Arizona State following Quinnipiac’s blueprint for creating college hockey success

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It’s been over 20 years since Quinnipiac elevated to Division I hockey. The transition certainly appeared seamless. Rand Pecknold’s program became an immediate 20-game winner and never looked back.

Things weren’t quite that simple.

Some established college hockey coaches weren’t terribly receptive to the new MAAC Hockey League and treated them like interlopers. Scheduling non-league games could be challenging.

Pecknold learned many lessons the hard way. As Quinnipiac evolved in the world of major college hockey, he vowed to do whatever he could to help new programs solidify their footing.

When Robert Morris announced the elevation of its club program to varsity in 2004, Pecknold reached out to help fill open dates. They would play twice each year for the Colonials’ first six seasons. He did the same when RIT upgraded from Division III a year later, getting the Tigers into the old Q Cup and scheduling future games even though Quinnipiac had just elevated to ECAC Hockey.

And when news of Arizona State’s impending promotion from club hockey to varsity status became public in 2014, Pecknold quickly called coach Greg Powers, whom he’d never met, to offer whatever he could.

A friendship was forged. Opposing coaches don’t normally socialize hours before games. But when the Sun Devils visited Quinnipiac in 2016, Pecknold took Powers to lunch. Powers returned the favor when the Bobcats made the trip to Arizona for two games.

“Early on he was asking me a lot of questions,” Pecknold said shortly after learning Quinnipiac would face Arizona State in the first game of the NCAA Midwest Regional on Saturday in Allentown, Pa. “I don’t think he’s going to ask me any questions this week.”

Quinnipiac essentially wrote the blueprint for new programs intent on immediate success in Division I, reaching the NCAA tournament in its fourth year and the national championship game a decade later.

Quinnipiac’s Chase Priskie skates in the second period during the championship game of the Three Rivers Classic hockey tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 30, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Quinnipiac’s Chase Priskie skates in the second period during the championship game of the Three Rivers Classic hockey tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 30, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Photo: Justin Berl / Getty Images Photo: Justin Berl / Getty Images Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Arizona State following Quinnipiac’s blueprint for creating college hockey success 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Others hit pay dirt quickly. RIT made the Frozen Four in its fifth season. Penn State got the first of two straight NCAA bids in its fifth season. Arizona State’s inaugural trip to the big dance comes in year four.

The rapid ascension of Powers’ team is easily the most impressive. RIT was a successful Division III team that had the luxury of a conference, Atlantic Hockey, to provide a vehicle to the postseason. Penn State received a financial windfall for hockey, not to mention deep pockets of the Big Ten.

Arizona State has no natural rivals, a home rink unsuitable for college hockey and, rejected by the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, no conference. But a year after winning eight games and losing 21, it improved by 13 wins this winter despite a schedule that included plane trips to Alabama, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, New Jersey, separate trips to upstate New York, separate trips to Boston and Minnesota.

No matter. The Sun Devils are on their way to Allentown with a chance to knock off Quinnipiac, once new money itself and now a true blue-blooded power in college hockey.

“I’m happy for (Powers) and proud of what they’ve accomplished there,” Pecknold said. “It’s unbelievable how quickly they’ve gotten things done.”

Chase-ing Glory

Last winter, Chase Priskie blamed himself for captaining the only losing team in Pecknold’s quarter-century tenure. And he’s holding himself accountable for whatever happens this weekend at the NCAA Tournament.

Priskie spent two nights watching from the stands after being suspended for a kicking penalty against Yale in the final game of the regular season. Quinnipiac was swept from the ECAC quarterfinals by Brown.

After the incident, he reached out to apologize to Yale’s Tyler Welsh and acknowledged his mistakes. On Sunday night, shortly after the NCAA selection show, Priskie said he’s moved past the incident.

“Sometimes you make bad decisions and you have to be able to live with the consequences,” Priskie said. “I sat out my two games and I’m ready to get back with my team and resume playoffs.”

cmalafronte@nhregister.com