Things just weren’t the same at Quinnipiac last season.
The Bobcats finished below .500 (16-18-4) for the first time as a Division 1 program and weren’t one of the final four teams standing in ECAC Hockey, at the very least, for the first time since 2012.
“I think we strayed from our culture and didn’t play to our identity every night last year,” said 25th-year head coach Rand Pecknold (Bedford, N.H.). “We’ve talked a lot over the last eight to 10 years, ‘Play to your identity and we’ll get the reward.’ We just strayed from it, for whatever reason. We had kids that weren’t buying in, and we were not rewarded.”
This year, though, it’s a different story out of the gates. And sophomore goaltender Keith Petruzzelli (Wilbraham, Mass.) is a major reason why that’s the case.
Petruzzelli had a 5-6-2 record and an .892 save percentage while starting 14 games as a true freshman. He played most of last season behind then-sophomore Andrew Shortridge as an 18-year-old, but roles are reversed now. The Detroit Red Wings prospect and former Springfield Cathedral standout is in command of the starting job as he entered this Thanksgiving with a 6-2 mark through eight starts.
Part of Petruzzelli’s success is attributed to “a natural progression,” as Pecknold called it, and simply more game experience at the collegiate level. But there’s no doubt that
confidence between the pipes plays a role, too.
“I felt like I was overreaching and overextending on a lot of pucks last year, and just trying to do a little bit too much,” said the 6-foot-6 Petruzzelli, who also is benefiting from 15-20 pounds of added weight since the start of the school year. He now checks in over 190 pounds.
“Everyone really bought in to our systems this year, and our team identity of being relentless and playing with pace has helped lead to our success,” Petruzzelli said. “I’m able to trust my defense a lot more (because) everyone’s blocking shots and doing those little things right … that helps your mind-set and your confidence and ultimately lead to you and your team being consistent.”
The added weight and confidence have led to consistency — and, naturally, more wins — for Petruzzelli, who the Red Wings drafted with the No. 88 overall pick in 2017. And the coach has noticed it create a more complete package between the pipes.
“It’s really tough to play NCAA hockey at 18 years old,” Pecknold said. “I don’t care whether it’s forward, ‘D,’ or goalie, it’s tough. Now he’s got a year under his belt and he understands how important the off-ice and the nutrition are. In the last month or so, he’s put on a lot of weight and he’s getting stronger physically. … He’s bigger, stronger and can hold his ground more. He’s been great.”
Petruzzelli backstopped the Bobcats to three consecutive victories against Hockey East opponents to open the season, including a 21-save effort for his first collegiate shutout against Boston College in the last of those games on Oct. 19. He made a season-high 34 stops at Harvard to close a five-game win streak before back-to-back losses to Dartmouth and Union, but he bounced back with 21 more saves and another clean sheet Nov. 17 at Colgate.
This season’s early returns have been positive for the Bobcats with Petruzzelli as the primary backbone, but it’s been a complete team effort.
Senior captain Chase Priskie was one of the hottest defensemen in college hockey to start the season as he scored eight goals in his first 10 games, but the Pembroke Pines, Fla., native is also largely responsible for steering the Bobcats back on course, with the ultimate goal of a return to the Frozen Four. Quinnipiac advanced to the national title game for the second time in four years when Priskie was a freshman.
“He’s not only an incredible hockey player, but he’s the reason I think we’re having such a good year,” Petruzzelli said. “The way he’s helped the freshmen to get adapted to the culture here and what we do — it’s just awesome how he interacts with the guys and how he carries himself.
“Everyone’s working so much harder, doing that one extra rep in the gym or on the ice, and just taking that extra time to make sure they’re doing everything right.”
Those freshmen haven’t been shy of making their presence on the scoresheet known. Five of them — including former Salisbury School standout defenseman Peter DiLiberatore — played in each of the season’s first 11 games. Two others appeared in 10.
“They’re everywhere,” Petruzzelli said. “Doing well in so many roles. They’ve come right in and there’s really no question about them. Everyone bought in right away. I think that shows.”
A lot shows up in contributing to Quinnipiac’s early season success, from the Bay State-made goaltender on out.
