ALLENTOWN, P.A. — When someone thinks about a hockey rivalry at Quinnipiac, it is no secret that Yale is the first school that comes to mind.
It’s well played into as well, being only 10 miles apart, fighting like cats and dogs theme with the schools’ respective mascots. But after 35 overall and 17 straight wins over the school down the road, can it still be considered a rivalry?
Recent events point towards a different in-state opponent for the Bobcats, the one they currently hold a two-game losing streak with.
The UConn Huskies.
Even though the teams usually only meet once per season at the CT Ice tournament, being part of different conferences — Quinnipiac in ECAC Hockey and UConn in Hockey East — this year, the teams faced off in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday night, a match-up where Quinnipiac once again came up short, 4-1.
Not for its lack of trying though. The Huskies were just a lot more desperate, a lot more physical.
It was an out-of-state game between in-state opponents, and even with the 3-4 hour ride, the stands were filled with fans of both schools. From current students to alumni and other onlookers, the sea of yellow and white jerseys in the PPL Center was hard to overlook.
“I’ve been going to Quinnipiac games all year,” Patrick from Southington, Conn said. “I drove all the way out here for it. It’s cool.”
This game not only attracted home fans, but also fans from further distances — or you know, family members from all over. Graduate student defenseman Cooper Moore’s mother, Kelly, made the trip to Allentown all the way from Naples, Fla.
“We got in yesterday,” Kelly Moore said. “It’s so exciting. Quinnipiac can definitely beat them, we need to step it up right now. They have a lot of great kids, both teams, it’s awesome to come to the games.”
And because both schools are in the same state, it is not uncommon for some family rivalries to develop as well.
“Just wanted to support the team, been watching them since freshman year,” Quinnipiac graduate MBA student Joshua Zhang from Wallingford, Conn said. “It means a lot. It’s kind of a home rivalry as well, I had a brother who went to UConn.”
“We went to UConn, my husband and I, my husband played,” Emily from New Jersey said. “We’re here with our kids, it’s fun. My sister and my best friend went to QU, so it’s a little family rivalry.”
And yes, maybe the game didn’t have a turnout such as the next one between Penn State and Maine, and nowhere near the turnout of the Regional Final Sunday, but that is not the point. It’s not fair to compare the turnouts of schools with widely different enrollment numbers, and Quinnipiac’s fan base has the spirit to make up for it anyways.
Rivalries are supposed to be fun. The fans are supposed to be on the edge of their seats every game. While proximity also plays a role, as seen between Yale and Quinnipiac, when the games get that predictable, it takes out of the enjoyment of watching it.
Quinnipiac and UConn, on the other hand?
For years, Quinnipiac stood undefeated against the Huskies in the CT Ice tournament until this year. In program history, the Bobcats have bested the Huskies 18 times, but also lost seven and tied twice. With the way the teams are shaping up, either one could win, and either one could’ve won Friday.
“We’re gonna keep up our part,” Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold said during the Bobcats’ media day March 27. “I can see them being good for a long while, with the dedication they have. I don’t worry about UConn or Yale though, I have to just focus on Quinnipiac.”
UConn or Yale, rivarly or not, it might be the same thing for Pecknold and the players, but it certainly means something to the fans.
You have the proximity. You have the fans’ attention and dedication to even drive hours to see these schools face off. You have every ingredient you need for the real rivalry, if you just let it.
And, you know, there’s also still the cats vs. dogs aspect.
