A simple score on a scoreboard can mean a lot. Monday, the center ice display in Quinnipiac University's M&T Bank Arena carried this one: "QU 3, MN 2, 19:50/overtime."
It represents Quinnipiac's 3-2 win over Minnesota just 10 seconds into sudden death overtime in Tampa on Saturday, giving the Bobcats their first national championship in any sport-- a reason for great joy on campus and for Quinnipiac's network of students and alumni around the world.
Beneath that score and because of it, head coach Rand Pecknold's squad celebrated with their fans at the rink on campus Monday. Every seat in the noisy 3,400-seat house was occupied, as the team sat in chairs on a red carpet over the ice, joined by dignitaries including Gov. Ned Lamont and university president Judy Olian.
Among team members, sophomore Jacob Quillan got the biggest ovation. He forever owns the pulsating championship-winning goal... plus two more scores in the national semifinal against Michigan.
Players and the coach described a whirlwind of parties, demands and positive attention in the 48 hours since the championship.
"It's like exponential now, even this last couple days," says Pecknold. "And it's great, that's what you want for the university, that's what we want for our hockey program for recruiting. But that's probably taken me a little bit off guard, how much of that has happened."
No one's saying it's not worth it, and no one could blame the Bobcats and their faithful from scoreboard-watching in their own building Monday. No matter what the next score posted in October reads, they'll never forget "QU 3, MN 2, 19:50/overtime."