Athlete of the Week: Matthew Peca

Athlete of the Week: Matthew Peca

By Angelique Fiske, QBSN Publishing Editor

In the games against Brown and Yale last weekend, the men’s hockey team tallied six total goals, and not a single puck crossed the line for the Bobcats that freshman Matthew Peca (Petawawa, Ontario) did not assist, earning him QBSN Athlete of the Week honors.  ECAC Hockey additionally named Peca its Rookie of the Week on Feb. 29 for his performance in conference play.

Courtesy: quinnipiacbobcats.com

The multiple-assist weekend makes for the first time in Bobcat history a player has participated in every score in a single weekend, as well as the first to be credited on six straight assists.  Peca now sits in second place on the team with 23 assists, while Connor Jones (Montrose, British Columbia) leads the team with 26.

February alone proved how much Peca means to the Bobcats as not just a scorer but as a set-up man, getting 11 helpers in only eight games played.   He also notched a goal in the 7-6 road-win over Clarkson on Feb. 11. 

Playing alongside Connor and Kellen Jones (Montrose, British Columbia), Peca credited his successful offensive stretch as a result of the trio’s chemistry.

“I thought me and the Joneses had great energy this weekend,” said Peca after the Heroes Hat game on Feb. 25 in which he had two assists.  “We played off each other well and generated a lot of offense.”

While the line of Peca and the sophomore brothers has already paid dividends for the Bobcats, if the steady production and execution continues as the team heads into its playoff run, starting by facing the Brown Bears in a weekend series. 

The last time the Bobcats played the Bears, Peca’s four assists forged the way to a 4-1 victory.  If past games are any indication to future ones, the numbers are in his favor.