The Final Horn: My Last Quinnipiac Hockey Game covered as a Student

Some games are memorable because of the result. Others become unforgettable because of what they represent. Quinnipiac's 5-4 victory over Brown in Game Three of the ECAC Quarterfinals on March 1, 2026, was both.

The Bobcats punched their ticket to Lake Placid behind a historic performance from Kahlen Lamarche, who recorded her fourth hat trick of the season while breaking Quinnipiac's single-season points record. Felicia Frank made 37 saves, Quinnipiac survived a furious third-period push from Brown, and the loud crowd of M&T Bank Arena witnessed another dramatic chapter in the program's postseason history.

For me, however, the significance of the afternoon extended far beyond the scoreboard. This game marked the final Quinnipiac hockey game I would ever cover as a student and the last game I would photograph inside M&T Bank Arena before graduating. After spending years covering Quinnipiac athletics, there was something fitting about having my final hockey assignment come with the program that started it all.

Women's hockey was the first Quinnipiac team I ever photographed. Long before NCAA Regionals, conference championships, nationally ranked matchups, and postseason tournaments became regular parts of my schedule, I was standing inside M&T Bank Arena learning how to photograph one of the fastest sports in the world. Many of the skills that shaped me as a photographer were developed while covering this program. Learning how to track play through a lens, anticipate scoring chances, and tell stories through images all started with Quinnipiac Women's Hockey. Looking back now, it feels almost impossible to script a better ending than having the same team close out my student photography career.

The atmosphere inside M&T Bank Arena reflected the magnitude of the moment. Quinnipiac entered the afternoon facing a winner-take-all game after Brown forced a decisive third contest the day before. The urgency was apparent from the opening faceoff, and the Bobcats wasted no time seizing control. Just 32 seconds into the game, Emerson Jarvis found the back of the net to give Quinnipiac an immediate lead. Minutes later, Zoe Uens doubled the advantage with a shot from the blue line, sending the Bobcats ahead 2-0 and energizing a crowd that sensed its team was ready for the challenge.

Brown answered midway through the opening period, but Quinnipiac continued to dictate the pace. The second period became the Kahlen Lamarche show. Already one of the nation's most dangerous offensive players, Lamarche scored a shorthanded goal to restore a two-goal lead before adding another less than a minute after Brown had once again pulled within one. Every time the Bears threatened to gain momentum, Quinnipiac found an answer.

The game also featured one of its biggest turning points late in the second period when Felicia Frank stopped a Brown penalty shot opportunity. At the time it felt like a massive save. By the end of the afternoon, it felt even larger. Frank consistently came through whenever Quinnipiac needed her, keeping the Bobcats in front despite increasingly heavy pressure from the Bears.

The third period became a test of resilience. Brown controlled large portions of play and outshot Quinnipiac by a significant margin, but Lamarche delivered one more historic moment when she completed her hat trick to give the Bobcats a 5-2 advantage. The goal not only secured her fourth hat trick of the season, but also established a new Quinnipiac single-season points record. It was the type of performance that will be remembered for years within the program and one that felt worthy of the stage.

Of course, playoff hockey rarely allows for a comfortable ending. Brown scored twice late in regulation and threw everything it had at the Bobcats over the final minutes. The tension inside the arena grew with every shot, every scramble around the crease, and every loose puck. As the clock wound down, Brown pulled its goaltender and launched one final push. The final seconds felt chaotic, with players crashing toward the net and the season hanging in the balance.

When the horn finally sounded, Quinnipiac had escaped with a 5-4 victory and secured its place in Lake Placid. Players celebrated on the ice, fans rose to their feet, and the Bobcats advanced one step closer to an ECAC Championship.

As those celebrations unfolded, I found myself reflecting on something different. For years, M&T Bank Arena had been more than just a venue. It had become one of the places most connected to my college experience. I had spent countless nights photographing games, editing images, meeting athletes and coaches, and documenting moments that mattered to the Quinnipiac community. Some of my favorite photographs, biggest learning experiences, and most memorable assignments came inside that building.

Standing there after the game, I realized that while Quinnipiac's season was continuing, my time covering hockey as a student had reached its conclusion. The same program that introduced me to sports photography had now provided my final opportunity to cover a game as a Quinnipiac student. There was something uniquely meaningful about that full-circle moment.

Years from now, most people will remember this game because of Lamarche's record-breaking performance, Quinnipiac's trip to Lake Placid, or the thrilling finish that nearly saw Brown complete an incredible comeback. I'll remember those things too. But I'll also remember it as the final time I walked into M&T Bank Arena with a student credential around my neck and a camera in my hand.

For a photographer, there are few better ways to close a chapter than documenting a historic playoff victory. And for me, there may not have been a more fitting way to say goodbye to Quinnipiac hockey, M&T Bank Arena, and the student experience that helped shape the person and photographer I became.