#CommittedLeaders: Five NCDC Alumni Help Quinnipiac Win School’s First National Championship

Former Junior Bruin Graf’s Tying Goal Forces OT; Former Rocket Lipkin Assists On OT Title-Winner

The United States Premier Hockey League and its Tuition-Free Tier II National Collegiate Development Conference congratulate the Quinnipiac University Bobcats for winning the 2023 NCAA Division I National Men’s Ice Hockey Championship.

No less than five NCDC alumni were members of the championship-winning Quinnipiac roster:

Collin Graf (RW/C) – Boston Junior Bruins 2019-21

Scored the game-tying goal to force Overtime against Minnesota on 4/8 … Hobey Baker Top 10 Finalist in 2022-23 … Scored a 20-36-56 line with QU this year … Former Junior Bruins captain scored 101 points (35-66-101) in 91 NCDC games as well as eight points in six playoff games … is a former Junior Bruins Captain … joined the NCDC team after two USPHL 16U seasons and one USPHL 18U season, all with the Junior Bruins organization.

Yaniv Perets (G) – Boston Junior Bruins 2017-19

Earned the Championship Win in Net 4/8 … Two-Time Hobey Baker top 10 Finalist, in both 2022 and 2023 … Two-time ECAC Hockey Goaltender Of the Year and First Team All-Conference … Led all of NCAA hockey in GAA with a 1.46 in 2022-23 … Dineen Cup Champion with 2018-19 Junior Bruins … NCDC Goaltender Of The Year in 2018-19.

Samuel Lipkin (LW/C) – Rockets Hockey Club 2020-21

Assisted on the Championship-Winning Goal 4/8 … ECAC Rookie Of The Year for 2022-23 … 13-26-39 totals in 37 games … 2021 NHL Draft Pick of Arizona Coyotes (7th Round/223rd overall) – one of three draft selections out of NCDC that year, a North American Tier II hockey high for 2021 … Scored 25 points in 19 NCDC games, mostly at Hub City Tampa … Represented U.S. at 2023 World Junior Championships, earning Bronze.

Timothy Heinke (RW) – South Shore Kings 2021-22

Has appeared in 10 games with Quinnipiac as freshman in 2022-23 … Registered 49 points in 45 NCDC games in 2021-22.

Chase Clark (G) – Jersey Hitmen 2020-21

Has appeared in eight games for Quinnipiac University as a freshman, registering a 3.06 GAA … NHL Draft Pick of the Washington Capitals in 2021 (6th Round/183rd overall) – one of three draft selections out of NCDC that year, a North American Tier II hockey high for 2021 … Played in 22 NCDC games, registering 1.92 GAA and .935 save percentage … Dineen Cup Champion with HItmen in 2021.

See Rockets Hockey Club alum Sam Lipkin’s championship-winning assist to Jake Quillan right here:

Learn more about how you can pave your Path To College Hockey today by filling out a Prospects Form and signing up for our USPHL NCDC Combine Series (Limited Skater Availability)!