When we last caught up with former Quinnipiac defenseman Connor Clifton, he had just signed a contract with the American Hockey League affiliate of the Boston Bruins, the Providence Bruins.

After signing, Clifton participated in Boston Bruins training camp. He spoke of his experience participating in the camp at the Warrior Ice Arena.

“It was quite the experience,” Clifton said. “I mean it was obviously great playing with all of those NHL greats and it was just a lot of fun, really good group of guys they got up there in Boston and the guys down here too so it’s been good.”

Though he had only played in two games this season, his last being October 21, Clifton was dressed and in the lineup for the P-Bruins Sunday afternoon as they took on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

By the final buzzer, Clifton had gotten a shot on net, registered two penalty minutes and finished the evening with a minus-four rating. However, the team itself fell to the Sound Tigers by a whopping score of 6-0.

“I got off to a slow start, I think our team did too,” Clifton said. “Obviously we were down all game and I think we picked it up in the third and obviously it’s too late, but we showed heart in the third; we’re going to see them ten more times so I’m sure we’ll get them back.”

Aside from both the team’s and his performance, Clifton was skating up against three former Bobcat teammates in Devon Toews, Travis St. Denis and Connor Jones. All four players were teammates together on the 2013-2014 squad. He spoke about the experience of being on the same sheet of ice but in differing uniforms.

“It was fun,” he said. “I’m stretching next to [Devon Toews] and [Travis St. Denis] in warmups and it’s funny seeing them on the other side, it’s been three years with each of them so it’s just a little different.”

The jump from college hockey to the professional level can seem daunting, but Clifton’s transition was aided in due part by the assistance he received at Quinnipiac.

“Obviously they work with you one-on-one on a team basis so they were huge in getting me ready for pro hockey,” Clifton said.

Going from playing under Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold to former professional player and Providence College captain Jay Leach, Clifton has seen his fair share of experienced coaching.

“It’s awesome,” Clifton said. “I mean Rand obviously helped me out for the four years I was at Quinnipiac and now [Jay Leach] is definitely taking me under his wing and he’s really been helping me a lot lately. I haven’t been in the lineup much and he’s just an awesome guy and he’s really honest with me which I appreciate.”

Besides a professional coaching staff, he’s also had the opportunity to play alongside some P-Bruins players who have seen some ice-time with the big-league club. Players like Anton Blidh, Kenny Agostino and Zane McIntyre among others have all made appearances with the Bruins. Clifton spoke on what it’s like playing with and against good talent.

“It’s a challenge obviously every day,” Clifton said. “In this locker room that we have here there’s a lot of great players and they come to work and they definitely bring me up to speed and get me ready to play in the games.”

The road to the NHL won’t be easy for Clifton as the Bruins have a large number of defensemen vying for starting spots. However, hockey is a game of opportunity and if his years in a Bobcat jersey are any indication, no one can write off the possibility of Connor Clifton one day sporting a jersey with a spoked-B.