By Brian Farrell, QBSN Staff Writer
PITTSBURGH – The dream season has ended, but there is little that Quinnipiac can be disappointed about.
Outside Quinnipiac’s locker room there were not many, if any, people who thought Quinnipiac could make a run at a national championship.
In the early October, Quinnipiac captain Zack Currie told The Quinnipiac Chronicle, “There’s no reason for us to lose to anybody this year. We’re good enough to say that. So unless we win that last game, I won’t be satisfied.”
While Currie might not be satisfied about this season, he will be in the future.
“It’s not the way we wanted it to end,” Currie said today. “It’s a hard pill to swallow, but, you know, I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to do it with. I would have liked it to end a little differently. But I’m proud of what we did, and I’d like to see where Quinnipiac goes for the future.”
The senior class leaves behind a legacy that will not be forgotten and one that is the basis for future success.
The class of 2013 was there when the Bobcats ascended to a No. 4 national ranking during the 2009-10 season, and most of the players admitted at one point this season that the experience was helpful during this year’s rise to the No. 1 ranking.
The No. 4 ranking came in November of that season. From there it was mostly all downhill. Today the freshman class experienced something that can benefit them over the next three seasons. While neither Michael Garteig nor Jacob Meyers spent meaningful time between the pipes, it can only help to practice with a Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalist.
With a defense that will return just two skaters who saw action tonight, the lessons that Zach Tolkinen and Danny Federico learned from the veteran defensive core will last for more than just this season.
And most important of all is the Kellen Jones, Connor Jones and Matthew Peca line. Quinnipiac has been known in the past as a highly offensive team. Over the past two seasons that has begun to change and that mindset has spread to the forwards.
“We have a good core of forwards coming back,” Peca said. “I think the biggest thing is that we learn from this.”
Tonight is a night to reflect, but Peca was not afraid to put aside any rumors for next season.
“I’ll be back,” he said.
So will 17 other Bobcats.
