QU goalie nominated for award

HAMDEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- In hockey, you're only as good as your goalie. Perhaps that's why Quinnipiac is so good, ranked second in the country. Their goalie Eric Hartzell is not just one of the best goalies in the country, he's one of the best college players in the country.

It takes a certain type to stand in front of a screaming puck.

"He has his quirks, he's a bit of a different character," said Zach Currie.

"Hartzy, oh, he's a goalie. He's a character," said Rand Pecknold, Quinnipiac head coach.

"Everyone has their weird habits and I've got mine and I can see how I can be a little quirky for sure," said Hartzell.

The Bobcats wouldn't have it any other way. There's nothing quirky about the way the Quinnipiac goaltender does his job.

"To stop pucks," said Currie.

"He stops pucks, you know," said Pecknold.

There have been plenty of individual contributors to this years successful season for the Bobcats but really it all starts and stops with Hartzell.

"He's our best player. He's probably the best player in our league and one of the best in the country," said Pecknold.

Hartzell's so good he has been nominated for college hockey's ultimate award the Hobey Baker. Hartzell has a shot. He's giving up less than a goal and a half per game this season.

"He's bailed us out many times this year," said Currie.

"A lot of what it takes to become a really good goalie is you have to read the game really well and that's one thing I really worked on all summer, is learning to read the game better and better," said Hartzell.

"The big thing that I think Hartzy has evolved into this year is just to focus, you know. He's always been good and a little up and down at times but now it's just lights out," said Pecknold.

Lights out? Well some off his teammates would prefer music out. Apparently QU's quirky netminder likes jammin'.

"Yeah, his music is terrible," said Currie.

"Maybe that I like reggae so much. It's kind of weird," said Hartzell.

"He insists on listening to it," said Currie.

"Some of the guys just don't enjoy it. I don't know why," said Hartzell.

"He'll get up and change it. They rest of us get tired of fighting with him. Now I gotta give it to him. He's doing his job, he's playing well so let him ride it as long as we can," said Currie.