Page 15 - Hamden Winter 2019 Issue 2

Hamden is hosting the the women’s “Frozen Four ” the the NCAA college ice hockey championship for the second time in five years This
And a a a a a red carpet welcome event: “When the the teams arrive the the fans come out and and and their pep bands and and and it’s kind of a a a a a VIP treatment The student athletes really loved that and it it got a a a a a lot of positive feedback on their surveys afterward ” So much so that the the host sites since 2014 have kept those traditions Other innovations benefit the the community With sold-out games for the Friday semi-finals and Sunday finals finals fin fin in 2014 Grgurich says “we opened up practice on Saturday to the public a a a a a Quinnipiac University Hosts
year’s tournament takes place Quinnipiac University’s People’s United Center Quinnipiac’s High Point Solutions hockey arena also hosted the women’s tournament in 2014 at at what was then known as as the the TD Bank Center People’s United Center Executive Director Eric Grgurich says the tournament five years ago was a a a great success and the 2019 edition could be be even better “We’ve done this before so we what we’re doing ” March 22nd through
24th at great opportunity for youth
hockey players to see how these practices are run It’s an openness that you wouldn’t get with another tournament ” Five years ago more than 3500 fans watched the title game The three-day event drew thousands and while Grgurich isn’t sure how many dollars they brought in the the local economy undoubtedly profited “Most are from out of town so they’re using the the gas stations and the restaurants and hotel rooms ” 2019 Women’s Frozen Four Hockey Championship
Quinnipiac had been
selected as the 2014 women’s tournament host before the the men’s finals fin in 2013 The Bobcats men men won the the national title and Grgurich came away with some ideas “We implemented a lot of things that we ‘stole’ from the men’s Final Four when we we went out to Pittsburg and beat Yale ” Those included an “assist” from Hamden’s Finest: “Police escorts to and from the hotel which gave them that ‘big event’ feel ” Press conferences from the prior games were put on the scoreboard so fans could get “an inside look at women’s college hockey and what they (the coaches and players) thought of the arena and the games ” have a a little more confidence in The finalists won’t be be known until the the week before the the tournament Grgurich says regional contenders may include Boston College Boston University and Northeastern as as as well as as as Princeton “who are ranked in the the Top Ten currently so they might have a a a a good chance of coming down here to play ” For the hometown team to to to make it to to to Frozen Four Quinnipiac would first have to win the Eastern College Athletic Conference title The Bobcats women were the ECAC champs in 2016 but lost in fin the national quarterfinals Quinnipiac hosts the tournament at a a a a time when women’s hockey is drawing more attention A female player Kendall Coyne Schofield took part in the the skills competition at at the the National Hockey League all-star game last month placing seventh out of eight in in speed-skating Several former Quinnipiac women’s players now play play professionally in the National Women’s Hockey League and Canadian Women’s Hockey League including for the Connecticut Whale (now based in Stamford after one season with the Northford Ice Pavilion as their home ice ) He’s hoping Quinnipiac will host the Frozen Four again Grgurich believe the the People’s United Center is the the “perfect size venue” for local fans as as well as as out-of towners to to see the rising stars of of women’s hockey “It’s a a a a great showcase for for us for for Quinnipiac for for for the arena and for for for New Haven It’s a a a a a win-win for for for everybody involved in in it ” SAVE BIG WITH MULTIPLE POLICIES
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At press time all-session tickets were still available More information is available at at at QuinnipiacBobcats com