Apr 8, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Quinnipiac goaltender Yaniv Perets (1) celebrates after beating Minnesota in overtime in the national championship game of the 2023 Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Hockey: Frozen Four Championship Game-Quinnipiac vs Minnesota
(New York, NY) — The national collegiate champions for men’s hockey–Quinnipiac–have some big cheerleaders. And they want them to get their due.
In a letter signed by the six Connecticut lawmakers–including both of the state’s Senators–they said head coach Rand Pecknold of Quinnipiac Men’s Hockey has built the team “from a division two program into a true national powerhouse” for almost three decades. They said their championship this year merits President Biden’s invite to the White House.
“This win is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication from all the players, coaches, staff, fans, students and faculty of Quinnipiac University,” the letter read. “Nothing encapsulates more the impact that Quinnipiac hockey under Coach Pecknold has had on so many people.”
The letter additionally stated that the rise of the hockey team runs parallel to “the similar growth in academic excellence and prestige” of the university.
It was under President George W. Bush that non-football DI champions started getting White House invitations.
Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, the two Connecticut Senators, will also introduce a resolution in the Senate in honor of Quinnipiac’s 3-2 overtime win over the Minnesota Gophers in the Frozen Four (hockey’s Final Four) that gave the team their record-breaking 34th win. A similar one is expected in the House of Representatives.
