HAMDEN, Conn. — Grad student Jack Ricketts recorded a natural hat trick, scoring three goals in the first 22 minutes of the game and adding a fourth late in the second period, and the No. 18 Quinnipiac men's ice hockey program withstood a furious AIC comeback to earn a 6-5 victory on Sunday evening at M&T Bank Arena.
It is the first four-goal performance by a Bobcat since at least 2002-03 and is his second collegiate hat trick, with the other coming in 2024 against Mercyhurst on Jan. 27.
Ricketts recorded the 20
th NCAA hat trick this season and the first for the Bobcats in the 2024-25 campaign, scoring the game's first goals with all three coming in breakaway fashion.
Charlie Leddy and Chris Pelosi added tallies to give the Bobcats a 5-1 advantage with 18:25 to go in the third.
The Yellow Jackets came all the way back, scoring four goals in a 9:08 span to tie the game with 7:13 to go, but Jeremy Wilmer earned the regulation win for the Bobcats, scoring with 4:10 left.
STATS AND NOTES
- Ricketts took over the NCAA Division I active scoring top spot, adding his 51st, 52nd, 53rd and 54th career goal.
- The Oakville, Ontario native recorded the Bobcats' first hat trick since Feb. 17, 2024 when Collin Graf hit the mark against Union.
- It is also the last natural hat trick since Travis St. Denis scored three in a row against RPI on Nov. 15, 2014.
- Mason Marcellus extended his point streak to eight, the third-longest active streak in NCAA Division I hockey and furthering his career-long.
- Andon Cerbone extended his points streak to five with an assist on the night.
- Tyler Borgula finished with two assists and a plus-minus of +4, both of which are new career-bests.
- Victor Czerneckianair matched his collegiate-best with two assists. He also finished +4, which is a career high.
UP NEXT
Quinnipiac starts 2025 with an ECAC bout, taking on Harvard on Jan. 1 in Cambridge, Mass.
Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m., and can be seen live on ESPN+.
For an inside look at the Quinnipiac men's ice hockey program, be sure to follow it on social media @QU_MIH or go to gobobcats.com/mih.