Representatives from Quinnipiac and M&T Bank also did a ceremonial puck drop before the men’s ice hockey matchup between No. 2 Quinnipiac and St. Lawrence.

For Director of Athletics Greg Amodio, it was a night to mark an exciting new chapter at Quinnipiac.

“The Quinnipiac University athletic department is excited to partner with M&T Bank as they develop a presence in this new market,” Amodio said. “Our unique brands are well positioned to engage in collaborative initiatives designed to benefit the overall community.”

M&T Bank Bridgeport Regional President Frank Micalizzi agreed.

“M&T Bank and Quinnipiac University have shared values which extend far beyond a business relationship,” Micalizzi said. “Quinnipiac is a strong community partner with a national reputation, and we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship where we support their efforts to educate the next generation of leaders, while also focusing on growth in the region."

The new partnership between M&T Bank and Quinnipiac underscores the shared culture of close collaboration, meaningful mentorship and a united purpose to make their communities stronger.

M&T Bank’s commitment to Quinnipiac and the local community extends beyond athletics and the M&T Bank Arena, a state-of-the-art, 185,000-square-foot facility featuring separate venues for ice hockey and basketball.

The M&T Bank Center for Women and Business serves women focused on achieving their professional goals. Likewise, the M&T Bank Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship provides students with access to a range of services in legal, finance, research, marketing, business plan development and startup mentoring for all types of business, social, sustainable and artistic ventures.

As M&T Bank has grown to become one of the top 20 banks in the nation, it has steadfastly retained its company-wide mission to be actively involved in the community and to focus on meeting customers' needs. This mission reflects values shared by Quinnipiac.

“I’m excited about our new partnership with M&T Bank,” said Patrice Luoma, director of the M&T Bank Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “With their corporate emphasis on education, community advocacy and extensive experience supporting entrepreneurship, we are looking forward to their input and partnership in fulfilling our goals.”