Bobcat head coaches, athletic staff and administrators mingled with season ticket holders, alumni and university partners to enjoy barbecue, beverages and a coaches panel talk led by Quinnipiac Senior Associate Athletic Director and Hall of Famer Billy Mecca.

Quinnipiac Associate Athletic Director of Strategic Partnerships Zack Soulier said the new event marked a brand-new partnership with Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ. This year, Bear’s will be vending and serving at five select games at M&T Bank Arena and will be coming to the Mount Carmel Campus for Boomer’s Boo Bash and Bobcat Weekend.

Boomer joined the Coaches Road Show to help serve up barbecue favorites and turn up the heat for an excited crowd there to meet the coaches and hear about the new season.

Enjoying the event with friends were Matthew Snow and Lisa Snow of Fairfield, Connecticut, now in their fifth year as season ticket holders following Quinnipiac NCAA Division 1 men’s ice hockey. The Snows first saw the Bobcats in the rink as parents of Quinnipiac students. Their children are alumni Sadie Snow ’18, and Jake Snow ’22.

“We did not know anything about hockey until our kids started to attend Quinnipiac,” said Lisa Snow. “They’ve both graduated, but we still go to hockey. We love it.”

“We went to a game, and we got hooked on the excitement of the hockey and the competition,” said Matthew Snow. “The atmosphere when they play at home is pretty electric. We followed them to the playoffs in Providence this past year and the year prior to that, we were in Bridgeport for the playoffs. They have such a great team, and I think it starts with the recruiting and the culture of the team.”

Over the past two decades, Hamden resident Monica Grey-Childs has been both a Bobcat basketball and hockey season ticket holder.

“I live three minutes from the campus, and I started going to basketball with my oldest son 22 years ago at Burt Kahn Court. When the arena opened, we bought the season tickets for basketball, and then we eventually bought them for hockey,” said Grey-Childs. “I’m always excited because I sit behind the bench and they have some good competition, and I’m looking forward to some good women’s and men’s hockey.”

Season ticket holder Stephen Signore ’70, played baseball and basketball as a Quinnipiac undergrad. He’s been an integral supporter of Bobcat women’s and men’s basketball for many years.

“I did the shot clock for men’s and women’s basketball for 20 years, so I have a spot in my heart for the teams,” said Signore. “I stopped doing the clock just before Covid, and I’m a season ticket holder now. I just enjoy it. I especially like women’s basketball; I’ve seen it come such a long way. Women’s basketball today is just like the men’s game.”

Brand-new Bobcats season ticket holder Steve Gruber ’02, came a long way, after a long time, to return to his Quinnipiac roots.

“We actually just moved back to town from Arizona, after not being around this area for 20 years, and we just got season tickets for hockey,” said Gruber. “I was in Arizona when the men won the national championship, which was the first time as an adult I was able to see my team win a national championship of any sport. And now we’re here tonight, and I just spoke to Coach Pecknold, who is super nice. So it’s really fun, and we’re happy to be here.”

The Snows said they also enjoyed their chance to chat with men’s ice hockey head coach Rand Pecknold at the event. Pecknold said he was happy for the chance to get to meet and talk with season ticket holders. He said the importance of having a supportive fan base cannot be underestimated.

“For us, when we play at home, it’s like our seventh player,” said Pecknold. “It gives us energy, and I think it prepares our players for the bigger venues and tournaments. That energy that they bring helps us a lot at home; and certainly, they travel pretty well. So I really appreciate the support that we get not just at home, but also on the road. It’s all part of the growth of our program.”

Men’s basketball head coach Tom Pecora said Quinnipiac’s “smart and savvy” fan base motivates his team and supports recruitment in the highly competitive world of NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball.

“If you don’t have a fan base, it just makes winning games more of a challenge, and also recruiting more of a challenge because we have recruits at games, and we send out video of all our games,” said Pecora.

He said Bobcat men’s basketball fan base made a good jump in attendance last year.

“That jump had a lot to do with us having the season we had, so I think it’s priceless,” said Pecora. “And the good thing is we have educated fans. There’s a lot of places I’ve coached and played where you have a lot of people in the stands, but they don’t know the game. Our fan base is smart; they’re savvy about the game of basketball. That helps tremendously, because they make some noise, and they know when to make it.”

Pecora and Pecknold joined women’s basketball head coach Tricia Fabbri and women’s ice hockey head coach Cassandra Turner for Mecca’s panel discussion. Mecca asked Fabbri to explain to fans what playing in front of a crowd means to her and her student athletes, who compete in the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference - the MAAC.

“There’s nothing like it when you come out of the tunnel and out of the locker room and that energy is already there. It’s a homecourt advantage. With 3,500 seats, if you get 1,000 in there, it’s deafening,” said Fabbri. “We can’t thank you enough for all that you do. Providing that energy means the world, and whatever we can do to continue to grow and make sure we have that home court advantage at our 12 home games that we have this year, you let us know; because we’ll be there.”

The noticeable boost that only fans can provide is something Turner said can help to further Bobcat women’s ice hockey’s exciting journey in the dynamic Eastern College Athletic Conference – the ECAC.

“We are so grateful for those of you who come and support us, and I would love to have more. It makes a big difference,” said Turner. “I think for us as we continue to grow and develop and strive to be a group that’s working to get to national championships, we need that support of our fans to get those recruits. We need that excitement. Come watch us play. It’s a lot of fun.”

Turner said it was exciting to be sharing an evening with some of the season ticket holders who support Bobcat women’s ice hockey.

“The energy here today says a lot about what’s going to happen this season,” said Turner. “We want more fans, but I think the ones that are there for us now are so excited for our team and they’re there for every single game.”

Quinnipiac President Judy Olian wrapped up the evening with her thanks to those who support the exceptional coaches, staff, and student athletes of Bobcat nation. Olian also currently chairs the MAAC and serves on the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, an independent group leading transformational change to prioritize college athletes’ education, health, safety and success.

“From the perspective of the university and what athletics mean for us, of course, the games are a rallying cry for us. But to me, as the president, I want to be proud of every moment that occurs on and off the field, the rink, and the court, and I am. These programs, these coaches, these teams, are amazing,” Olian said.