You know you’re having a good season when you hit February and your only losses have been to North Dakota and Cornell.
That’s where Quinnipiac stands heading into this weekend’s games. With a gaudy record of 21-2-3, they are in first place in the ECAC. More importantly, they are sixth in the Pairwise that project the NCAA tournament field.
After reaching the Frozen Four in 2013 and 2016, the Bobcats look poised for another postseason run.
They have a formidable goaltending tandem in Yaniv Perets and Dylan St. Cyr, a top defenseman in Zach Metsa and they are four lines deep up front.
Coach Rand Pecknold and his staff have built a deep, experienced team with a winning culture. That culture has been enhanced by the addition this season of grad student Oliver Chau.
Chau, who is tied for the team lead in scoring, knows what it takes to win a championship. He was an important member of the UMass team that took home the NCAA title last season.
He sees similarities between the cultures at UMass and Quinnipiac.
“Everybody’s friends, we’re always hanging out. Everyone’s invited if we’re going out to dinner or to get sushi or something. No one’s ever left out. That’s what I’ve noticed. There are differences (between Quinnipiac and UMass). There’s no perfect formula, right? But both are unbelievable cultures to be a part of,’’ said Chau, who is working toward an MBA.
At the end of last season, Chau explored his options and Quinnipiac “seemed like the right fit for me. It wasn’t really any kind of analysis, more of a gut feeling that I followed. I’m obviously very happy with my decision. I love it here. Great group of guys, great coaching staff.’’
Pecknold said he has liked Chau’s game “going all the way back to his days at Northfield Mount Hermon and then in Brooks (of the AJHL) and at UMass. I’ve followed his career for a long time. I always knew he was a high-character kid. We did a little bit of research on him and that was what we kept getting back from everybody. We thought he’d be a great fit for us, not only as a player but as a person.
“He was really good at UMass – he was their second-leading scorer (last season) — and he’s improved. He’s taken a jump. Every game he is very noticeable, very dominant. He just does so many little things well. You hear the phrase all the time about the 200-foot player – that fits him to a T. He’s been one of our best players.’’
Chau, who is tied for the team lead with 26 points in 26 games, played a pivotal role in Quinnipiac winning the championship of the Connecticut Ice tournament last weekend. Down by a goal against Sacred Heart on Saturday, the Bobcats tied the game with 1:19 left and an extra attacker on the ice. Then Chau made a nice play to set up Metsa’s overtime goal, sending the Bobcats to the finals, where they defeated UConn on Sunday.
“One of the things I’m most impressed with is how mature this group is. We have a lot of older guys that have played in big games and been through it,’’ said Chau, who is from Oakville, Ont.
“Even after (Sacred Heart) went up 2-1, everyone on the bench was calm because we knew we could still get out of it. It’s the kind of group you want going into the playoffs.’’
Chau paid his dues to develop into a Division 1 player.
“Honestly, out of prep school, I wasn’t talking to really any Division 1 or Division 3 schools. For me, the college process really didn’t start until I got to Brooks and started playing my first year of Tier II Junior A,’’ he said.
Chau had a breakout season in the AJHL with 35-52-87 in 60 games, outscoring a teammate by the name of Cale Makar. From there, Chau moved on to Amherst, where Makar was his roommate.
“He’s one of the reasons why I chose UMass. I said, ‘If this kid’s going there, then I might as well just follow him,’’’ Chau said with a laugh.
Makar’s patience with the process made an impression on Chau.
“He did an extra year in Brooks. He did an extra year at UMass to make sure that when he did step on the ice for an NHL game, he was prepared. It’s really showing now, especially this year. He's just a special player. I’m so happy for him.’’
Asked if he sees similarities between this year’s team and his Frozen Four teams in 2013, which lost to Yale in the championship game, and 2016, Pecknold answered yes and no.
“I think our culture and our character and our buy-in are very similar to both of those years. The kids are all-in on what we need to do to win. We’re probably a little different from the ’16 team that had Devon Toews, Sam Anas, Travis St. Denis. We had some guys with 50 points. I thought Devon was one of the best players in the country that year, just in how he controlled the play.
“We’re not going to have a kid with 50 points, probably. But the positive with this team compared to the ’16 team is we have better depth. We just keep coming. It’s been a big reason for our success. We really don’t have a fourth line and we really don’t have a fifth, sixth defenseman. That’s unusual in college hockey. We’re deep and it’s really been a benefit for us.’’
As the season enters the home stretch and the postseason gets closer, Chau has his eye on winning another NCAA title.
“I just hope I can be a leader in the locker room and add value because I’ve been there before and, obviously, I’m looking to do it again. It’s honestly a memory you’ll never forget and I would love to do it again with this group,’’ he said.
