Here's the game story from tonight. A decent win considering three key players were out with injury. Heady play in overtime by Frankie DiChiara, and nice to see Chris Izmirlian follow his shot to secure the game-winner.

Jesse Root, Ryan Obuchowski and Anthony Day were all on the shelf with injury. Root was hurt last weekend, Obuchowski on Monday. Day has been out the past three games now, and won't be ready until after the holiday break. Keith Allain believes Root will be back in the lineup by next weekend; Obuchowski will need more time.

Captain Jesse Root, defenseman Ryan Obuchowski and forward Anthony Day are among the scratches tonight as Yale plays host to Merrimack at Ingalls Rink. We know Day is out until after the break with an injury. Should know the status of Root and Obuchowski by night's end. The good news for the Bulldogs is junior forward Nico Weberg is back in the lineup for the first time since suffering an injury against St. Lawrence on Nov. 1.

Yale and Merrimack haven't played in hockey since November 1998, a 6-3 loss in which goaltenders Trevor Hanger and Dan Lombard combined to make 30 saves.

Here are the line charts for the evening.

YALE

DiChiara-Izmirlian-Hayden
Ruffolo-Cooper-Weberg
Doherty-Wilson-Agostino
Beattie-Orzetti-Learned

Fallen-Witek
Young-O'Gara
Ward-Killian

MERRIMACK

Singleton-Bly-Bahe
HGustafsson-Christie-LeBlanc
Hussar-Toomey-Gould
JGustafsson-Scotti-Myers

Wyszomirski-Kolomatis
Mansfield-Heywood
Ellis-Lashyn

Providence will be at Quinnipiac tomorrow night in a matchup of top 5 teams. I dropped by Hamden this afternoon for an advance story for Wednesday's Register. Here are a few extra notes about future scheduling:

• Providence is now a regular on Quinnipiac's non-conference schedule, and should be for a while. The schools are interested in increasing their commitments to two games a year. But the Friars got jammed up, and it won't happen until at least 2015-16. "Long run, eventually, it will be a two-game commitment, one at each rink, we might even go Friday-Saturday," Pecknold said. "I'm sure there will be the occasional year that it doesn't work out, but that's the plan."
• Expect Quinnipiac's non-conference schedule to feature a healthy dose of Hockey East opponents for the next several years. In the past, the Bobcats managed one or two Hockey East opponents most seasons with the holes plugged against Atlantic Hockey foes. In 2012-13, there were three games with Hockey East; this season the number jumped to 8. Pecknold has working agreements with a number of schools that are expected to continue. UConn joins Hockey East next season, and should benefit both programs.
• Quinnipiac will continue series with Merrimack and UMass-Lowell for at least the next two years "maybe longer." A four-year contract with Northeastern will include two games per season, one at each arena, starting next fall. UConn will also be a staple of the schedule, with one or two game series. "We'll still take the occasional trip out West if we need to," Pecknold said. "But certainly, there's enough good teams in the area."
• The addition of Northeastern to the schedule next season means Quinnipiac will have played eight of the 12 Hockey East schools (that includes UConn.) The Bobcats have still never faced New Hampshire, Boston College, Notre Dame or Boston University.
• Quinnipiac is also holding out for an annual all-Connecticut tournament featuring Yale, Sacred Heart and UConn. Tim Taylor, while coaching Yale in 2006, had agreed to make it happen only to be forced out a few weeks later. Three schools are in, and Yale is reportedly considering the idea. But with only seven non-conference games to play with each year, combined with the late start of Ivy League schools, Yale doesn't have the leeway of others. "It's picking up steam," Pecknold said. "I can't speak for the other three schools, but hopefully we can make it happen."
• On the injury front, Pecknold said only one of his players is definitely out for tomorrow night. He would not specify whom, though it's most likely defenseman Zach Tolkinen, who has been out several weeks already.

Quinnipiac completes the rare ECAC weekend against the same opponent, playing host to Princeton a night after beating the Tigers in New Jersey.

The lineup for Quinnipiac is the same. Defensemen Zach Tolkinen (ankle) and Derek Smith remain out; Brayden Sherbinin and Joe Fiala get starts on the blue line.

QUINNIPIAC

Anas-Jones-Jones
St. Denis-Peca-Schutt
Van Brabant-Hibbeler-JST
Jonzzon-Clifton-Lemire

Toews-Barron
Federico-Clifton
Sherbinin-Fiala

Garteig

PRINCETON

Ambrosia-Kesselman-Berger
Ammon-Liau-Brockett
Rankin-Zajac-Siiro
Sabo-Carlson-Ford

Ave-Rush
Kroshus-Liss
Goodwin-Pompi

Not a lot to complain about here, although not sure why North Dakota is ranked at all.  

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
Minneapolis, Minn./November 18, 2013

   Team             (First Place)   Record   Pts  Last Week
 1 Minnesota                 (47)    8- 1-1   996     1
 2 St. Cloud State           ( 1)    8- 1-1   914     3
 3 Providence                        9- 1-1   873     5
 4 Quinnipiac                ( 2)   11- 1-1   818     6
 5 Michigan                          7- 2-1   807     2
 6 Notre Dame                        8- 3-1   778     4
 7 Boston College                    7- 2-2   739     7
 8 Miami                             7- 4-1   644     8
 9 Yale                              4- 1-2   586     9
10 Ferris State                      8- 2-1   476    14
11 Clarkson                         10- 3-1   463    11
12 Wisconsin                         4- 3-1   451    12
13 Massachusetts-Lowell              8- 4-0   430    16
14 Rensselaer                        6- 4-2   280    10
15 North Dakota                      4- 5-1   254    13
16 Lake Superior                     6- 3-1   248    15
17 Union                             6- 3-2   211    NR
18 Cornell                           4- 3-1   115    19
19 Minnesota-Duluth                  5- 4-1   108    20
20 New Hampshire                     6- 5-1    83    NR

Others receiving votes: Ohio State 63, St. Lawrence 53,
Nebraska-Omaha 26, Air Force 22, Northeastern 21, Denver 11,
Alaska 10, Bowling Green 9, Boston University 4, Colgate 4,
Alaska-Anchorage 2, Minnesota State 1.

Clinton Bourbonais, one of four seniors for Yale, is no longer a member of the hockey team, Steve Conn, Yale's director of sports publicity, said Sunday. Conn said coach Keith Allain would have no further comment on the matter at this time.

Bourbonais, a forward, had a goal and an assist while skating on Yale's top line during its exhibition game with Ontario Tech last month. But he was a healthy scratch for the team's first five games of the regular season, returning to the lineup at Quinnipiac on Nov. 9. He was taken off the roster prior to the Sacred Heart game. It is unclear whether Bourbonais quit the team or was removed by Allain.

Bourbonais had 15 goals and 42 points in 86 career games. His biggest moment came in the national championship game against Quinnipiac in April, when his redirection goal with 3.5 seconds left in the second period broke a scoreless tie and set the tone in Yale's 4-0 victory.  He assisted on the Bulldogs second goal, and was named to the Frozen Four all-tournament team.

The Dexter, Mich. native had four goals and 17 points last season; seven goals and 21 points as a sophomore. He was a biomedical engineering major and Academic All-ECAC selection.

No one in the Quinnipiac locker room was pleased with the effort last night. Dartmouth, which enters at 0-7, could be problematic if only they are desperate for that elusive first win. The Bobcats locker room has been battling the flu, and senior defenseman Zach Tolkinen is out again with an ankle injury. On the flip side, an early lead might be enough to demoralize the Big Green.

Here are tonight's lines

QUINNIPIC

Anas-Jones-Jones
Van Brabant-Hibbeler-JST
St. Denis-Peca-Schutt
Sherbinin-Clifton-Lemire

Smith-Fiala
Toews-Barron
Federico-Clifton

Garteig

** Soren Jonzzon is listed as a game-time decision.

DARTMOUTH

McNally-Sikira-Neiley
Schierhorn-Patterson-Opperman
O'Brien-Bligh-Barre
Beamish-Mosey-Lovejoy

Pinkston-Simpson
Ferguson-Boldt
Kirk-Bullock

Morris

Quinnipiac took three points last weekend, including a tie with fellow top 10 opponent Yale, yet still dropped a spot to No. 6 in the USCHO.com poll. Troubling, since there were enough losses by teams in front of the Bobcats to move up. Perhaps voters need more than a 10-game unbeaten streak for inspiration.

Should be a tight one tonight. Harvard (2-3-1, 1-3-1) is better than its record indicates. The Crimson took three points off an excellent RPI team, but has dropped three straight to Union, St. Lawrence and Clarkson. The ECAC is as strong as ever.

Here's the link to a story in today's Register on Kellen and Connor Jones, in case you missed it.

Line for tonight: Quinnipiac is missing defenseman Zach Tolkinen to injury. Forward Brayden Sherbinin gets his first start in place of Soren Jonzzon.

QUINNIPIAC

Anas-Jones-Jones
Van Brabant-Hibbeler-JST
St. Denis-Peca-Schutt
Sherbinin-Clifton-Lemire

Smith-Fiala
Towes-Barron
Federico-Clifton

Garteig

HARVARD

Vesey-Malone-Moy
Tingale-Criscuolo-Hart
Zielonka-Esposito-Valek
Gozzo-McGregor-Placek

Ford-Jaw
Bergin-Anderson
Guiltinan-Fick

Girard

Arrived at the TD Bank Sports Center at 5:20 p.m. to find the typical festival atmosphere that has become custom anytime Yale and Quinnipiac play these days. Tailgaters, revelry, a mass of humanity. The line of students waiting at the door easily stretched 150 yards and seemed to be 15 kids deep. They made the mad dash to grab the best seats once they were let into the building, and have filled four sections behind the goal.

At last check, tickets were at $225 on Stub Hub.

So far, both teams look capable of making a serious run at another Frozen Four berth. Quinnipiac has reeled off nine straight since opening the year with a loss in Anchorage, Alaska. Yale is 3-1-1, but with 11 goals in the past two games.

Tonight's game will air on WCCT TV in Connecticut and, for reasons unknown to most, Fox College Sports Pacific. It can also be accessed on Quinnipiac's YouTube channel and on WYBC-1340 (Yale) as well as WQUN-1220 (Quinnipiac.)

The lines for tonight

YALE

Doherty-Root-Bourbonais
Agostino-Wilson-Hayden
DiChiara-Cooper-Ruffolo
Day-Izmirlian-Orzetti

Young-Ward
Obuchowski-Witek
Fallen-O'Gara

Goalie TBA

QUINNIPIAC

Anas-Jones-Jones
Van Brabant-Hibbeler-JST
St. Denis-Peca-Schutt
Jonzzon-Clifton-Lemire

Tolkinen-Fiala
Towes-Barron
Federico-Clifton

Garteig

A typically chaotic Friday evening here in Southern Connecticut. Rush hour traffic on the Merritt Parkway. Rush hour traffic in Hamden. Rush hour traffic at the Sherman Parkway Dunkin' Donuts. Well, the insane traffic in the parking lot there is for Quinnipiac students stocking up for the weekend at the package store.

Apparently, Brown's bus got held up in the lunacy, too. Though it had more to do with engine trouble. Anyway, the start time here at High Point Solutions Arena has been pushed back to 7:30 p.m. Check out the second half of the women's basketball game if you get here early. They're beating the tar out of somebody.

Here are the lines for tonight:

QUINNIPIAC

Anas-Jones-Jones
Van Brabant-Hibbeler-JST
St. Denis-Peca-Schutt
Jonzzon-Clifton-Lemire

Tolkinen-Fiala
Toews-Barron
Federico-Clifton

Garteig

BROWN

Lorito-Naclerio-Lappin
Hathaway-Hourihan-Jacobson
Harlow-Juola-Prescott
Pryzbek-Middleton-Kramer

Robertson-Wahl
deConcilys-Goldberg
Quick-Wood

DeFilippo

Peter Quenneville, a freshman forward for Quinnipiac, left school and will join the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League. The Wheat Kings, a major junior team in Manitoba, Canada, announced the acquisition on Tuesday. His younger brother, John, also plays for Brandon. Another younger brother, David, plays for Medicine Hat in the same league.

"We wish Peter all the best as he moves on," Pecknold said via a Quinnipiac press release. "Peter wants to focus only on hockey and at Quinnipiac, our student-athletes are committed to excellence in both hockey and academics. We were surprised by his decision to leave."


Quenneville, 19, was a seventh-round draft pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in June. He had four assists in five games as a left wing on Quinnipiac's top line, skating alongside seniors Kellen and Connor Jones. He hasn't played since picking up a pair of assists in a 4-3 win over Bentley on Oct. 22.


Quenneville, a native of Edmonton, was most valuable player of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in 2011-12. Last winter he was fifth in the United States Hockey League with 33 goals.and eighth with 70 points.

Yale skated to a tie on banner night Friday. Tonight's opponent, Clarkson, is an impressive 7-1-1 and coming off a road win at Brown. The Bulldogs will be without junior defenseman Matt Killian, injured during the second shift against St. Lawrence. Alex Ward is filling in. Nico Weberg is also out of the lineup tonight. He left the ice with an apparent injury Friday, but did return. Sophomore Charles Orzetti plays for the first time since opening night. Senior Clinton Bourbonais is a healthy scratch for the fourth straight game.

YALE

Ruffolo-Cooper-Day
DiChiara-Wilson-Hayden
Orzetti-Izmirlian-Beattie
Doherty-Root-Agostino

Young-Ward
Fallen-O'Gara
Obuchowski-Witek

Goalie TBA

CLARKSON

Burton-Sexton-DiNallo
Megannety-McPherson-J. Zarbo
Fossen-Josephs-Frederick
Bessette-M. Zerbo-Powers

Geiger-Tansey
LaBrecque-Howden
deHaas-Boak

Goalie TBA

Big night at Yale. The national championship banner gets raised in just under an hour. Here's the new Frozen Four banner, already out for the incoming crowd.

Line charts for tonight are similar to last week's game with Princeton. Clinton Bourbonais and Charles Orzetti are among the scratches. Freshman Chris Izmirlian skates with Jesse Root and Mike Doherty.

YALE

Ruffolo-Cooper-Weberg
Doherty-Root-Izmirlian
Agostino-Wilson-Hayden
DiChiara-Day-Beattie

Fallen-Obuchowski
Young-O'Gara
Witek-Killian

Goalie TBA.

ST. LAWRENCE

Hughes-Ward-Doherty
Hagen-Essery-Smolcynski
Carey-Carey-Martin
Wick-McGovern-Hudson

Bayreuther-Baker
Sweetman-Raley
Austin-Masella

Goalie TBA