The Quinnipiac University Bobcats faced the Boston College Eagles in the Three Rivers Classic in Pittsburgh, Pa on Dec 29. This was the second meeting of the teams in 2016, the first was their meeting in the Frozen Four. Earlier, the Eagles fell to the Bobcats 3-2 in the semi-finals, advancing Quinnipiac to the National Championship. The Bobcats would face North Dakota in the National Championship where they would fall 5-1.
However, with this meeting the teams met at the PPG Paints Arena for a chance to walk away with the Confluence Cup and bragging rights. Walking into the match both teams were looking for that victory. With a scoreless first period, the tension was building in PPG Paints. Despite the Bobcats outshooting the Eagles 10-4 in the first period they couldn’t seem find an opportunity to score.
After hitting the ice for the second, it took 10 minutes but Quinnipiac made the board first. The Bobcats took the lead with a shot from Tanner MacMaster from Kevin McKernan and Bo Pieper. Nevertheless, the Eagles swooped in and found the back of the net with 35 seconds left in the period. With his second goal of the season, freshman Graham McPhee tied the game for the Eagles 1-1.
Unsurprisingly, the third period was a back and forth battle of shots. At the end of the period, Quinnipiac had 11 shots on goal and Boston College had 10 shots on goal. Despite the efforts of Boston College, only Quinnipiac would light the lamp. The Bobcat’s Craig Martin would score at the eight minute mark and Bo Pieper at the 12 minute mark. The Bobcats would take the victory of 3-1 over the Eagles, advancing them to the championship game the next day.
Following the Boston College/Quinnipiac University game, Robert Morris would play Ferris State University. Quinnipiac University would advance to play the winner at 7 pm and Boston College would play the other team in the consolation game at 4 pm the next day.
Pucks and Rec’s Photo Editor and College Hockey Photographer, Jenn Hoffman, was on site at the PPG Paints Arena to capture the action. To see more from Jenn you can follow her on Twitter or Instagram
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