Skating to success: Men’s ice hockey player shines as a student-athlete

April 22, 2024

Student holds hockey stick and smiles for photo

From pursuing two master's degrees to conquering the ice as a national champion, CJ McGee ’22, MBA ’23, MS ‘24, showcases what it means to be a student-athlete.

During his first year on the team, McGee displayed his passion and determination both inside and outside of the rink, earning the title of AHCA All-American Scholar. To be recognized as an AHCA All-American Scholar, one must earn a 3.75 GPA each semester and appear in 40% of the team’s games.

McGee continued to display his passion for excelling in the classroom, earning his bachelor's degree in finance and his master’s in business administration in Quinnipiac’s 3+1 accelerated dual-degree program. Demonstrating unwavering drive, McGee is pursuing another master’s in business analytics this year.

Balancing school and athletics, McGee learned the importance of time management and prioritizing his schoolwork, while also chasing his dreams.  

As a vital part of the Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey team, McGee played a pivotal role in securing the NCAA Division I men's ice hockey national championship, making history at Quinnipiac. 

“It means everything to us as a team,” said McGee. “To be able to win the national championship was extremely special, not only for the team, but for all the members of Bobcat Nation that have helped to build this program to what it is today.”

Reflecting on his journey, McGee expressed his gratitude to the fans who supported his career — on and off of the ice. The support of Bobcat Nation motivated McGee to achieve greatness.

“Thank you for your support over the years,” said McGee. “This has been nothing short of spectacular and something that I will always remember.”

Men's Ice Hockey Head Coach, Rand Pecknold, emphasized McGee's contributions to the team both on and off the ice. 

“CJ is a very high-character, high-compete person as a player and as a person," said Pecknold. "He has a great personality that brings everybody together and was a fantastic member of our locker room for his five seasons in Hamden.”

As his time as a Bobcat comes to a close, McGee is grateful for the friendships and connections that he has made along the way.

“The people that I have met through my five-year career at Quinnipiac are people I will consider friends or brothers for life,” said McGee. “The culture with our team is extremely special and has helped me integrate myself into the Quinnipiac community.”

As he approaches graduation, McGee looks forward to continuing to chase his dreams of playing professional hockey. When McGee’s hockey career officially comes to a close, he plans to use one of his three degrees earned at Quinnipiac to begin his next adventure in the professional world.

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