipiac will face Brown at home again, this time in a three-game series in the first round of the ECAC playoffs.
