One day after Quinnipiac learned it would be headed to Fargo, North Dakota to take on the University of North Dakota in the NCAA Tournament, Bobcats head coach Rand Pecknold revealed one of his best players may not see the ice anytime soon.
Speaking at the team’s open media session Monday, Pecknold detailed the status of sophomore forward Sam Anas, who injured his leg against Union in Game 3 of the ECAC Quarterfinals.
“It’s not good,” Pecknold said. “I mean, he didn’t even bring his equipment with him to Lake Placid this past weekend, he didn’t practice, he’s not even close. We’re going to proceed ahead without him, and we need to find a way.”
Anas leads Quinnipiac in goals and points this season with 23 and 40 respectively. The Bobcats played their ECAC Semifinals matchup against Harvard without the 21-year-old, losing 5-2 to the eventual conference champions. College Hockey News reported last week he would likely be out for the length of the NCAA Tournament.
“I’ve said before, we don’t make excuses,” Pecknold said. “You have injuries? You need to deal with it. It’s part of college hockey, it’s part of the NHL, it’s part of hockey. And you can’t make excuses.”
Quinnipiac inserted freshman forward Tanner MacMaster into Anas’ spot in the first line for its matchup against Harvard Friday. He was joined alongside senior Alex Barron and junior Travis St. Denis. It is unknown at this time whether Pecknold will stick with that lineup for the NCAA Tournament.
“Guys have to step up and we have to move on and would we like to have Sam in the lineup? Absolutely,” he said. “He’s one of the best players in the country. Are we a different team without him? Yes. But we don’t have him. So we need to find a way.”
The No.1-seeded North Dakota will face off with Quinnipiac Friday at 8 p.m. ET in the West Regional Semifinals at Scheels Arena.
