North Dakota, BC highlight strong non-conference schedule

Throughout Rand Pecknold’s tenure as Quinnipiac men’s hockey coach, one goal each season has been to produce the strongest nonconference schedule as possible to help his athletes grow and improve.

Pecknold has prided himself with that annual effort, and this season he has one of his strongest non-conference schedules.

The non-conference 10game schedule kicks off with a game against Boston College on Oct. 8. But one of the biggest moves was getting Division I powerhouse North Dakota to come to Hamden and play two home games with the Bobcats next season. North Dakota was ranked No. 1 nationally during last season and ended up No. 5 at the end of the season.

North Dakota has won eight national titles and been to 22 Frozen Fours.

"Our program is excited about the opportunity that we have heading into a new season," Pecknold said in a prepared statement.."Our non-conference schedule features talented, wellcoached programs that will help us improve every day as we prepare for ECAC Hockey play.

“Highlighted by our opener with Boston College and two home games against North Dakota, the schedule provides plenty of tests for our team during October and November. We are very excited to participate in the Connecticut Ice Tournament with Yale, Sacred Heart and UConn, as well."

According to a Quinnipiac press release, the Bobcats will open the 2021-22 season at the Ice Breaker Tournament (Oct. 8-9), hosted by Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. Quinnipiac will face Boston College on Oct. 8 and Northeastern on Oct. 9. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. The Eagles finished last season 17-6-1 and ended the season in the NCAA Northeast Regional Final with a 4-1 loss to St. Cloud State. The Huskies had a 9-9-3 record and lost in the Hockey East quarterfinal game to UMass.

The Bobcats’ kick off their home schedule when they host North Dakota (Oct. 22-23) for two games at Frank Perrotti Jr. Arena with both games at 7 p.m.

The Fighting Hawks finished last season 22-6-1 overall and dropped from the No. 1 ranked team in the nation No. 5 after losing to Minnesota Duluth in the NCAA Midwest Regional Final. This will be the first matchup for the Bobcats and the Fighting Hawks in Hamden in program history.

On Oct. 26, the Bobcats will travel to Worcester to play Holy Cross and then Quinnipiac and AIC will play in a home-and-home series Oct. 29-30 starting in Springfield, Mass.

In November, Quinnipiac will host Arizona State for a two-game series Nov. 12-13. The Trojans will come to Hamden for the first time since January 2017. In December, Quinnipiac will take on the LIU Sharks for a home-and-home series Dec. 10-11.

The Bobcats will wrap up non-conference play in January in the Connecticut Ice Festival at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport. Quinnipiac, UConn, Sacred Heart and Yale are scheduled to face off in the tournament on Jan. 29-30.