It was a day of milestones for the Quinnipiac Bobcats on Saturday, as they defeated the Northeastern Huskies 3-2 in overtime. The team recorded its first non-conference series sweep on the road since 2009, and saw senior forward Landon Smith record the 100th point of his Bobcat career on an assist to sophomore Tanner MacMaster. He became the 39th player in Quinnipiac history to achieve this feat.
Since entering the Quinnipiac ice hockey program in 2014, Smith has been on a fast track to triple-digit points, as he tallied 31 points on 15 goals and 16 assists as a freshman. He quickly became a centerpiece of the Bobcats’ high-powered offense, and showed that he was a key contributor in the Bobcats’ run to the ECAC regular season title. He was rewarded with a 2014-2015 ECAC All-Rookie selection, and he became the fifth Bobcat in nine years to be honored the award. Smith was named the Quinnipiac Rookie of the Year for his monster first-year performance.
He showed no signs of slowing down in his sophomore year, as heightened expectations only brought better results. Smith found the net 13 times to go along with his team-leading 25 assists, finishing his season with 37 points and bringing his career total to 68. He showed just how massive a game-changer he is that season.
Not only did he help Quinnipiac to win an ECAC regular season title, but also to an conference champion title, giving the Bobcats a berth in the 2015-16 NCAA tournament. The Bobcats blew through their regional, defeated non-conference rival Boston College in the Frozen Four, but fell at the hands of perennial powerhouse North Dakota in the national championship. However, Smith was still named to the 2016 ECAC All-Tournament team for his major contributions to the Bobcats’ run.
Smith’s junior year, despite a slight regression in numbers, arguably showed to be his biggest year as a Bobcat. Smith was looked at as vocal leader for the young Bobcats team, and his 29 points led the entire team. Smith recorded 11 goals and 18 assists, and despite a fifth place finish in the ECAC, Smith brought his career total to 97 points, leaving him knocking on the door for his 100th.
He wasted no time to get to 100, as his assist against Boston University, his goal against Northeastern on Friday, and his first of two assists against Northeastern on Saturday were enough to get him to the milestone that so few players have achieved in the past. Smith joins an exclusive club of Quinnipiac men’s hockey alumni to record 100 points, including brothers Connor and Kellen Jones, Travis St. Denis, Sam Anas, Matthew Peca and Quinnipiac’s assistant coach Reid Cashman.
However, Smith won’t stop now. He is a senior on a team with high expectations, and he’ll try to lead this youth-infused team to an ECAC championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament. His goal has always been to hoist the Frozen Four trophy, and this is simply one achievement on the long journey.
