Bobcats Keep Rolling with 6-1 Win over Bentley
By Angelique Fiske, QBSN Staff Writer
The impressive start to the men’s hockey season continued Tuesday as they extended their winning streak to five games with a 6-1 win coming over the Bentley Falcons.
Six different Bobcats managed to score, marking the third time that the team has scored five or more times in a game this season. This game brings the team’s stretch of four home games in seven days to an end, in which the Bobcats went 4-0. They now hold a record of 5-1-0 overall.
Half of the Quinnipiac goals scored were career firsts for the scorer. Sophomore Zach Tolkinen (Lino Lakes, Minn.) and freshmen Bryce Van Brabant (Morinville, Alberta) and Matthew Peca (Petawawa, Ontario) all walked away with this personal milestone.
Van Brabant’s goal was the first goal of the game, coming off assists from seniors Yuri Bouharevich (Montreal, Quebec) and Spencer Heichman (Yorba Linda, Calif.) in the seventh minute of play. After the lone Bentley goal, coming off the stick of Brett Gensler, Peca capitalized on his chance with a power play goal to retake the lead. Tolkinen’s score didn’t come until 10 minutes into the second period, also on a power play. Tolkinen was assisted by Scott Zurevinski (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) and Peca.
“It felt good,” said Peca of his goal. “I had a lot of time, so I just buried my head, fired at the net, and luckily it went in.”
The scoring did not end with the career firsts. Sophomore Kellen Jones (Montrose, British Columbia) scored his second goal on the season 36 seconds into the first period, making that the quickest goal in any period this season. His brother, Connor Jones (Montrose, British Columbia), was credited with his fifth assist of the year alongside junior Russell Goodman, who notched his first assist of the season. Sophomore Cory Hibbeler (St. Charles, Mo.) also knocked in his second of the season in the 11th minute of the third period with help from both Kellen and Connor Jones.
Junior Jeremy Langlois (Tempe, Ariz.) continued his tear this season by scoring off a Tolkinen offering early in the third period and assisting Peca’s goal in the first. Leading the team with seven goals on the year and 11 points, Langlois has made his presence known being named the ECAC Hockey Player of the Week on Tuesday.
“He’s been great, not just with offense,” said head coach Rand Pecknold. “He’s really matured as a player. He’s playing with confidence.”
Peca, who played on the same line as not only Langlois but senior captain Zurvenski, noted the perks of being on the line of such talented players.
“I’ve been pretty fortunate to be put on a line with those guys,” said Peca. “It certainly helps a lot.”
Given the team’s offensive explosion, it’s hard to believe that this came in the midst of a four game cluster.
“It’s a tough stretch at the beginning of the year. It’s just the way the schedule worked. It’s a lot of hockey early on,” said Pecknold.
Regardless of the challenging start right out of the gate with four of the team’s last six games being played in one week, it has not been a one man effort.
“Scoring’s coming from everywhere. It’s pretty balanced which is a good thing,” said Zurvenski. “Guys are having a lot of fun out there. We’re tighter as a team.”
This team dynamic is what the Bobcats are hoping will help them to “keep getting better every day,” according to Zurvenski. Particularly on a team with no shortage of veterans, the familiarity will add to this goal.
“Experience goes a long way, especially when we’re deep in the season,” said Zurvenski.
The Bobcats look to further extend their win-streak as they head to Robert Morris for a two game series on Oct. 21 and 22, both at 7 pm.
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