HAMDEN, Conn. — Goaltender Michael Garteig knows it takes 66 hours to drive the 3,000-plus miles to the Quinnipiac University campus from his hometown, Prince George, British Columbia, because he has taken that long journey all by himself.

Before Quinnipiac first got in touch with Garteig about playing collegiate hockey, he had no clue where the university was, let alone where Connecticut was on a map. But those were the old days, before Quinnipiac became an epicenter of college hockey.

“I haven’t been home as much as I’ve liked,” said Garteig, who earned his bachelor’s degree in business marketing last semester and is now pursuing a master’s degree. “I’ve stayed here a lot of summers, but I think that’s the reason I’ve developed into the player that I am.”