The Quinnipiac Chronicle, Volume 96, Issue 22

'We believe that change can be made, and we'll be the ones to make it'

Over 100 Hamden High School students walk out in protest of ICE

“We are the future and we need to do something,” Hamden High School sophomore Ned Foley said to a crowd of 100 students protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Friday morning.

The clock hit 10 a.m. and the students walked out of school in protest. The students walked for 1.6 miles — cheering, chanting and signs in hand.

“Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here,” the students chanted.

By 10:41 a.m., they arrived at the steps of Hamden Memorial Town Hall.

Spearheaded by Foley and senior Charlotte Stover, and with only about a week of preparation, the walkout drew an unexpected turnout of empowered students ranging from first-years to seniors.

“ It was amazing to see the amount of people, I was not expecting this many people,” Foley said to The Chronicle. “But then again, there’s no way for us to gauge the turnout, there’s no expected turnout… But this is great, and it actually does give me hope that people do care.”

Walking towards the front of the crowd, Stover was heart-warmed to see the number of people following behind her.

When word spread of the walk out, some students didn’t believe it could make an impact.

“I heard a lot of kids saying that this wouldn’t change anything, that just showing up wouldn’t make a difference, but every single one of these kids believes in the same cause,” sophomore Elijah Leite said to The Chronicle. “And when you have that many numbers, that’s how change is created. You need to make noise, you need to get together, you need to spread the word.”

While some had their doubts, those who showed up knew that what they were doing mattered.

“We’re all here because we believe in the power of community,” Leite said. “We believe that change can be made, and we’ll be the ones to make it.”

One of the driving factors in holding the walkout was to remind students that they have the power to make change and stand up against what they believe to be wrong.

“We just really wanted to make sure that students know that they can speak out, they can use their voices,” Stover said to The Chronicle. “And it’s so important, because every time I go to a protest, everyone is always saying, ‘I’m so happy there’s a young person here,’ because we are the future.”

Students emphasized the power of young people who are the future.

“When young people come out, especially, that’s when the most change is made, because those are the new voters, and those are the future,” junior Derrick Kerr said to The Chronicle.

Over 15 students stood atop the Town Hall stairs, sharing stories, leading chants and reminding everyone why they were there.

“You can kill a liberator, but not a liberation,” frst-year Jaya Smith-Tavaris chanted, as she shared stories of her family members protesting throughout the Civil Rights Movement.

Evoking a great deal of excitement and enthusiasm from the crowd, members of the walkout encouraged passersby to honk their horns in support of the cause, to which they received a great deal of — several Hamden residents joined the chants as well.

Students of Hamden High School were advised to use caution if they chose to attend Friday’s walkout, with the potential

presence of ICE.

After the ICE raid that occurred this past October at Optimo Car Wash, on Dixwell Ave., the Hamden community has been especially wary.

Hamden High students weren’t the only people present. Members from the Citywide Youth Coalition (CWYD) and activists from Yale University were there in protest and to ensure safety while students walked from the school.

“I feel so blessed and incredible to have had this many people show up and show that this many people,” sophomore and CWYD member Chloe Lawson told The Chronicle. “And I know there’s a lot more that care and weren’t able to make it, so the fact that we could have this many is truly such a blessing.”

The CWYD’s “aim is to strengthen young leaders and youth-serving staff personally and civically, with the belief that the New Haven area will undoubtedly benefit from an inclusive, united, and supported youth network whose voice will usher forth positive changes for all,” according to their website.

Chanting alongside Lawson was her mom and CWYD Executive Director Ta’LannaMonique “T’Mo” Lawson-Dickerson. Lawson was one of the many students to speak out to the crowd.

“It was beautiful, I had a proud mom moment, tearing up a little bit on the side,” Lawson-Dickerson said to The Chronicle. “But everything she said was true and straight from the heart.”

As the last of the student speeches were made, junior history and education studies major at Yale, Sammy Albright, led a chant

among walkout participants.

“Fuck ICE, shut it down, every city, every town,” Albright chanted with the crowd. Albright accompanied members of the CWYD in passing out fyers to attendees with details regarding how students can organize their own student walkouts and a QR code detailing upcoming events in the area. While music played, the walkout concluded with tears, smiles and pride.

“Just because there’s so much going on in the world and just because there’s so much hopelessness, we shouldn’t lose sight of the end goal,” Kerr said.

MEET THE EDITORS

EDITOR- IN - CHIEF

Alexandra Martinakova

MANAGING EDITOR

Gina Lorusso

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Emily Adorno

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Tyler Mignault

NEWS EDITOR

Ava Highland

OPINION EDITOR

Lillian Curtin

ASSOCIATE OPINION EDITOR

Joanna Farrell

ASSOCIATE ARTS & LIFE EDITOR

Sophie Murray

SPORTS EDITOR

Claire Frankland

ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITORS

Emily Marquis

Cooper Woodward

DESIGN EDITOR

Katerina Parizkova

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Elisabeth McMahon

ASSOCIATE SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Taylor Huchro

MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION EDITOR

Quinn O’Neill

ASSOCIATE MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION EDITOR

Harper Ferraro

ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORS

Ryley Lee

Lily Zahka

COPY EDITORS

Anthony Angelillo

Amanda Dronzek

Chloe Grant

The views expressed in The Chronicle’s opinion section are those of the respective authors. They do not refect the views of The Chronicle as an organization.

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Greater New Haven Indivisible holds another No Kings protest

By LILLIAN CURTIN Opinion Editor

Local group for the Indivisible movement, Greater New Haven Indivisible (GNHI), held a No Kings protest on the New Haven Green Saturday, March 28.

The No Kings protest is a political demonstration in which people protest against leaders they believe are acting with too much power, or acting as a king.

GNHI was also the organizer for the October 2025 protest. Though it didn’t have offcial numbers yet, it predicted a 33% increase in turnout from the October protest.

Speakers included the Mayor of New Haven Justin Elicker, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, New Haven Federation of Teachers Union President Leslie Blatteau and New Haven Rising Director Reverend Scott Marks.

GHNI tried to limit the number of politicians speaking this time, due to feedback received in October, organizer and GNHI board member James Farnman said in an interview with The Chronicle.

There was a much younger crowd, which was largely purposeful, according to Farnman.

“We did make a special effort to reach out to the college Democrat groups and to the youth wing of the NAACP and other youth, and the Citywide Youth Coalition,” he said.

He said that the youth participation was encouraging.

While attending the protest is great, Farnam said, what really matters is action.

“We want everyone to get into action. And we had the 30-plus tables there with all the or-

ganizations connecting people to action. They were… they were swamped,” he said. “They had very good responses.”

The protest was meant to be uplifting and fun, according to organizer and GNHI board member Maureen Campbell.

The goal was to “get people to come out that maybe have never been to a rally before, maybe are frustrated at home, they’re upset, but they don’t know where to begin or how to… how to get involved, and make them feel comfortable doing that,” she said.

Entertainment included the Groovement Band, Movimiento Cultural and a drum band for the parade, as well as puppets.

Both Farnam and Campbell agreed that this format helped with community building.

“There’s just a sense of… You know, togetherness of joy and celebration that we’re here, we’re not going anywhere, we’re gonna…we’re gonna fght, and that… that, I think, helps… in building that community, defnitely. And the music, I think, defnitely helped,” Farnam said.

It seems everyone walked away feeling joyful, Campbell added.

“They came back from the parade with the biggest smiles on their faces.”

Campbell’s grandchildren also participated in the protest, carrying banners and posters.

“It was great for them to see democracy in action,” she said.

The movement has faced pushback nationwide.

“We’re doing it while we can, let’s put it that way,” Campbell responded when asked how

they felt about the arguments against the protest.

Farnam says there’s evidence in this administration that we may be heading into an authoritarian regime, citing sources such as New York Times articles and historian David Blight.

“There’s defnitely…so much evidence of… of this administration seizing power, seizing control and unconstitutional means, and he’s been repeatedly beat back by the courts,” he said. “We are in unprecedented times in terms of attacks on the Constitution, attacks on… on the rule of law, especially the Justice Department has been hollowed out.”

It’s not just radicals that participate, Campbell said.

“We are people that love our country, that love our democracy, that believe that… still believe and have hope, that we can make the goals of our democracy come true. It’s very complicated because we are such an experiment in many ways, but when you see groups getting together like we had at this rally, and how passionate they are about their missions, and how joyful they are about the work they’re doing. You really get a sense of the goodness in the world,” she said.

Both said that the GNHI is planning more events for May Day.

They encourage everyone, especially young people, to get as involved as they can.

“Unless people go home and actually do things, you know, call their legislators, write postcards, do canvassing, do electoral work, do agitation. Get other people on board and organize. …It’s just… it won’t… it won’t have the impact that it should,” Farnam said.

Quinnipiac launches content creation and infuencing minor

By ADRIANA CERBONE Staff Writer

Quinnipiac University’s School of Communications is launching a content creation and infuencing minor with a goal to help expand content strategy skills and prepare students to communicate responsibly and effectively.

The minor will be available for the fall 2026 semester.

Content creation is the activity or profession of making digital content such as blogs, videos or podcasts and sharing it on the internet for all to view.

Influencers are driving economies, so the minor will tap into that, according to Senior Associate Dean of Communications Terry Bloom.

“It’s gonna be a combination of some production skills, some content creation, but also strategy and sort of media landscape, media users and media audiences,” Bloom said.

Bloom believes this will be great for the school.

“It’s moving us toward sort of where media is headed, where the audiences are headed and keeping in mind just sort of this continuing evolution to user-generated content and this idea of influencers as opinion makers and this shift in the way we’re advertising versus and marketing to people,” Bloom said.

This minor gives students the opportunity to think about their brand and what they want to bring to the table as an employer, since almost every job in this landscape has some form of content creation.

“Bringing that skill, not only the skill, but the perspective, that understanding of how to tap into an audience is gonna make our students, from all majors, more marketable to their future employers, because they’re gonna bring something unique to

the table, having this already to go,” Bloom said. “I think it’s a really smart choice. I think it helps our students be very entrepreneurial in how they approach their careers. So it’s exciting.”

A fundamental course offered is Media Users and Audiences. This will help the students understand who they are and who they are targeting with their content. Another course is a production course, focused on content creation with cell phones instead of big cameras and fancy equipment. The course prioritizes quick and small production.

Electives include topics such as ethics and AI, media innovators, video game communities, communication technologies, celebrity culture, strategies for social media, branding strategies and so on.

The minor will be interdisciplinary and

include courses from different departments. The department includes six programs from the School of Communications, plus a partnership with the health science program. This track is specifically for health and wellness influencing.

“That was born out of this desire to really help to try to contain the bad information that’s getting out there. And have some people with some actual expertise giving this kind of health information. And so health sciences was very interested in partnering up on that,” Bloom said. “So students can kind of choose whatever talks to them in there.”

Bloom describes the process as both very cool and enriching, yet also complicated.

“It took a little while to synthesize and sort of bear it out, but it was really gratifying to see how these worlds intertwine and

overlap and, you know, what the glue is, that holds them all together and break that out and present it to students. So I’m excited for it,” Boom said.

With word spreading about the upcoming minor, some students have already expressed interest in it, like frst-year sports communication major Adriana Cardinal, who has always had a dream for content creation.

“Since I started high school and social media became huge, especially TikTok, I knew I wanted to do something with social media in my future,” Cardinal said.

Her passion for sports communications started with TikTok infuencer and ESPN Lifestyle and Content Creator Katie Feeney.

Feeney is a Pennsylvania State University alumna who not only worked in content creation but also sports media with the Penn State Football team.

“The School of Communications brought in Katie Feeney to speak to us, whom I’ve looked up to for a while,” Cardinal said. “With bringing in people like this, in this field and creating this minor I believe alone shows their support for this field of work.”

In the fall, Cardinal plans to double minor in content creation and marketing.

“One of my professors brought it up when we started talking about registration, so in the fall I will be double minoring with my minor already in marketing as well as content creation,” she said. “I’m really excited to see what is in store for this new addition and can’t wait to begin.”

Several other universities offer this minor as well due to the growing trend in media strategy. Some schools include Temple University, Methodist University, Lasell University and Boston University. These universities share the same goals: to emphasize digital storytelling, content strategy, social media analytics and visual production.

Quinnipiac's most recent audit reports 8% increase in revenue, fagged for ‘signifcant defciencies’

By AVA HIGHLAND News Editor

Quinnipiac University’s most recent audit, from fscal year 2024-25, shows an increase in revenue and assets, as well as reported “signifcant defciencies.”

Quinnipiac ended fscal year 2024-25 with a total operating revenue of $394 million — an approximate 8% increase from the previous year. The majority of the university’s revenue comes from tuition and fees.

The university’s total assets increased as well, by about 4.4%, from just under $2 billion to just over $2 billion.

As for investments, Quinnipiac once again saw an increase from the previous year, from $764 million to $792 million. The university invests “in a combination of stocks, fxed income securities, money market funds, mutual funds, private equity funds and alternative investments, including hedge funds,” according to the audit.

The bulk of Quinnipiac’s investments held at fair value in 2024-25 were stocks and equity mutual funds, specifcally, $556 million.

Quinnipiac’s total expenditures of federal awards was $127 million — in other words, the amount of federal government money the university received and used across all federal programs and grants.

In regard to federal programs the university complied “in all material respects, with the types of compliance requirements referred to above that could have a direct and

material effect on each of its major federal programs,” according to the audit.

There were no material weaknesses or signifcant defciencies reported in fnancial statements. In federal awards there were no reported material weaknesses, however the university was fagged for identifed “signifcant defciencies.”

The frst is in regard to direct loans. The auditors found that of 40 students selected for eligibility testing, “two students within the sample had

incorrect allocations of Direct Loans based upon their specifc circumstances.”

For one instance, a student was under-awarded

Subsidized Direct Loans.

“The student should have been allocated a portion of subsidized loan funds before being awarded all unsubsidized loan funds,” according to the audit.

The other student was also under-awarded

Subsidized Direct Loans. In this instance,

“based on their demonstrated fnancial need, the student should have received additional subsidized loan funds before being awarded unsubsidized loan funds.”

The auditors recommend “periodic quality control reports to allow for further accuracy checks.”

Quinnipiac was also fagged for a “signifcant defciency” in internal control over compliance in enrollment reporting.

For context, enrollment information — which includes the date a student separates from the university — “must be accurately reported within 30 days whenever attendance changes for a student, unless a roster will be submitted within 60 days.”

This includes reductions or increases in attendance levels, withdrawals, graduations and approved leaves of absence.

The university is responsible for monitoring and reporting those changes to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), as it is a participant in the Title IV aid programs.

In the most recent audit, out of eight students selected, one student was reported to the NSLDS outside the 60-day window.

The audit reports that this was caused by a “delay in communication of graduated status to the Registrar for NSLDS reporting purposes.”

“The university does not comment on its fnances,” John Morgan, associate vice president for public relations, wrote in a statement to The Chronicle.

By REX NAYLOR AND EMILY MARQUIS

The Buffalo Sabres have been a franchise known for nothing but mediocrity in the NHL. The words “foot in the crease” still send shivers down the Buffalo faithful’s spines.

The Sabres have not made the NHL playoffs in 14 seasons, the longest drought in the league. The only other American sports team to have a longer drought is the New York Jets, with 15 seasons. But on Dec. 15, everything changed in Buffalo, New York.

Kevyn Adams was fred from his position as the general manager of the team, and Jarmo Kekaälaäinen took over. At the time, the Sabres were 14-14-4, perpetuating the same mediocrity the Sabres have become known for.

As of March 24, the Sabres’ record is 44-20-8, and they sit second in the Eastern Conference with 96 points and 10 games to play behind the Carolina Hurricanes with 96 points as well.

Thirty-one wins, seven losses and four overtime losses since the change. The Buffalo Sabres aren’t the “hottest” team in the league. They are by far the best in the Eastern Conference and are a wagon heading into the playoffs.

The Sabres have found themselves a core with veteran winger Alex Tuch and defensemen Bowen Byram and Owen Power. Well-rounded young guns Jack Quinn, Zack Benson and Josh Doan. Then, of course, superstar center Tage Thompson and captain defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.

Of course, you can’t mention the Sabres without Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey alum Zach Metsa ‘23, who has found his footing in the defensive core of the Sabres but has since been sent down to their AHL affliate, the Rochester Americans.

Head coach Lindy Ruff heads the Sabres team as the franchise’s all-time leader in wins. He returned to Buffalo last season and has played a large part in turning the franchise around.

Bobcat Buzz

Sabres get sliced

The Sabres vs. Lightning matchup on March 8 tells someone all they need to know about this team.

In a game with 15 goals and 108 PIM (penalties in minutes), the Sabres were victorious despite being down 7-4 in the third period, coming back to win 8-7 in regulation.

With the Lightning going after Thompson and Dahlin for the most part, enforcers Sam Carrick, Michael Kesselring and Beck Malenstyn stepped up, displaying a fght the Sabres organization hasn’t seen in years.

The tide has certainly shifted in Buffalo as the Sabres seem to be poised for a playoff run in the toughest playoff sport. Players like Dahlin, Thompson and goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will all need to step up more than they have if they want their names etched in hockey history on Lord Stanley.

In a city plagued by heartbreaking

with a statement like: “The Sabres will be frst-round exits.”

Don’t believe me? Fine. But the fact of the matter is the Sabres are not nearly as impressive as you think. Statistically, they aren’t entirely impressive.

Speed and youth remain Buffalo’s calling card even as the team’s record improved, relying on takeaways and quick offensive bursts to facilitate offense. It’s an offensive strategy that founders as playoff games become grittier, and goals are harder to come by. Buffalo has the third least goals scored off rebound shots in the league. Teams like

pear to be shooting out of their league.

Now if their newfound success is legitimate, the playoff run will need to be pinned on the talents of two men. Goaltending pair Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen have carried the Sabres to this position at the top of the Atlantic. According to ESPN, the Sabres player of the game has been a goaltender 17 times since Dec. 9, 2025, just before the Sabres frst major win streak began.

However, Lyon and Luukkonen’s experience doesn’t bode well for playoffs. As members of the Sabres in 2026, they have split time since the Olympic Break ended. Historically, that system causes problems in the playoffs, as picking one goaltender when both are playing well can lead to situations like the 2023 Boston Bruins, who broke their traditional one game off, one game on style to both Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark’s detriment. So on picking the starter alone, Ruff may be in trouble.

loss after heartbreaking loss at the hands of the Bills, the city of Buffalo has another pride, and they won’t let them down.

The Buffalo Sabres are overall just a subpar hockey team.

In any other season, that sentence would hardly astound fans. As far as takes go, its as cold as the NHL ice at the KeyBank Center.

However, with the Sabres bagging 98 points and the top-seed in the Eastern Conference, upstate New York may have a bone to pick

By AMANDA DRONZEK Copy Editor

I don’t get federal work study. Before you decide that I’m a privileged piece of shit, shut up and listen.

My family didn’t have anything growing up. We owned a business that went under when I was eight years old and my parents drained everything from our sav-

before getting bullied into submission by teams that were unafraid to take away that open lane.

Buffalo is in the bottom half in the league in blocked shots, and on average checks less than their opponents. On their own, these stats are not a concern. Physicality isn’t everything in hockey. But pair that with offensive stats that aren’t immensely impressive — Buffalo is 17th in puck possession, and its goal differential against expected is ffth in the league — and the Sabres ap-

Furthermore, neither goaltender has the playoff experience to justify getting the starting nod. Luukkonen, who is a career Sabre, has no experience playing playoff hockey in the NHL. The last time he has played in a postseason series, it was in junior hockey with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sudbury Wolves. There he had a 3.27 goals against average and 0.906 save percentage in eight games.

Lyon at least has success in the American Hockey League postseason, but in the NHL, his experience is limited. Against that 2023 Bruins team, in four games played he had a 3.63 goals against average and a 0.888 save percentage. Look, I’m not saying don’t be optimistic. Playoff hockey means anything can happen. But if I was a fan of the Sabres, I wouldn’t be planning the Stanley Cup parade just yet.

Non-federal work study opportunities limit students

ings and searched couch cushions for coins to keep up with bills.

After a decade, we made it to the other side. My parents have great jobs and money isn’t giving them high blood pressure anymore. But affording college was always going to be an issue because we had nothing stored away in the bank.

Then we got sort of lucky. My grandma passed away two weeks before I came to Quinnipiac. Honestly, shoutout Grammy D. I miss you every day, but you put a fat check in my savings account so I could go to school debt-free.

It still sucks that I don’t qualify for federal work study jobs. I understand students

make more in a non-federal work study position because there’s no pay cap, but how much more would I really get? I’d still be working around 10-15 hours a week.

Non-federal work study jobs at Quinnipiac claim they’re constantly hiring, but I’ve never heard back from anyone after submitting an application. How do I get ghosted by the campus career department for a proofreading gig? Isn’t that literally what I do as a copy editor? Why can’t I just work at the freaking gym? I’m there every day.

And before you ask, yes, I’ve applied to probably 100 local part-time jobs in the area. And yes, it is possible to be rejected from CVS, Walgreens, The Paper Store, Gap and Old Navy in the same week.

I’m not a pompous asshole. I don’t

think I deserve things because I’m me. I think I deserve federal work study opportunities because my family isn’t rolling in dollar bills. We were in debt until 2023.

The paycheck doesn’t equate to the situation, and I hate that it does on paper. We’re comfortable, but anything could happen.

My dad might need a kidney transplant tomorrow instead of 10 years from now. Oh, right, I forgot to mention I live in a household that will be paying for dialysis one day. I’ve heard that’s pretty cheap.

I wish the university provided normal, mindless jobs to non-federal applicants like they do for federal work study students. But hey, we live in America. As long as you can manage to cough up the cash, you pay the piper.

Opinion

Oh, oh! That's Gen Z humor

By ANTHONY ANGELILLO Copy Editor

Millions of people across TikTok, Instagram Reels and every other short-form platform have watched the same memes, heard the same sounds and laughed at the same nonsensical garbage that would have gotten zero views fve years ago.

This is no longer just a stupid internet trend; short-form platforms have fundamentally changed how an entire generation processes humor.

In other words, we have literally burned down everything comedy used to be, pissed on the ashes and rebuilt it into something so unhinged that trying to explain a joke to someone who is not chronically online feels like describing your Xbox party chats to a priest.

So let’s get right into it, with the mythical creature that is conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk. I cannot explain to another living person why I have spent hours scrolling through "Kirkifed" memes and laughing like something is clinically wrong with me.

Mind you, this is a man who was assassinated back in Sept. 2025, and somehow, he will never be forgotten, not because of what he believed in, but with “We Are Charlie Kirk” becoming the biggest meme of the fall season.

If you’ve been living under a rock, it’s a “memorial” AI song that people called the worst thing ever recorded while simultaneously streaming it, so much so that it topped Spotify’s Viral chart and landed on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs list. That’s not all. People started face-swapping

Charlie Kirk’s likeness onto every meme and reaction image on the internet, and the word “kirkify” became an actual verb that real people used in real conversations.

His face has been on IShowSpeed, Marvel actor Anthony Mackie and, for fuck’s sake, a realistic Bart Simpson trying not to laugh.

Millions of us are in our bedrooms at an unreasonable hour, watching the Kirk cinematic universe unfold, and that is when I realized my sense of humor was beyond professional help.

So, how does something like this happen? The answer lies in how these platforms reward speed over substance. A joke does not need setup, context or even a punchline to go viral.

When Oxford made “brain rot” its Word of the Year in 2024, the internet saw that and said, “Bet, let us produce even more stupid shit.”

Take, for instance, the “6-7” meme. It has no reason to exist, yet it was on every For You page for weeks because we fnd saying two numbers funny.

Now, whenever someone says it, I always smirk and look for others who, sure enough, are looking right back. Man, our future is so bright.

Then we have The Hawk Tuah girl, who went from a Nashville street

interview about “sucking it” to launching a podcast, signing brand deals, throwing a frst pitch at a New York Mets game and then crashing a crypto coin so hard the FBI reportedly got involved, all in a single of this should be real, but it is, and I guarantee people completely forgot about this and are now remembering that period as a fever dream. That’s why traditional comedy feels like it’s losing ground. I love comedy, and I love remembering something so memorable that you can never forget. can never get that now, and I hate that. Stand-up specials, late-night monologues and sitcom writing all operate with an audience willing to sit still for longer than 10 seconds. TikTok blew that shit up, and now millions, including myself, struggle even to watch a one-minute video. dynamic is how "Skibidi Toilet" became a legitimate cultural phenomenon rather than dying in a week, as it probably should have.

YouTube series about humanheaded toilets fghting camera-headed soldiers, made in a video game, has racked up over 16 billion views and 41 million subscribers. Michael Bay, who has become a meme himself with “Directed by

Michael Bay” appearing after someone cuts away right before something bad happens, is producing a movie adaptation.

Fortnite sold "Skibidi Toilet" cosmetics. Scholastic, the company that gave us everyone’s favorite school book fair, is publishing Skibidi Toilet chapter books. The word “skibidi” became so unavoidable that Pope Francis used the term “brain rot” in a 2025 address urging people to get off social media. The fucking Pope (excuse my language) had to address this.

The algorithm is the real villain here, and I say that as someone who is completely attached to what it feeds me.

TikTok has now fully rewired my brain to what we fnd funny by providing increasingly absurd content until a random sound layered over an unrelated image becomes the peak of comedy.

My sense of humor is beyond saving, and I have made peace with that. But this is not just my problem. An entire generation got its comedic taste buds permanently altered by an algorithm that prioritized chaos over genuine craft.

There is no more context to anything we watch now. We just doom scroll until we are half asleep on our beds, because we have nothing better to do.

If none of this makes sense to you or you have no clue what I am talking about, frst, I am proud of you and second, if you want your internet virginity taken away, give it one week on TikTok, you will never recover.

Taylor Frankie Paul's 'Bachelorette' season was never going to be aired

By ADRIANA CERBONE AND WILLOW SEIBOLD

Taylor Frankie Paul is known as the leader of “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and creator of MomTok. Paul was supposed to star in season 22 of “The Bachelorette" but her season was not aired. Was this planned all along?

ABC cancelled the upcoming bachelorette season this month after a video from 2023 resurfaced of Paul allegedly committing domestic violence. She attacked her now ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen.

The video displayed Paul supposedly hitting Mortensen, kicking him and throwing chairs at him.

In season one of “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” the audience was made aware that Paul was drunk during this incident and was charged with assault, criminal mischief and domestic violence

From this cancellation, ABC will reportedly lose approximately $50 million due to the abrupt pull of the show right before its scheduled airing.

There is no way ABC was not made aware of the charges in the past made against Paul, especially before having her star in their show.

Some things aren’t adding up.

In 2010, approximately 11.7 million people watched season six of “The Bachelorette.” Flash forward 15 years, in 2025, approximately 1.6 million people watch the show.

“The Bachelorette" is not at its peak anymore. The video of Paul was from three years ago and was already known from season one of “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.”

In 15 years, “The Bachelorette” lost 9.8 million viewers, so ABC knew it needed to do something to make the show what it once was.

And Paul’s drama could do just that.

This makes us think the season was never meant to air. That this was all planned to help “The Bachelorette” gain back the views it had lost and make the show popular again.

Why would ABC risk having such a hotheaded individual on its show that can create such backlash on their series?

It makes no sense.

Why flm the whole season just to cancel it because of an incident that happened three years ago that was already known?

There are so many questions.

We have never cared to watch any season

of “The Bachelorette,” but knowing Paul was going to be the star made us want to tune in. Although, if you think about it, she isn’t the best candidate given that she was divorced, has two baby daddies and clearly has some anger issues.

Being aware of all of her emotional toils

and repeated breakdowns all throughout “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” there is no doubt this would be an interesting season, no matter the end result.

ABC knew that she brought drama and attention everywhere she went, and the network used it to their advantage.

We think it’s even possible Mortensen leaked this video right before the season was meant to be aired to ensure the season did not go public, something that many speculate online. I mean, why was this video just now leaked three years later? Very suspicious.

His constant need to use his manipulative tactics and possibly abusive behavior behind closed doors makes us believe he would do anything to disrupt her career and future relationships. No sane father would leak a video of his ex throwing a chair and hitting their child, unless he has alternative motives.

My finger is pointed at Mortensen or ABC because, in any case, any publicity is good publicity.

Quinnipiac men's ice hockey highlighted in ESPN college hockey pre-show

By COOPER WOODWARD Associate Sports Editor

March means a few things in the sports world. Conference tournaments are underway for winter sports, league champions are crowned and, of course, madness. While NCAA men’s and women’s basketball gets a majority of the eyes, there is one more tournament that often fies under the radar, men’s and women’s hockey.

The men’s tournament began March 26, with the University of Michigan, North Dakota, Denver and Wisconsin making the Frozen Four, which starts next week in Las Vegas.

ESPN anchors Jeremy Schaap and John Buccigross previewed the upcoming tournament on “Game on: Journey to the NCAA Championship” which aired March 25 on ESPN 2. While they briefy touched on the matchups, a majority of the show centered around the storylines, for which Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey had two.

The frst went through the rise of Quinnipiac’s program from Division III to Division I national champions and how three-decade veteran head coach Rand Pecknold guided the team to hockey immortality.

The segment began with Pecknold’s start as a Bobcat and how he was offered a contract of

$7,000, practicing with his team at midnight and moonlighting as a Greek mythology teacher at a local high school.

After touching briefy on the teams’ 2013 and 2016 national championship appearances, the program turned to arguably one of the biggest decisions Pecknold has ever made, pulling goaltender Yaniv Perets with two and a half minutes on the clock and down a goal against Minnesota in the 2023 Frozen Four.

If you know the story, you know what happens next. Forward Colin Graf ‘24 fnds the back of the net and the game is headed to overtime, where forward Jacob Quillan ‘24 buries the puck past goaltender Justin Close ‘23 to win Quinnipiac its frst ever national championship.

“That was the culmination of so much hard work,” Associate Vice President for Facilities Operations “Tenth Second Podcast” host Keith Woodward said. “It was every single emotion that came upon his face. Because he fnally accomplished it.”

All of this, while Pecknold walked the audience through the locker room in between the end of regulation and overtime.

“It still chokes me up,” Pecknold said.

The Bobcats have looked to capture that magic ever since, falling in the prior two tournaments to

Boston College in the regional fnal and UConn in the regional semifnal. In its seventh straight tournament appearance, Quinnipiac fell in the regional fnal to North Dakota on March 28. But leading that postseason push was the nation’s leader in points and the subject of the second Quinnipiac related segment, freshman forward Ethan Wyttenbach.

“For Ethan, the game of hockey is much more than a game,” Schaap said. “It’s a calling.”

Like most player stories, the segment started at Wyttenbach’s roots in Long Island, N.Y., and how Quinnipiac’s latest star started his love for hockey. At the root of that love is his family and his father, Andrew.

“He didn’t wanna force it, but when he saw how much I loved the game, he wanted me on skates as soon as possible,” Ethan said.

While you know Ethan’s highlight reel goals and the 58 points, the casual viewer doesn’t know a lot about Andrew’s sacrifce of leaving his nine to fve job in New York City to own and operate a sports complex, home to, of course, a hockey rink.

The episode further explains how that luxury has helped Ethan develop all the way from the Eastern Junior Elite Prospect League with the Long Island Gulls, to the NCAA and the ECAC with Quinnipiac.

With a sport that doesn’t attract as many viewers as some of its predecessors, it’s important for shows like this to exist to draw new eyes on the tournament.

Overall, the show achieves its purpose and serves it well. It informs the casual fan about the biggest stories surrounding this year’s NCAA Tournament teams, while approaching them with different angles that keep the diehards locked in and entertained.

Bob Iger's impact on the Walt Disney Company will last a lifetime

By CLAIRE FRANKLAND Sports Editor

It’s always shocking when CEOs of corporate giants announce their step back from their respective conglomerate, for better or for worse.

March 18 marked a transitional day for the Walt Disney Company, as after nearly two decades, former CEO Robert Iger offcially transferred power over to former chairman of Disney Experiences, Josh D’Amaro.

Iger, who served two tenures of 17 years as CEO of Disney, led the company through some of its most transformational years, marked by global expansion, innovative storytelling and massive acquisitions.

GLOBAL EXPANSION

One of the most notable achievements in the theme parks of Iger’s was the expansion into China with Shanghai Disneyland Park.

The park offcially opened on June 16, 2016, marking the frst Disney destination in Mainland China, as Disney had opened Hong Kong Disneyland in 2005 under former CEO Michael Eisner.

The immersive theme park featured six themed lands (Mickey Avenue, Gardens of Imagination, Fantasyland, Treasure Cove, Adventure Isle and Tomorrowland). Today, the park has seen the addition of two more immersive lands – Toy Story Land and Zootopia – with the announcement of a land themed towards Spider-Man announced in 2024.

With Shanghai’s Disneyland being the most recently opened Disney theme park, Iger went into the project with the mission of making it unique.

“I didn’t want to build Disneyland in China,” Iger

told USA TODAY. “I wanted to build China’s Disneyland for a number of reasons. From the very beginning, I wanted to act like we were respectful, invited guests in China.”

Iger goes on to discuss how he envisioned blending elements of Chinese culture into the theme park, in order to respect the rich culture of the country. With many individuals believing that Disney’s expansion into Europe was an attempt to “Americanize” the continent, like when the company expanded into Paris in 1992, Iger looked to fght that idea.

“One way to show respect was to infuse this place with elements of the familiar, with elements of Chinese culture. Not only could [Chinese visitors] relate to it, but they could be proud of it

to USA TODAY. “I thought that was important.” MASSIVE ACQUISITIONS

As the Walt Disney Company has grown and developed over the years into a corporate superpower in the corporate empire, the company has seen its fair share of acquisitions under Iger’s oversight.

Finalized on March 20, 2019, one of Iger’s largest acquisitions in history came at 21st Century Fox – where an initial value of $52.4 billion turned into $71.3 billion as Disney battled with Comcast.

While the acquisition included a 73% stake in National Geographic Partners and a 30% stake in Hulu, Iger’s main objective was to acquire the network with plans of developing Disney’s frst streaming service – becoming Disney+.

Additionally, Iger was responsible for merging The Walt Disney Company and Pixar Animation Studios.

Yes, for those unaware, Disney did not create Pixar, as the company actually operated independently for 20 years but relied on Disney for funding and distribution.

At the time of the acquisition, Disney was in an era of its flmmaking known as the PostRenaissance Era, characterized by flms not becoming widely popular or well-liked. Obviously, these people have never seen “Bolt” and “Lilo and Stitch,” but that’s a discussion for another day.

To help revive their animation department, Iger went through with the deal to acquire Pixar for $7.4 billion, as Iger looked to strengthen the company’s animation division, while then Pixar CEO Steve Jobs sought out a stable distribution partner.

Moreover, during Iger’s tenure, he fnalized the acquisitions of Marvel and Lucasflm, two

franchises that have become integral parts of Disney’s continued success, both in the flms and TV shows and in its theme parks.

INNOVATIVE STORYTELLING

Another great achievement during Iger’s tenure came at the launch of Disney’s frst streaming platform: Disney+.

The streaming platform launched on Nov. 12, 2019, bringing Disney’s beloved and deep roster of flms and TV shows to audiences across the globe.

Not only did the streaming platform showcase work of the Walt Disney Studios and Disney Television Studios, but it also featured content from Disney’s fagship brands, including Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic, ESPN and Star Wars.

This innovative way of showcasing Disney’s work, along with the work of its partnerships and acquisitions, has proven integral to the company’s continued success.

The company previously offered the Disney Movie Club, a subscription-style service where members would have VHS tapes, DVDs and Blurays shipped to their home, offering exclusives or classic flms. However, with streaming changing the way people consume content, the company needed to ft the norm of today.

According to Statista, the streaming platform, as of late 2025, had roughly 131 million subscribers, much higher than its goal of reaching 60 to 90 million that year.

With Iger’s 17-year run at the company fnally fnishing its chapter, it's crucial to look back on the accomplishments of the man.

The man who strived to grow the company and make every day slightly more magical than the day before.

Twenty years later, it's still the ‘Best of Both Worlds’

Miley Cyrus is back as Hannah Montana in ‘Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special’

By LILLIAN CURTIN Opinion Editor

The moment we’ve been waiting for is here. The “Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary special” has offcially dropped on Disney+.

After a fan account dropped a “teaser” in 2025, many people were fooled into thinking that actress and singer Miley Cyrus was making a comeback as the iconic character Hannah Montana. Hopes and dreams (including mine) were crushed when it was realized that it was just a fan account and not Cyrus herself.

Well, that disappointment didn’t last long as Cyrus fnally announced on Feb. 17 that a 20th anniversary was happening.

If you’ve been living under a rock for the past 20 years, “Hannah Montana” was a Disney Channel show that aired from 2006 to 2011. It followed a young teen girl, Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus), living a secret double life: one as a normal girl and one as her famous popstar alter ego, Hannah Montana.

Cyrus’s real-life father, “Achy Breaky Heart” singer Billy Ray Cyrus, played her on-screen father, Robby Ray Stewart. And her godmother, “9-5” singer Dolly Parton, played Aunt Dolly.

“Hannah Montana” was my childhood. I’m talking: “Hannah Montana” themed birthday party, having the DVD of the 3D concert on repeat and “Hannah Montana: The Movie” being the frst movie I ever saw in theatres.

The 20th anniversary special started perfectly. Miley is driving on the road, traveling with her hand on her makeup case. “But that’s just a makeup case, isn’t it a little tedious?” No, it’s an amazing attention to detail because that makeup case was the same makeup case I, and many other kids, yearned for. The aesthetic perfection of that makeup case is unparalleled.

The beginning of the special replicates the start of the 2009 movie, where Hannah is running around the stadium with that same case, with fans cheering and “Best of Both Worlds” opening the show.

herself called Cooper a “super fan.”

I know her being the host rubbed some people the wrong way, but it was actually pretty heartwarming to see someone who genuinely loved the show doing this interview, rather than an older journalist who may not have been inspired or impacted as much.

Cooper began by interviewing Miley, taking it all the way back to the original audition. That’s when we get a look inside the beginning of not just Hannah Montana, but also Miley Cyrus.

Her mom, Tish, brought in her old cheerleading uniform from when she was a little girl, before fame. Then, she brought out former Disney Channels Worldwide President Gary Marsh.

“I had this nutty ambition that we could turn a fctional pop star into a real-life superstar,” he said. That’s exactly what he did.

Missing from the anniversary were Oliver (Mitchell Musso) and Lilly (Emily Osment), but Cyrus did say that she had a crush on Musso and found a teammate in Osment.

Those of us Hannah Montana fans remember when rumors spread that Osment and Miley

brother. Hello,” she said.

I mentioned earlier the makeup case that I envied; the same goes for the rest of Miley’s closet in the show. When I saw her walk-in closet that resembled a mall for the frst time, I was in awe.

Miley and her mom Tish, went into the closet together and saw iconic looks from the frst episode to the opening number from the movie. Then, they talked about the wigs.

Oh my God. The wigs. Two things made Hannah Montana: Miley Cyrus and a blonde wig. That’s it.

“We do not take our inches as a joke,” she said, referring to the shorter wig that she didn’t like. They both preferred the longer wigs for the character.

Watching these mother-daughter moments was so sweet. Especially because for all four seasons, we saw her with her dad on screen. Actually, in the show, Robby Ray is a single dad because Miley’s mother had died. Now, we get a chance to see this iconic duo.

Tish is adorable, to say the least. She kept a memory book and apparently had a lot of say in outfts and other stylistic choices that

Life on Deck.”

While chatting, she told Gomez that she’d be performing “This is the Life,” which was the frst song she sang as Hannah.

And boy, did she perform it. Tears were running down my face as I listened to her perform that song, with the audience singing along.

As if I thought I couldn’t get more emotional, she started singing “The Climb.” I was an absolute goner.

Nostalgia has never hit me harder in my life. But the vibe was different.

This wasn’t the young girl trying to fnd herself anymore and convincing herself through the lyrics. This was a woman who had fgured it out and learned the lesson. The meaning of the song was exemplifed right in front of us.

There are times when celebrities do tributes like this, and don’t put energy into it because they’re doing it for the fans and the paycheck. Miley transformed into Hannah while she was singing these songs, with just as much passion as she did 20 years ago. It felt like she was doing it for herself, too.

The older me was watching the older her in the same scene that the younger me had watched the younger her in. I felt like a little girl again, getting goosebumps when she reenacted going up the elevator under the stage to start performing.

Of course, when we hit the frst transition, we hear that magical “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,” and we were brought back to the set of the house. If you’re a fan, you’ll know exactly what those lyrics sound like.

First thing she did was go to the fridge, where she found “sweet niblets,” “hand moisturiser” (ketchup) and a pie — all subtle jokes from the original series.

She then brought out the host of the event, “Call her Daddy,” podcaster Alex Cooper. I have to admit, Cooper was an unexpected choice. But honestly, who else was going to do it? If you think about it, she honestly makes the most sense. She was a young teenager when the show was airing, making her the perfect demographic. Meaning, she’s a fan just like us. In fact, Miley

least now. Osment was simply flming her own show, “George and Mandy’s First Marriage,” a spinoff of “Young Sheldon,” which is a “Big Bang Theory” spinoff. It’s unknown why Musso didn’t appear.

Cooper’s questions were great, but I will say, it felt like we were moving really quickly. Like rapid-fre questions, instead of a normal-paced sit-down interview.

For example, while most interviews would bounce off of what she said in a previous response, it just felt like Cooper was listing questions. However, I understand, to a certain extent, that there was a lot to cover in a limited time.

We went from talking about the “Hoedown Throwdown” (which Miley still knows by heart) to talking about fashion really quickly — too quickly.

Good news, though: 20 years later, we have an answer to one of the biggest questions. “Jake or Jesse?” The answer is Jake, according to Miley. Also, regarding her love life, she confrmed she dated “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” star Dylan Sprouse, back when they were teenagers. “Like, it was a two-for-one. Bring the

mama’s girl, I got emotional too. The special made me realize just how big a part Tish played in the show. Billy Ray got a lot of the credit, simply because we saw his face on screen, but Tish practically made Hannah.

Billy Ray and Tish divorced after nearly 30 years together in 2022, with drama following, so I’m not surprised we didn’t see them together.

Cooper then switched gears and asked how singer-songwriter Taylor Swift ended up in the movie.

It was the beginning of her career, and they were looking for someone to “sing in a barn,” Miley said. Swift wrote songs like “Crazier,” which she sang in the movie, and the ending song, “You’ll Always Find Your Way Back Home.”

Swift wasn’t the only star who was brought up. Former Disney child star Selena Gomez popped in. Not only did Gomez star on her own show during the same time, “Wizards of Waverly Place,” but she was also a guest star on “Hannah Montana” as Mikayla Sneech in 2007.

Despite having her own character, there was also the iconic “Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana” crossover between “Wizards of Waverly Place,” “Hannah Montana” and “Suite

Following the performance, I was shocked to see singer-songwriter Chappell Roan, who apparently grew up watching Hannah Montana. Roan, who faces a lot of pushback with the press, credits Miley with taking the brunt of it during her “Can’t Be Tamed” era. I remember being a kid during this time period and constantly hearing “What is going on with that girl?” in the most judgmental tone you can imagine. In reality, I just thought she was a badass, which is probably what the older women in my family feared.

Billy Ray fnally made an appearance at the end of the special.

As if emotions weren’t already running high, Billy Ray and Miley read through the scene where Miley is deciding whether or not to give up Hannah, with the scene edited in alongside the present-day father-

Despite the rumoured familial drama, Miley feels “blessed to have so much love” within her family. Now that she’s engaged to former “The Regrettes” drummer Maxx Morando, she’s taking the next step into her womanhood, she said.

After the interview wrapped up, Miley left the set of the house with a recreation of the iconic meme of her blowing a kiss through the window.

She turned off the lights, grabbed the wig, and for the frst time since 2011, we got a brand new song by Hannah Montana. With videos of her younger self playing, Miley debuted “Younger You.”

I can’t put into words the feelings that this special gave me. I’ve never felt nostalgia so intense.

I get it might seem parasocial, but you have to remember that this isn’t just another random infuencer like today. When you’re a little kid, and you watch the coolest girl ever on your TV for years in your earliest memories, there is a special place in your heart for your very frst idol. Watching her now, older and wiser, felt like a hug from a big sister.

I guess you really will always fnd your way back home.

The gas pump is where a war abroad becomes a crisis at home

By ANTHONY ANGELILLO Copy Editor

Just a month ago, I filled up my car with about a half-tank of gas. It was at BJ’s gas station near Quinnipiac and paid about $30 without giving it much thought. Last week, the same amount of gas cost me over $50. My driving habits stayed the same, but the price at the pump didn’t.

By late March, the national average for a gallon of gas hit $3.98, a dollar more than it was just a month before. In Connecticut, drivers are now paying $3.93 per gallon on average, up $1.02 in a month. Gas prices have gone up for 10 weeks in a row, the longest stretch since early 2022.

It all started on Feb. 28, when the U. S. and Israel carried out airstrikes on several sites in Iran. Things escalated quickly after that. Iran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that handles about 20% of the world’s seaborne crude oil and 27% of global maritime petroleum trade.

On March 1, crude oil was about $71 per barrel. Just eight days later, it shot up to over $118. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said this closure was the largest supply disruption since the 1970s energy crisis. That’s exactly what we’re seeing at the gas pump.

I drive a 2010 Honda Accord, known for being good on gas. Its four-cylinder

engine gets about 21 miles per gallon in the city and 31 on the highway, and the 18.5-gallon tank used to make my weekly commute from Plantsville to Quinnipiac feel affordable.

When gas was under $3 a gallon, filling up was routine and didn’t mess with my budget. Now that it’s close to $4, the same tank takes money I’d rather use for food or other things college students really need.

Mohammad Elahee, a professor of international business at Quinnipiac told WFSB

rising by $1.80 in both areas. Spring break travel and higher seasonal demand have only made things worse, as more people need gas while supplies remain limited.

On March 10, Governor Ned Lamont suggested a temporary gas tax holiday that would have paused the state’s 25-centper-gallon fuel tax. The plan stalled in the legislature, as lawmakers from both parties had concerns about the timing and its overall effect.

Connecticut’s fuel tax brings in about $500 million each year for the Special Transportation Fund, which made the proposal a hard sell regardless of where anyone stood politically.

The federal

Iran’s grip on the strait has not loosened. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has attacked more than 21 merchant ships, and a senior official said no oil will leave the region through that waterway.

President Donald Trump gave Iran more time to reopen the Strait after his first ultimatums were ignored. The U.S. also offered a 15-point ceasefire plan, but there’s been no real response, and the strait has stayed closed for almost four weeks.

The EIA predicts that gas could average $3.34 per gallon for all of 2026. Even if shipping through the strait resumes in April, prices probably won’t drop below $3 until at least the end of 2027.

As a college student who commutes every day, these predictions really matter to me. I’m now thinking more than ever about gas prices, including when and where I fll up, depending on how many trips I have each week.

By SOPHIE MURRAY Associate Arts & Life Editor

Let’s be honest: if your daily routine consists of endless doomscrolling, bingewatching or sleeping, then you’re wasting your time.

Don’t get me wrong, I need my rot time. Sometimes you need to lie in bed, scroll for hours and shut your brain off. That’s balance. But if it’s all your free time turns into, it stops feeling like a reset and starts feeling like the norm. The worst thing you can do is look up from your phone, realize it’s 11 p.m. and you have no idea what you did all day.

Scrolling is not a hobby. It feels like one because it flls time, but it doesn’t give anything back. A real hobby is different. It’s something that lets you express yourself, relax and actually engage your brain at the same time. It’s not just a pastime, it’s a time fller. And in a time where everyone just doomscrolls all day, doing something that’s actually yours sets you apart beyond what’s on everyone's screen.

So, why do hobbies even matter? Because life gets boring without them.

Hobbies break the cycle of endless refreshing and scrolling that leaves you feeling drained rather than refreshed. They give your brain something to do instead of just something to consume. And that matters more than people think. When you’re actively engaged in something, learning a dance, baking something new, drawing or even organizing a space, you’re using different parts of your brain by creating instead of absorbing.

Hobbies also have real mental, emotional and even physical benefts. They reduce stress, improve focus and give you a sense of accomplishment.

A study published by Nature Medicine looked at more than 93,000 people across 16 countries, including the U.S., Japan,

government hasn’t done much either. The Department of Energy released 172 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve after crude oil prices rose above $115, temporarily bringing down prices. Now, crude oil is about $90 per barrel, which is lower than the peak but still 39%

You need a hobby

China and multiple European nations. Participants, mostly aged 65 and older, many with existing health conditions, were followed for four to eight years and regularly reported on their health and wellbeing. The results were consistent across every country: people who had hobbies reported better health, more happiness, fewer symptoms of depression and a higher life satisfaction than those who didn’t.

“But the researchers say hobbies - such as arts and crafts, games, gardening, volunteering or participating in clubsinvolve creativity, sensory engagement, self-expression, relaxation and cognitive stimulation, which are linked to good mental health and well-being,” the study stated.

Hobbies are also like social currency. They give you something to talk about and something to connect over. The person who casually mentions they’re learning how to cook instantly sounds more interesting than someone recounting TikTok trends for an hour.

Now the tricky part is actually getting started. You don’t need to reinvent your personality overnight. A hobby can be simple and ft into your life exactly as it is.

My favorite hobby, and one that I always try to connect with people over, is cooking or baking. If you're an avid TikTok scroller, I know you’ve seen at least one viral recipe that you can easily try out.

The next thing I am going to try that I’ve seen online is making sourdough bread. It’s defnitely tough to master, but that’s kind of the appeal. It’s such a great way to connect with people, you can bring what you make to gatherings, do taste tests with your friends and family, and once you get better, start experimenting with different favors and toppings. It turns something simple into something social and it’s an accomplishment.

was diamond painting. I got a kit for cheap at Hobby Lobby, and once I started, I couldn’t stop. There’s something so satisfying about matching each gem to its number and watching the image come together. I would throw on one of my favorite playlists while doing it and I felt both relaxed and productive. Anything that has a fnal product at the end feels so rewarding.

If you’re someone who likes to get outside and move your body, turn walking or hiking into an actual hobby. And it can’t be a walk

Most people know that gas prices go up and down, but a war in the Middle East closed one of the world’s key shipping lanes, and now everyone in the country is paying the price at the pump.

It doesn’t matter what kind of car you have or how carefully you drive. When oil prices almost double in a week, no amount of fuel efficiency can protect you from rising gas prices.

to sell from your closet, go thrifting and sell what you fnd online. If you’re not interested in selling, thrifting itself is such a great activity, especially with friends. You fnd pieces you would never normally pick out, and there’s something about digging through the racks that makes it feel more rewarding than regular shopping.

I know I said scrolling isn’t a hobby, but if you are interested in the creative side of it, take up content creation. Start flming little parts of your day, learn basic editing and make videos just for fun. It doesn’t have to be serious or for views but it’s a lowpressure and creative outlet.

forward to and makes it feel less like exercising and more like a routine you actually enjoy.

If you’re into fashion, shopping or even just the idea of making some extra money, thrifting and reselling is such a good option. Go through your closet, pull pieces you never wear and list them on an app like Depop. It’s an easy way to clean out your space and make some money at the same time.

If you’re into beauty, learning to do your own nails is another hobby to try out. It saves you so much money in the long run, since nail salons are so expensive, and you can design them however you want. I got into doing Gel X nails and I loved being able to control how they turned out. The supplies are affordable on Amazon and it was always so relaxing. Again, having a fnished product at the end always felt so rewarding.

Another hobby I loved over winter break

If you don’t have anything you want

But at the end of the day, picking up a hobby isn’t about becoming a more interesting person in the room; it’s about actually enjoying your life a little more. Something to break up the endless cycle of scrolling, making your day feel a little less repetitive. Keep the rot time and the comfort shows, I couldn’t live without it. At the end of the day, choose to spend your time doing something that makes you feel good and accomplished rather than letting a day disappear from you.

By ANTHONY ANGELILLO Copy Editor

Sports leagues keep cashing, while athletes keep crashing

Every few weeks, the sports world delivers its latest “breaking news,” and it’s never about a buzzer-beater or a walkoff home run. It’s an arrest, a charge or an apology delivered before the public even knows what happened.

Off-feld scandals in pro sports have become so common that the real surprise would be a month without one. Across the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, the people we’re supposed to look up to keep showing they can’t handle the platform they’ve been given.

That’s what makes it so frustrating as a fan. Someone’s name trends, the ugly details come out, a slap-on-the-wrist punishment follows and before you know it, everyone’s back to watching the next game.

No league does this dance like the NFL. Look at Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, accused of sexual misconduct by over two dozen women, with the league’s own arbitrator calling his behavior “predatory.”

Watson sat out 11 games, settled lawsuits worth tens of millions and still gets his $230 million fully guaranteed contract. The NFL closed its investigation in late 2024, stating that there wasn’t enough evidence, which felt more like them not caring enough than getting to the truth.

On March 30, 2024, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice sped down a Dallas highway at 119 mph, crashed into other cars and injured four people before feeing the scene on foot.

By July 2025, Rice pleaded guilty to two felonies and

walked away with fve years’ probation, a brief jail stint and a six-game suspension.

Meanwhile, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who pleaded guilty to domestic assault while in college, was making headlines again when, on April 9, 2025, police were called to his South Florida condo after a domestic dispute with his wife, Keeta Vaccaro.

No charges were fled, but the incident once again put Hill in the national spotlight for something non-football related, and his wife fled for divorce the next day.

However, even though these incidents are wrong in their own way, they still remain

Prosecutors say Rozier told friends when he’d sit out, letting them cash in on prop bets, while Director of the FBI Kash Patel compared the scheme to insider trading.

Billups and Jones allegedly got wealthy victims into rigged Mafa poker games run by four New York crime families. However, after all of this, Rozier and Billups were put on leave, not fred, even when the Mafa was involved; protecting assets came frst.

Let’s be real. Sports betting made scandals like this inevitable. The NBA was frst to jump on board after the Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling, plastering DraftKings and FanDuel across broadcasts. The league

The scheme made at least $450,000, with Clase allegedly texting gamblers during games. Both could spend decades in prison, proof that baseball’s gambling problem isn’t stuck in the Pete Rose era.

MLB’s recurring Performance-enhancing drugs nightmare has also not gone away. PED have been at the forefront of baseball since the 1990s and Atlanta Braves outfelder Jurickson Profar, a 2024 AllStar who signed a three-year, $42 million contract, tested positive again and will miss the entire 2026 season. Philadelphia Phillies Johan Rojas received an 80-game ban in March, the team’s second in two years.

Even the NHL couldn’t avoid the spotlight when fve players from Canada’s 2018 World Junior team stood trial on sexual assault charges in 2025. All were acquitted, but the case put hockey’s culture on trial as well. These athletes have always had their talent rewarded and their bad behavior ignored. Coaches let things slide because a kid could run fast or throw hard. Colleges protected their stars to keep the money fowing. By the time a player is making millions, accountability has gone out the window. That’s because nobody told them “no” when the stakes were low, and now nobody can control them when the stakes are bigger

Until leagues stop treating their biggest stars like assets to protect and start treating them like employees who answer to certain standards, the next carefully worded apology will already be prepared, with only the name changing.

‘Inside the Manosphere’ with Louis Theroux

Louis Theroux, the highly respected documentarian, spent much of 2025 filming and interviewing some of the largest figures in social media for his documentary, “Inside the Manosphere.”

The manosphere is something that has grown signifcantly in the last handful of years with social media personalities Tristan and Andrew Tate spearheading the movement.

The manosphere can be best described as a collection of blogs, podcasts, forums and websites promoting traditional masculine values, while disparaging feminist values as well as promoting hateful rhetoric towards minorities and opposition leaders.

Theroux’s interviews include boxer Harrison Sullivan, internet personality Sneako, podcaster Myron Gaines and internet personality Justin Waller, as well as mentioning others in association while not doing a full on interview with them. Each of them describe themselves as role models, or self-help influencers for young men through their online courses yet illegitimate business ventures. Gaines has his own podcast/talk show, Sullivan streams online and at the time Sneako was banned on platforms for hate speech.

The manosphere almost exclusively lives in the digital world on mainstream platforms like TikTok, Instagram, X and even YouTube. Alternate streaming platforms with less restrictions on

speech like Rumble and Kick have become a popular hub for this content as well.

While Theroux spent time with Sullivan, who goes by “HSTikkyTokky” on social media, Theroux found himself being used more as a source of clout for Sullivan and his entourage rather than a participant in meaningful, developed conversations about the content being fed to the next generation of boys and the harm being caused to society at large.

Sullivan makes most of his money by managing OnlyFans models, which he

The contradiction is on full display and it tells someone all they need to know about these figures.

While Theroux was in New York City interviewing Sneako, clips of boys aged roughly between 12 to 16 showed them saying “F women” and “F the Jews,” both messages Sneako and figures in the manosphere have promoted in the last handful of years.

The interviews all seemed to echo the same couple of messages. The first being “put your head down and work,” then the second being “make money, get women.”

Along with the men being interviewed, Theroux spent time interviewing Gaines’ now ex-girlfriend Angelica Camacho, and Waller’s long-term partner Kristen Waller for their insights on their own lives.

In each of the interviews Theroux mentioned the one-sided monogamous relationship structure Gaines and Waller promote where their partner is monogamous but they can have relations with whoever

It was clearly a touchy subject for the women who both aren’t involved in what their partners do, but it was obvious both Camacho and Waller were at a loss for words in some capacity for how they feel

It’s speculated Angie and Gaines broke up for this reason. On the other hand, Kristen had a different idea regarding their relationship structure.

Kristen reasoned it makes her feel good knowing other women want her man.

In her point of view, having two daughters with him means she “won” in the end, and it doesn’t make a difference to her knowing her partner is wanted and actively sought out by other women.

In my mind, this type of thinking can come from a place of low self-esteem, something each of the men interviewed lacked as well.

That is the place where this problem starts. As time goes on raising children will only become more difficult, while raising a boy right might be the thinnest line a parent can balance.

That’s something the documentary didn’t really cover and many wish it did. At the end of the day, it’s the women who suffer from not having good men the most. There’s a reason everyone says the dating pool is terrible no matter the age demographic, and this is a contributing factor to it.

Many boys are growing up right now and are unsure about where they stand, or what to do. So when a group spouts the message, “Make money, get women, nothing is your fault,” comes along, of course someone who’s confused will follow suit and fall into the trap.

The documentary does tell you what you need to know about these figures, but not how they are affecting and influencing millions of boys around the world. Everyone knows the manosphere will never go away, even if these figures do.

Bobcats hit the transfer portal

By COOPER WOODWARD Associate Sports Editor

With the conclusion of the Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey and men’s and women’s basketball seasons, the transfer portal has offcially opened, with four Bobcats across the ice and the hardwood entering the portal.

ICE HOCKEY

Starting on the Ice, freshman forward Ruby Rauk entered the portal on March 24. The Minnetonka, Minnesota native appeared in 32 games for the Bobcats, recording a pair of goals and a pair of assists.

Freshman forward Ella Pasqua was the other Bobcat to enter the portal, failing to record a point

BASKETBALL

Switching over to the hardwood, sophomore guard Jaden Zimmerman announced his entrance to the transfer portal. The Bronx, N.Y, native had a breakout year this past season, averaging 15 points per game while shooting 37% from the feld and recording 65 rebounds in

Sophomore forward

Grant Randall will also enter the transfer portal, announcing his plans to do so on March 27.

The Queens, N.Y, native had a breakout year in his

sophomore campaign, averaging 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, starting all but one game this season. In the Bobcats’ fnal game of the sea son against Marist in the MAAC Quarterfnals on March 7, Randall exploded for a 28-point and 15 rebound double-double, converting a career-high fve three-point feld goals.

On the women’s side, two Bobcats will enter the portal.

Junior forward Anna Foley an nounced her plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens on April 6, as posted to her agent Bran don Clay’s Instagram.

The Andover, Mass. native had a solid year in her junior campaign, averaging 10 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while recording 187 re bounds and a team leading 36 blocks across 34 games. Foley was also named to the AllMAAC Third Team.

Rounding out the selections is freshman guard Ella Ryan, who announced her inten tions to enter the portal March 26.

The Brentwood, Tennessee native made her presence felt in year one, averaging 10.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, shooting a team leading 41% from three and re cording 353 total points across 34 games played.

“I am incredibly grateful for my time at Quinnipiac and for Coach Fabbri and the entire staff for believing in me and giving me this opportunity,” she said in a statement posted to her Instagram. “With the recent changes, I feel it’s important to explore my options while keeping an open mind on the future.”

The basketball transfer portal opens April 7, and closes April 21.

‘We're doing this no matter what’

Veteran Bobcat leadership turning the tide of Quinnipiac softball

By CAYDEN STEWART Staf Writer

The 2026 Quinnipiac softball season is shaping up to be the one Bobcat fans have been waiting 14 years for. The reason for that specific number? That’s how long it’s been since the Bobcats have finished a season with a winning record.

Even so, the team has shown noticeable progress in recent years and looks to improve upon an appearance in last year’s MAAC Tournament, where they were the No. 7 seed.

This season’s squad is powered by a dominant offense hitting a combined .323, good to place them first in the MAAC in that category. Senior infielder Sofia Vega has been the driving force behind the Bobcats’ success at the plate, leading the team in nearly every offensive metric, including batting average, slugging percentage, onbase percentage and on-base plus slugging.

“The keys to my success have been believing in myself and my confidence,” Vega said. “I just focus on the little details and believe in the player that I know I am.”

Along with her confdence, Vega also emphasized leadership with this year’s squad.

“Our upperclassmen drilled it into our heads that we’re doing this no matter what,” Vega said. “We’re going to be one of the top teams.”

The addition of assistant coach Xen Penny has also been a driving force behind the Bobcats sudden offensive surge. Penny is among the new faces on the roster and he comes with professional experience under his belt.

As a hitting coach with the Arizona Diamondbacks’ organization, Penny helped de-

and what your leaders are like are super important,” Smith said, reflecting on the between this her past ning teams. at practice to defensive things and correcting each other, they know what to say and they hold each other to the

Further, Smith’s UCF pitching staff boasted the lowest ERA in the nation in 2015 at 0.93, which

Even while seeing four pitchers depart the team from last year’s staff, the lone returner, sophomore pitcher Shannon Kendall, has proven to be a

As a whole, the Quinnipiac

fewest walks in the MAAC, as

well as earning the second-most wins.

“The seniors that were in front of me definitely groomed me very well and took me under their wing,” Kendall said. “I feel like I fall into (Sydney Horan’s) footsteps with being that big-rolled pitcher and being a heavy drop-ball pitcher like she was.” Kendall also emphasized the importance of having such a strong batting order behind her.

“As a pitcher, that makes me feel more comfortable going into innings knowing that even if we are down, our offensive side can bring us back,” Kendall said.

This was evident March 24 when the Bobcats came back from down 7-3 in the fifth inning to beat Merrimack and clinch a series sweep. Junior catcher Riley Potter, who has also had a very strong season, recorded three RBIs as the Bobcats scored eight runs in the final two innings.

The Bobcats still have a tough road to the MAAC playoffs, having yet to face off with the Fairfeld Stags and Marist Red Foxes.

Quinnipiac faces Fairfield April 7 on the road for an afternoon doubleheader. The Stags swept the Bobcats at home last season, setting up a great chance to make up ground from where they were in last year’s MAAC standings.

Further, the Marist Red Foxes enter as the defending MAAC Champions. Expect their weekend showdown with the Bobcats here in Hamden, April 18 and 19, to include some of the games of the year.

Even so, with the impressive improvements made to this year’s roster, the Bobcats are poised for a run come the MAAC playoffs.

Mid-semester round-up: spring sports start strong as winter sports wind down

By CLAIRE FRANKLAND Sports Editor

With Quinnipiac’s winter athletics closing its 2025-26 chapter and spring sports getting into full swing, Bobcat Nation has seen its fair share of records and milestones.

WINTER SPORTS

Czerneckianair tied former Bobcat forward Travis St. Denis ‘16 for the most NCAA playoff games played as a Bobcat, at six.

Looking at the women’s squad, the Bobcats captured their frst ECAC title in a decade at the inaugural Lake Placid, N.Y. Women’s ECAC Championship weekend. With the title, Quinnipiac earned an auto-

licia Frank stood like a brick wall in net, and in doing so set the Bobcats’ single-season save record.

In the fnal game of her sophomore season, Frank would set the record, recording over 1,000 saves and solidifying her spot in program history.

2014, currently posting a 11-3 record. Coming into the season ranked No. 7 in the MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll, the Bobcats have managed to come up with some big wins, including snagging a threegame series from Iona (who was ranked No. 4 in the preseason poll).

Switching over to the court, both men’s and women’s basketball appeared in the MAAC Tournament, both coming up short of

However, the women’s squad’s season vanced to the Women’s Basketball

Quinnipiac would make it to the

cats have won a postseason game outside of their conference – before falling to the

nipiac head coach Tricia Fabbri retiring after 31 years at the helm of women’s basketball, some good news can be found in graduate student guard Jackie Grisdale, senior guard Sydney Ryan and junior forward Anna Foley

Quinnipiac softball is off to its best start in conference play since joining the MAAC in

Moreover, the Bobcats’ stats speak for themselves, leading the MAAC in batting average with .323, while senior outfelder Mac Davis leads the conference with a .500 batting average.

Shifting over to the court, women’s tennis remains undefeated on home turf, going 6-0, as the squad opened up conference play against Sacred Heart with a 6-1 win March 20.

In her 11th season at the helm of the Bobcats, Quinnipiac head coach Paula Miller recently recorded her 150th career win, following a 7-0 win over the University of New Haven March 21.

On the turf, two women’s lacrosse athletes have reached the 100th goal milestone: senior attackers Mia Delmond and Catie Bendowski. Delmond reached the milestone in the Bobcats’ 15-9 loss to the Yale Bulldogs Feb. 17, where Delmond recorded two back-to-back goals in the matchup. The Rockville Centre, N.Y. native has 26 goals, as of publication, bringing her career total to 124.

Bendowski reached the milestone in the Bobcats’ 14-13 loss to the Niagara Purple Eagles March 21.

A lookback on Quinnipiac men's ice hockey's 50th season Closing the book

By ALEXANDRA MARTINAKOVA Editor-in-Chief

When the clock ran out in the NCAA Regional Finals against North Dakota Saturday night, it didn’t just mark the end of the game, it marked the end of a golden anniversary for Quinnipiac’s men’s ice hockey program — and defnitely not the end it wanted.

It was an up and down season for the Bobcats, with records broken and tied left and right as well as some really bad losses.

Despite a decent start to its season, Quinnipiac fell to the Yale Bulldogs for the first time in eight years. That loss would almost carry over and set the tone for some of the bigger games the Bobcats faced and their outcomes.

One day the Bobcats are stomping all over then-No. 13 Boston University in a 6-2 win and the other they fall 6-1 to then-No. 11 Cornell in their frst home loss in over a year. This inconsistency is what ultimately led to their demise in the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s just perplexing, we were so awesome on Thursday, confdent, passionate,” head coach Rand Pecknold said following the loss to North Dakota.”

“We were younger than we normally are,” Pecknold continued. “We’re a young team, immature at times. I got caught off guard by that.”

That back and forth characterized the entire season. As Pecknold stressed throughout, the team had a lot of maturing to do and it clearly didn’t manage to grow up enough in time.

On paper that makes sense. The roster was made up of 10 freshmen, the largest incoming class since 2019.

All eyes were on the nation’s leader in points, freshman forward Ethan Wyttenbach. The 19-year old true freshman came in with

a big promise and delivered in every shape of form. Thirty-fve games into the season he broke the program’s single season points record by a frst-year. In the NCAA Regional Semifnals, he tied the program’s single season points record at 59 with his empty netter for his last point in his freshman season.

His accolades do not end there. Wyttenbach was named ECAC Rookie of the Year and was a runner-up for ECAC Player of the Year as well. He is still a fnalist for the Hobey Baker Award as well.

His stellar season caught the attention of every fan of college hockey. No offcial information has been released yet whether the Calgary Flames draftee will be staying in Hamden or signing as of publication.

“He fnishes plays,” Pecknold said on Wyttenbach following a win over Sacred Heart Jan. 23. “He’s got that ability to fnish, that’s next level.”

He led the team both with his 25 goals and 34 assists.

He wasn’t the only standout amongst the frst-year class. His linemate Markus Vidicek was right behind him with 20 goals on his own and forward Antonin Verreault was second in points with 40.

“It’s an outstanding class,” Pecknold said. “It’s got some depth to it. Obviously we’ve had some pivotal kids that have come through and established our program, but this has to be as good as any, if not the best.”

While not a freshman, junior forward Mason Marcellus is a name that stood out this season as well. Earning his 100th point with his goal against Brown Feb. 6, he ended all three years in Hamden with a 35+ points season and since he already announced his intention to come back for his senior season, it wouldn’t be surprising if he bore the “C”

on his chest this fall.

While the forwards drew fashy attention, on the other side of the blue line lay a little quieter names that contributed a lot to this program this year.

Sophomore defender Elliott Groenewold stepped up this year, earning himself the title of the ECAC Best Defensive Defenseman as well as a place on the NCAA AllRegional Team.

The Bruins prospect led the NCAA with an impressive +39 plus-minus rating and recorded 49 blocked shots on the season.

While Groenewold might or might not be leaving Hamden — as Pecknold joked at the beginning of the season “if the Bruins can let me have (Groenewold and sophomore forward Chris Pelosi) for at least another year after this I’d appreciate that” — there are some names that skated in the navy and gold for the last time on the Sioux Falls ice.

Senior forwards captain Victor Czerneckianair and Anthony Cipollone spent all four years as Bobcats, and alongside Alex Power are the last remnants of the 2023 National Championship team. These three were also the only seniors that did not transfer in but spent their whole careers in Hamden, and their departure hit hard for the remaining players.

“I mean, these guys are the epitome of winners and they set the standard for this program,” sophomore forward Tyler Borgula said following the season-ending loss. “From the bottom of my heart and from everyone else’s heart, these guys mean the world to us and we look up to them.”

Four year seniors are becoming a dying breed, with the changes to the transfer portal and new NIL rules. But these guys showed how staying true to your roots can be pivotal

to the culture of a college team.

“It’s been everything,” Cipollone said through tears after his last game. “All my best friends are from Quinnipiac and I’m just very grateful that Rand gave me the opportunity to come and play here.”

What draws the biggest question is the future of the Quinnipiac netminders, juniors Dylan Silverstein and Matej Marinov. With the signing of the San Jose Sharks prospect Christian Kirsch from the Kitchener Rangers (OHL), one of the three goaltenders Quinnipiac currently rosters will most likely have to say goodbye to the navy and gold.

While freshman Sam Scopa appeared in two games for less than 10 minutes, Silverstein and Marinov have been splitting their time in the net the entire season, for better or worse. They both appeared in the fnal game for the Bobcats, letting in three and two goals respectively.

Silverstein ends the season with a 10-7-1 record while Marinov posts 17-5-2. But while Marinov has been the more consistent starter this year, it was Silverstein who started both games against Clarkson in the ECAC Quarterfnals and the NCAA Regionals.

Will that impact the decision of who will have to transfer out, if anyone, only time will tell. The future is not set yet for the Bobcats. The transfer portal opens April 13 and stays open for 15 days. Time will tell who Pecknold will grab out of it, and who will say goodbye to Hamden.

But despite the heartbreaking end, this season left its record breaking mark one way or another. Now it’s up to the future class to build up on what was left behind for them. And who knows, hopefully there will be a couple more national championships to talk about in the next 50 years.

‘It's been everything’

Men's ice hockey's season ends at the hands of North Dakota in a 5-0 NCAA

By ALEXANDRA MARTINAKOVA Editor-in-Chief

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — With about seven seconds left in regulation, North Dakota senior defender and captain Bennett Zmolek skated the puck behind his own net into the corner, his back turned to the players around him, his movement slow.

He wasn’t in any rush to create any plays or anything like that. He was waiting for the clock to run out and send his team to its first Frozen Four in 10 years with a decisive 5-0 victory over the Quinnipiac Bobcats in the Sioux Falls Regional Finals of the NCAA Tournament Saturday night.

On the other side of the ice, Quinnipiac forwards senior Anthony Cipollone and junior Matthew McGroarty embraced with tears in their eyes, for what was Cipollone’s

urday, and it delivered a phenomenal performance at it.

Its offense didn’t want to be forgotten either. Six minutes into the frst, North Dakota’s freshman center Jack Kernan sniped a shot through Quinnipiac’s junior netminder Dylan Silverstein and started an avalanche.

Two and a half minutes later, his linemate, sophomore Cody Croal, found the back of the net behind Silverstein too. A few minutes later, Kernan found a shot from the right side and gave North Dakota a three goal lead halfway into the frst period.

Usually even that wouldn’t be an automatic loss. Hockey is a sport where things can change in a matter of seconds, not minutes. Wisconsin’s overtime win over Michigan State in the Worcester Regional Final Saturday serves as a great example.

Regional Final blowout

But after a month of not seeing a minute on the ice, junior goaltender Matej Marinov got his moment to shine, and he took it, to a certain degree.

Yes, he let in two goals in the second period, as senior forward Dylan James sniped one in through the traffic in front of the net and freshman center Cole Reschny slid one in between his pads. But he also stood and survived a four on one battle against the Fighting Hawks when Quinnipiac’s defense was nowhere to be found.

“I don’t know,” was Pecknold’s answer about Marinov’s performance tonight. “Let’s leave it at that.”

To give some credit where credit is due, the Bobcats battled. Despite the slow and morale-killing start, they managed to climb and almost match North Dakota’s shots-ongoal, 29 versus 22. None of that mattered though, as North Dakota had the regional’s

Freshman goaltender Jan Spunar was the kryptonite for both Merrimack and Quinnipiac, as he shut out both eastern teams in his first NCAA Tournament appearance.

“Having confidence that he’s behind us and he can stop pucks gives us the assurance that we’re able to play with confidence,” North Dakota’s junior defender Abram Wiebe said. “It’s just so special to have a guy like that on our team.”

“He was ahead of the play the entire night,” Pecknold said of the Czech native. “He was locked in. We didn’t do enough to get bodies in front of him. He overchallenges, which is fne at this level, but that creates rebounds and they’re in trouble for that. We didn’t generate those frst shots.”

Quinnipiac generated barely anything.

North Dakota used its size and power to block the Bobcats from any sort of hope of walking away from this meeting as the winning team and it succeeded in its goal.

“We watched a lot of video on them,” North Dakota’s head coach Dane Jackson said. “We talked to some people that played against them more often. And it’s one thing to give guys a game plan, but they had to execute and to commit to it and it

was impressive and I’m proud of the guys for doing that.”

So while the Fighting Hawks celebrated with the entire Denny Sanford PREMIER Center that was flled to the brim with North Dakota fans, the Bobcats left the ice with their heads low and tearful expressions.

It is a rough ending to a season and a rough ending to some collegiate careers. Cipollone, defenders Charlie Leddy and Wil Gilson and forwards Jeremy Wilmer, Alex Power and captain Victor Czerneckianair will never skate as Bobcats again.

“I mean, these guys are the epitome of winners and they set the standard for this program,” sophomore forward Tyler Borgula said. “Every single one of those guys impacted me in being a leader. They inspired me and they defnitely inspired this team and obviously the community around us. From the bottom of my heart and from everyone else’s heart, these guys mean the world to us and we look up to them and wish them nothing but the best in the future.”

Czerneckianair, Cipollone and Power are the last remnants of the historic 2023 NCAA Championship team, and with their exit the team goes back to players who never saw the grounds of Frozen Four hockey.

Still, despite the grim outcome of this game, they can hold their heads a little higher, knowing what impact they left at the program.

“It’s been everything,” Cipollone said, tearing up. “All my best friends are from Quinnipiac and I’m just very grateful that Rand gave me the opportunity to come and play here.”

“They won a national championship,” Pecknold said, having to take a second to compose himself in the press conference whispering, ‘Sorry, I get emotional at times.’ “So we’ll miss them.”

It is not the ending that anyone on the team or the players wanted. But it is the one it got. And while the seniors will always have that as their last memory of college hockey, the remainder of the roster should take it as a lesson and come back from it wiser and stronger next year.

Maybe they will be the team that breaks back into the Frozen Four, or at least wins a Whitelaw Cup.