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Quinnipiac returns much of last season’s core and added fresh faces across the roster, positioning the Bobcats as one of the ECAC’s leading contenders for 2026-27. Key scorers, a deeper defensive corps and a retooled goaltending group give Hamden real championship aspirations heading into the new campaign.
Offense: returning stars and secondary scorers
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Ethan Wyttenbach comes back after a standout 2025-26 campaign in which he posted 59 points (25 goals, 34 assists) and averaged 1.49 points per game. The Calgary Flames prospect also earned All-American First Team East recognition, yet he was not named a Hobey Baker Hat trick finalist.
Complementing Wyttenbach is junior forward Chris Pelosi, a Boston Bruins draftee who served as an alternate captain. Pelosi finished the season with 34 points (18 goals, 16 assists) in 35 games, a scoring rate just under a point per game. His leadership role suggests the Bobcats expect further growth from him in 2026-27.
Goaltending: a summer of turnover and reinforcement
Quinnipiac replaces both Matej Marinov and Dylan Silverstein—Marinov departed for Slovakia and Silverstein transferred to Vermont—by bringing in a mix of veteran transfers and a high-profile freshman.
Christian Kirsch, the incoming freshman and San Jose selection, backstopped Kitchener to the 2026 Memorial Cup in his lone major-junior season. His recorded numbers there included a 27-10-3 record, four shutouts, a .899 save percentage and a 2.42 goals-against average, showing experience in high-pressure games.
That room is further supported by junior Rorke Applebee, who transferred from Lake Superior State. Applebee’s two years at LSSU add depth and experience, which should help Kirsch adjust to the NCAA level.
Defense: steady pairs and physical presence
The blue line returns a clear leader in Elliott Groenewold. The Bruins’ 2024 fourth-round pick posted a team-high +39 rating across 40 games, and produced 20 points (6 goals, 17 assists). His two-way play and situational scoring—three of his six goals were game-winners—make him a central figure on defense.
Andrew Strathmann arrives from North Dakota bringing a physical style. He led the Fighting Hawks with 48 penalty minutes in 38 games last season and has a junior background that includes helping the Youngstown Phantoms win the Clark Cup in 2023. While his offensive totals dipped in recent campaigns, the coaching staff appears to hope a new setting will revive that side of his game.
Also vying for impact minutes is Graham Sward, who returned to college hockey after time with the ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals under revised eligibility rules. Sward tied for second among Quinnipiac defensemen with five goals in 40 games, adding offensive support from the back end.
What this means for Quinnipiac
Taken together, the roster changes give Quinnipiac a balance of elite scoring, experienced defending and a refreshed goaltending tandem. That mix strengthens the Bobcats’ standing in the ECAC and places them among the programs to watch nationally.
- Offseason highlights: Wyttenbach returning, Pelosi as an upperclassman leader, Kirsch and Applebee added in goal, Groenewold anchoring the defense.
Coaches and fans will judge success by postseason progress. For now, Quinnipiac enters 2026-27 with clear expectations and the personnel to pursue a deep run in both conference and national play.
