Yes, Quinnipiac has been playing all month. But around these parts, it doesn't truly feel like college hockey season until both Yale and Quinnipiac get going, especially when there's big news sprinkled into the mix. Jack McDonald announced he will retire in June (here's my column with reaction from Jack and some of his staff). Also made my way over to Yale on Wednesday afternoon and was at Quinnipiac practice this morning. A few notes to hold you over until Friday night...

** Keith Allain didn't love his team's effort against Alberta last Friday night, but said it was the perfect opponent in that situation. The Bears are as good as any NCAA team and provided a real test to a Yale team still finding its bearings after a week of full practice. "It was a good game for us to figure out where we're at. Systematically, structure-wise, we're where we probably should have been one week into practice. Hopefully we'll be a week ahead of that on Friday night. Our compete level and work ethic (against Alberta) was not up to the standards of Yale hockey. For us to expect better results we have to work harder and compete harder."

** Yale had numerous injuries last weekend, especially for so early in the season. Mitch Witek, Tommy Fallen, Matt Killian and Adam Larkin were the only healthy full-time defensemen. Allain said the Bulldogs are still dealing with injuries, and there will be scratches this weekend. But they will have six defensemen ready for Friday, though he wouldn't elaborate on who would be back in the lineup. "We have nine defensemen in our program. To think we could only dress four for that game on Friday. That's a situation I've never experienced before."

** Allain says Yale's forward lines likely won't be solidified until after Christmas. "We're always trying things, sometimes injuries force you to try other things, but you expect to grow all season long and I think we're a long way from a finished product right now." Defense will be solid once everyone is healthy. Most questions with the Bulldogs center around who will pick up the scoring slack left by Kenny Agostino and Jesse Root. John Hayden is an obvious candidate. "I think we have the potential to get scoring from a number of areas. We expect Hayden and Frank DiChiara to score more than they did last year. I think Mike Doherty should score for us, Matt Beattie should score for us. I'd like Nico Weberg to produce more. And I think we'll get a great deal of offensive production from our blue line. We're going to be a team that will have all five guys in the attack. I expect a number of our defensemen to be in the top part of our scoring." It's the way Allain likes to play, and he knows this team has the talent on the blue line to execute.

** Yale leaves for Newark and the Prudential Center today. The opener against Princeton at the Liberty Hockey Invitational is by design, and the only reason Yale agreed to continue with the tournament. Allain isn't comfortable opening with teams not dealing with the same restrictions on start dates for practice and games, and feels it's a disadvantage (see Alberta exhibition.) The inaugural LHI was an all-Ivy affair, but tournament organizers widened the field by dropping Dartmouth and Brown in favor of Hockey East opponents Merrimack and UConn. Yale is committed to the event the next two years, but insists on opening with Princeton.

** The format this weekend leaves an open day on Saturday. Yale will skate at the Prudential Center and take in that evening's Devils-Blue Jackets game.

** Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold expects to have forward Travis St. Denis back for this weekend's series with Northeastern. St. Denis was injured midway through a game with UMass Lowell two weeks ago, and sat out the loss to UConn in Bridgeport.

** Pecknold said his team has been working to shore things up in all areas, chalking much of the mistakes of the first four games to a team still finding itself. Quinnipiac has a history of blitzing through the month of October, so its 1-2-1 record, which includes a 4-1 loss to UConn, is disconcerting. Still, the Bobcats could easily be 3-1 right now. There's a ton of talent and potential. It just needs more seasoning.

** Got a chance to speak with freshman forward Landon Smith for a feature set to appear in tomorrow's paper. Look for that online later today.

Keith Allain called this one "a rude awakening." The University of Alberta executed Yale's systems with  more efficiency and poise in its 3-0 victory before 1,841 tonight at Ingalls Rink.

Don't worry too much. Yale was severely short-handed. Injuries to defensemen Rob O'Gara, Ryan Obuchowski, Dan O'Keefe and Nate Repensky forced the Bulldogs to cover with forwards on the blue line. Forwards Chris Izmirlian and Trent Ruffolo didn't dress, either. Keith Allain said the team is banged up and "everyone who was healthy dressed tonight." He did not elaborate on the extent of any of the injured. Not helping matters was the major penalty and game misconduct to Carson Cooper at 2:24. Alberta scored two of its three goals on that initial power play.

Goalies Alex Lyon, Connor Wilson and Patrick Spano saw plenty of action and all looked solid.

Allain said afterward he hoped his team would be further along in its understanding of the systems. Alberta, the defending national champs in Canada, didn't help matters. Already two months into the season, they skated how Yale wants to skate, fast and creative and unrelenting. Most Western Canadian universities play a plodding, half-court style. Alberta caught the Bulldogs by surprise with their quickness and pace.

"We can learn a lot from watching this game," Allain said. "They play the way we like to play. Only we didn't play the way we wanted, so tonight they played the way we want to play."

Allain also said there's no reason to get too caught up in the line combinations tonight. He's not committed to anything and was searching for chemistry between players. Unfortunately, there wasn't much there tonight. John Hayden may have been the best player on the ice, and looks more and more like a future NHL player. Defenseman Tommy Fallen was also solid. Freshman Ryan Hitchcock skated with Hayden and showed skill and offensive ability.

The season opener is a week away. Yale has much to work on.

Here's where some Yale and Quinnipiac alums are as of today.

NHL
Mark Arcobello (Yale), Edmonton
Chris Higgins (Yale), Vancouver

AHL
Kenny Agostino (Yale), Adirondack
Bryce Van Brabant (Quinnipiac), Adirondack
Brad Mills (Yale), Binghamton
Sean Backman (Yale), Manchester
Brian O'Neill (Yale), Manchester
Antoine Laganiere (Yale), Norfolk
Andrew Miller (Yale), Oklahoma City
Jordan Samuels-Thomas (Quinnipiac), Rochester
Jeremy Langlois (Quinnipiac), Worcester
Gus Young (Yale), Worcester
Jesse Root (Yale), Texas
Mike Dalhuisen (Quinnipiac), Texas


ECHL
Kellen Jones (Quinnipiac), Bakersfield
Connor Jones (Quinnipiac), Bakersfield
Zach Tolkinen (Quinnipiac), Elmira
Jeff Malcolm (Yale), Greenville
Zach Davies (Quinnipiac), Reading
Eric Hartzell (Quinnipiac), Wheeling


EUROPE
Broc Little (Yale), Sweden

Yale got official team practice started this afternoon. It was a 90-minute session, and thanks to captain's practices that began in September, the Bulldogs mostly picked up where they left off in March.

A few notes and quotes from today:

** Allain is impressed with the leadership of the veterans, who've helped the five freshman transition well to this point. Fall training is essential, given Ivy League schools are two weeks behind everyone else when it comes to start dates. "For us to be successful, we're going to have to play a great team game," Allain said. "We're trying to establish standards of play and practice habits that will be essential to our team. There are four of us coaches, but at the end of the day it will be those guys coaching each other and pushing each other and making sure they uphold the standards within the group. That's where veteran leaders are extremely important, so they're talking in the room about the things I'm talking about on the ice, or they're talking at dinner about the same things, and that they hold each other accountable."

** Jesse Root and Kenny Agostino are the lone departed forwards, but leave a large void. The two combined for 28 goals last season and have been first-liners dating back to the 2013 championship run. How will Yale fill the holes? Collectively, Allain said. "We've got a numbver of players who've been in our program a number of years who we think are capable and ready to assume an extended role. That'll fall to those guys. And I think the three freshmen forwards will get an opportunity as well to jump right in and be next to a veteran guy and help carry the load."

** John Hayden finished his freshman campaign strong, then impressed at the Chicago Blackhawks developmental camp. He could emerge as one of the league's top power forwards. "What we see more out of him now is a sense of confidence. Instead of being one of the young guys on the team, he'll be a returning veteran who had serious ice time for us last year. His leadership aspects have developed and his confidence is way greater than it was at this time last year. Both of those things should lead to improved performance on the ice."

** Freshmen forwards Ryan Hitchcock, Henry Hart and Johnny Baiocco could all compete for starting jobs right away. Allain says Hitchcock's experience in the USNDP is a huge asset in helping him adjust. "He's a really solid two-way player; he can finish, he can make plays he can play in the defensive zone. He did really well at the U.S. Junior camp. I think he should come in here with a great deal of confidence." Allain also said Hart, who averaged over two points a game last winter at Exeter, is small but crafty. Baiocco "could be the fastest guy on our team," according to Allain, with a hard shot. "For him to play, he has to make sure we see that speed and that shot every time he's on the ice."

** Nate Repensky, the NAHL's defenseman of the year, is fully recovered from the broken leg that ended his Junior year early. He's a full participant in practice, though his rehab time this summer leaves him a bit behind his classmates heading into the season. Adam Larkin, the other freshman forward, has acclimated himself well. Ryan Obuchowski, Tommy Fallen, Rob O'Gara and Mitch Witek are established as the top four. But Allain said "not much" separates the competition between No.'s five through nine on the blueline.

** Interesting note: Yale opens regular season play on Oct. 31 (against Princeton at the Liberty Invitational in Newark). Lake Superior State also plays that night. It will be its ninth game of the year.

Here's where some Yale and Quinnipiac alums will begin the new season.

NHL
Mark Arcobello (Yale), Edmonton
Chris Higgins (Yale), Vancouver

AHL
Kenny Agostino (Yale), Adirondack
Bryce Van Brabant (Quinnipiac), Adirondack
Brad Mills (Yale), Binghamton
Sean Backman (Yale), Manchester
Brian O'Neill (Yale), Manchester
Antoine Laganiere (Yale), Norfolk
Andrew Miller (Yale), Oklahoma City
Jordan Samuels-Thomas (Quinnipiac), Rochester
Jeremy Langlois (Quinnipiac), Worcester
Gus Young (Yale), Worcester

Rosters not released yet, but Kellen and Connor Jones (Bakersfield), Jesse Root and Mike Dalhuisen (Idaho), Eric Hartzell (Wheeling) and Jeff Malcolm (Greenville) among those in the ECHL.

Some news and notes from today's Quinnipiac practice:

• Players and coaches weren't thrilled with outcome of the Acadia scrimmage, but Rand Pecknold said it would serve as little more than an evaluation tool. Matthew Peca and Michael Garteig didn't dress; Dan Federico only played five shifts. Pecknold said defenseman Alex Barron and freshman Tanner McMaster were Quinnipiac's best two performers, with sophomore forward Tim Clifton also shining.
• The pace of play from the forwards is down, no surprise considering the Jones twins are gone. It'll take some time to get them up to speed. There's lots of talent in the freshman class, but there's an adjustment period to get down the Bobcats system.Several forwards are in position to pick up slack, including Clifton, Soren Jonzzon, Brayden Sherbinin.
• Pecknold says the forward lines pairings "are still a work in progress." But Federico and Connor Clifton will be the top defensive line against Bentley on Saturday. Barron will skate with Devon Toews and Justin Agosta with Derek Smith. "We're not sure who's going to be the best partner for Agosta," Pecknold said. "I think Alex can play with both, we just have to figure that out."
• Agosta, a New Hampshire transfer eligible right away, could be an impact player. But like the other first-year players, he's also adjusting. "He's not a freshman, but he's a new player to our system and UNH plays a completely different style than what we play," Pecknold said. "He's been doing something for four years, now he needs to break those habits and establish his Quinnipiac habits. That will happen. He's coachable and a good kid and will be a really good player for us."
• Federico has been a defensive leader for some time. As co-captain with Peca, he'll be looked upon to do more off the ice. "For Danny, he's always been a leader as a quiet guy, now he has to be a little more vocal," Pecknold said. "He can't change who he is, but if he's going to wear that 'C' he realized he has to be a bit more vocal. In the end, if we can get him to play the way he did last year, that's more than half the battle as a leader."
• The addition of UConn to Hockey East will only help Quinnipiac's non-league scheduling. Hockey East teams will now play a 22-game league schedule, same as the ECAC, and down from the 27 it played until Notre Dame joined last year. The Bobcats have nine Hockey East games this season, and have added Boston University starting in 2015-16. Pecknold said he hopes the Terriers will become an annual date on the schedule.
•  Pecknold said many of the freshmen were battling nerves prior to Acadia. It's not the crowd size that had them on edge -- the building was only about a third of the way to capacity -- it's the systems. There's a lot to digest in a small window of practice time. "It's a lot to digest," Federico said. "Come Saturday, you add in the shock and awe of playing in front of fans." A sellout crowd is expected at High Point Solutions Arena.
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Stopped by Quinnipiac this morning before practice to chat with Rand Pecknold and Sam Anas. Here's a few notes on the Bobcats, who take on Acadia, a Canadian University in Nova Scotia, in an exhibition Saturday night.

• Pecknold, like most college coaches who open with a Canadian exhibition, feels he'll have a better read on his personnel after Saturday. "I like using it as an evaluation tool for our young players and our returners who haven't played a lot," Pecknold said. "It's a chance to show me they deserve to be a top nine forward. Put guys in positions to succeed and see how that all plays out. Last years game, a couple of kids struggled and they dropped down the depth chart." 
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• Senior forward Matthew Peca and junior goalie Michael Garteig won't dress. Pecknold doesn't see the need to play Peca, his top player. He'll still run five lines of forwards and eight defensemen in and out against Acadia. Garteig is firmly established as the No. 1 goalie, so freshman Sean Lawrence and junior Jacob Meyers will share duties.
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• Peca and Sam Anas will begin the year on the same line. Just who lines up at right wing on that line is still up for grabs. Freshman Landon Smith, the MVP of the BCHL, is being considered and will skate with Peca Saturday. "We also have to find balance on the lines," Pecknold said, noting that last October Peter Quenneville skated the first five games with Kellen and Connor Jones, and Anas with Peca before Anas was switched to the Jones' line. "Sam and Peca have played before, so there is chemistry and I think it will work. We just have to wait and play it all out."
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• College hockey in Canada isn't nearly at the level it is here, but Acadia should be a better test. It's ranked fifth in the Canadian Intrauniversity Sport poll.
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• Size isn't everything. At 150 pounds each, Boston College's Johnny Gaudreau and Anas were the two lightest every day players in the country last season. Gaudreau, now with the Calgary Flames, won the Hobey Baker Award. Anas was named the Tim Taylor Award winner as national rookie of the year. Anas, who Pecknold estimates played the bulk of last season at 145, bulked up to 160 in the offseason after a summer of weights and changes to his nutrition habits. "It's helped my skating a lot," Anas said. "When you're heavier, you're more powerful on the ice.I was glad that I was gaining weight as I was skating in the summer because you always hear of people taking off time, putting on a bunch of muscle and their games has completely changed. It was nice to be able to skate four times a week in the summer and still gain weight."
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• Pecknold would like to see Anas become a more complete player this winter. "He had a great year. The chemistry between he and the twins, it was the perfect complement. I think he's going to have to do more this year. I want to be sure he becomes a better defensive hockey player and we can use him late in the game with a one-goal lead. I think that will happen. He was adequate defensively last year; we need him to be above average. He should make that jump this year, especially if he wants to play pro hockey." Expect to see Anas more in 4-on-4 situations with the Jones' twins gone.
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• Three of the top five scorers have graduated. Look for Tim Clifton, Tommy Schutt and Soren Jonzzen, all fourth line forwards last year, to increase offense. Defenseman Alex Barron will likely be counted on to kill penalties as a forward, much like Zach Currie a couple of years ago, until another forward establishes himself.
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• Pecknold raved about the compete-level of practices and cohesiveness in the locker room. It's nothing new for him, but without leaders and workhorses like the Joneses and Cory Hibbeler, and nine freshman and a transfer, he wasn't sure what to expect. "There hasn't been much difference," Anas said. "Everyone has made an effort to be extra vocal and include freshmen in everything. We try not to look at them as freshmen versus returning players, we want to be one group with a family aspect. Obviously, they are freshman and there's a learning curve with everything.