Ten miles separate Quinnipiac University and Yale University and the pride is overwhelming as the men’s hockey teams prepare to compete in the finals of the NCAA tournament tomorrow night.
Whether the Quinnipiac Bobcats or Yale Bulldogs win in the all-Connecticut national championship game, Connecticut comes out the winner and people across the state could not e prouder.
Quinnipiac University’s Facebook page is peppered with photos of the men’s hockey team, as is Yale’s.
“Both the Bobcats and the Bulldogs pulled off impressive wins on the ice last night, once again focusing the eyes of college sports on Connecticut. There’s no doubt that these two teams have made Connecticut the center of the college hockey universe,” Gov. Dannel Malloy said in a statement. “Each team’s players and Coaches Pecknold and Allain must be commended for their impressive victories this season, and I wish them the best in Saturday night’s championship game.
In NYC with my @quinnipiacu backpack on and a woman yells "Go Quinnipiac! Frozen four!" #thatsafirst #amazingfeeling #thanksmenshockey — Natalie Sgro (@nlsgro) April 12, 2013
@mikeparlitsis @mmschimpf @nlsgro I threw a wish in the well; don't ask me, I'll never tell- except for this time! Go Bobcats! #BeatTheNerds — Andrew McDermott (@AMcDermott21) April 12, 2013
Bulldog fans are cheering on the Yale men's hockey team in the NCAA Frozen Four: instagram.com/p/X-nRQHGJ5d #BoolaBoola — Yale University (@Yale) April 11, 2013
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When the teams get on the ice on Saturday night, it will be the first time that two teams from the same state played each other in the NCAA hockey championship since 1978.
New England had bragging rights to that game too. That was the year that Boston University beat Boston College in the championship was in Providence, Rhode Island.
“The Bobcats and the Bulldogs hockey teams have created what is becoming a New Haven-area backyard rivalry the likes of which is becoming on par with the great battle of Sally’s versus Pepe’s. And seeing as it’s become tradition over the years for the governors of the two opposing states who make it to national championship games to make friendly wagers with each other, I’m going to have to make a unique arrangement in this circumstance. If Quinnipiac wins, I think I will treat myself to some pizza at Pepe’s, and if Yale wins, I’ll head on over to Sally’s – and if after regulation it’s tied, perhaps I’ll take myself to Modern.
“Either way, it’s a win for Connecticut. Congratulations to both teams!”
A student from Quinnipiac said the school will not be running shuttle buses into New Haven and school officials have confirmed that this is the case and that there will be no Quinnipiac shuttle service into New Haven.
