By Morey Hershgordon
Ten years ago, he was in the middle of the rink during a public skating lesson crying, screaming and pouting. He removed the skates from his feet demanding to go home.
Ten years later, he’s one of college hockey’s top prospects.
Meet Khristian Acosta, the newest member of the Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey program.
On Thursday, he verbally committed to play for the Bobcats via his Twitter account.
“I felt like it was a good fit for me and I fell in love with the school once I started going to games. It really hit me that this is the school I want to go to.”
Along with Quinnipiac, he had offers from Boston University, Boston College, Providence College and the University of New Hampshire. But once the reigning Eastern College Athletic Conference regular season champions opened up, there was no hesitation.
“Quinnipiac was always my first choice and what I wanted to do,” Acosta said. “Once I got the offer, I couldn’t resist saying yes.”
Acosta’s pledge to Quinnipiac is no surprise at all. He is friends with current players Tim and Connor Clifton who both played for Acosta’s current team the New Jersey Hitmen, a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team in the United States Premier Hockey League. Seeing the quick success of the Clifton’s in Hamden, played a crucial part in his recruiting process.
Also, the Middletown, New Jersey native is a small, crafty, and aggressive forward that fits the playing style of the blue and gold.
“When I was talking to Coach (Rand) Pecknold two days ago, he was reminding me that I could play like an Anas, the Jones twins if I just put my mind to it.”
Being the next great Quinnipiac forward is nothing Acosta can’t accomplish. He has already seen his game soar this past season. He scored twice as many goals and tallied seven more assists than last season, en route to 53 points (28 goals and 25 assists) in just 28 games for the Hitmen.
Despite averaging a goal per game, Acosta believes he was molded differently.
“I’m a play maker so I always think first to pass, but if I have to score, I can finish.”
Parallel to his playing style, Acosta exhibits a team-first mentality.
“Once I come in, I think I’ll fit the system well and then hopefully win a national championship. That’s the goal.”
The 17 year-old enters his senior year of high school at Middletown North this fall and plans to play an additional year of junior hockey before arriving in Hamden for the 2017-2018 season.
Until then, he plans to work to get stronger so that his body is ready for the daily grind of college hockey.
And his message for Bobcat nation?
“I can’t wait for the 2017-2018 season. Hopefully it’ll come around fast and try to go out with a bang and try to have a good four years of my life. I’m proud to be a Bobcat.”
