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.