Men's Ice Hockey Set For CT Ice Championship Rematch At #10/11 Quinnipiac
12/13/2020 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
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FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Sacred Heart University Men's Ice Hockey team begins a two game series at in-state rival #10 Quinnipiac on Monday at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
Last Time Out... The Pioneers are coming off a two game set at Holy Cross to kick off their season in which they defeated the Crusaders in the opening game on December 4 by a final score of 2-1. Junior Ryan Steele and senior Marcel Godbout tallied a pair of goals for the Pioneers to achieve the victory. The following game, SHU fell to Holy Cross by a score of 6-3 to split the series.
Last Meeting... SHU last faced the Bobcats at the inaugual CT Ice festival in which the Pioneers faced off against Quinnipiac in the championship game of the four team tournament. The Pioneers defeated the Bobcats by a final score of 4-1 as SHU scored four unanswered goals which included three in the second period. The goals came from Ryan Steele, Todd Goehring, Jason Cotton and Braeden Tuck. Tuck sealed the game in the third with a goal in the empty net.
Scouting The Bobcats.. The nationally ranked Bobcats are kicking off the 2020-21 season against SHU after a pair of games were canceled against LIU and Clarkson. Quinnipiac is coming off a 2019-20 season in which they finished with an overall record of 21-11-2 and an ECAC hockey record of 14-6-2 to place third overall in the conference standings. The Bobcats return 22 members to last years team while adding five to the 2020 roster. The top goal scorer from a year ago returns as junior Wyatt Bongiovanni led the Bobcats with 15 on the year. Quinnipiac's netminder Keith Petruzelli also returns as he played in 34 games recording a GAA of 2.01 and a save percentage of .920 while holding a record of 21-10-2.
Godbout and Steele Take Over... Senior Marcel Godbout and junior Ryan Steele were the lone Pioneers that scored for SHU in the teams opening two games at Holy Cross as both contributed a goal in each game. Prior to the opening games, Godbout's last goal came at Mercyhurst on January 11 while Steele's came on February 16 against Niagara.
Benson Breaking Offensive Attacks... In the Pioneer's 2-1 victory against Holy Cross junior goalie Josh Benson broke a career high in single game saves recording a total of 38. The closest Benson has reached that was last season when he tallied 36 at Boston University in which the Pioneers defeated the Terriers by a final score of 4-0. The All-Atlantic Hockey Third team member currently has a GAA of 3.50 with a save percentage of .897.
Making History.....The Pioneers last season hit the program's history high in conference wins last year as SHU recorded 18 Atlantic Hockey victories in 2019-20. The closest the Pioneers have hit to the 18 mark is back in the 2005-06 when SHU tallied 18 as well. The team also hit a high in most goals scored in program history with SHU tallying 132. As for the most wins in program history the Pioneers have tallied 21 wins which is tied for the most SHU has had in program history.
