Familiar Faces: Quinnipiac women’s hockey record books needs updating after Peart graduates

Hamden, Conn. — Sadie Peart says goodbye to another school and another hockey program after she graduated from Quinnipiac University with her degree in May, receiving a Master’s in Business Administration. A 2019 Grand Rapids High School graduate, her success at Quinnipiac was not limited only to her education, but also as a hockey player who once again left an impression on a program.

After five years playing for the Grand Rapids-Greenway Lightning, Peart suited up for the Quinnipiac Bobcats in Hamden Conn., playing another five seasons for the university with a nationally-respected hockey program. As captain of the Bobcats last season, Peart was fourth in the nation in faceoff win percentage, according to the university. She scored 31 points for the nation’s fifth-best offense and was second with 15 goals on a team that won 25 games before the Bobcats lost to Cornell University in the ECAC Quarterfinals. Peart was the team’s Coaches’ Award winner this spring and in her career at Quinnipiac, totaled 164 points (60+64 = 124).

The Bobcats record book was last updated in 2021 and will need an immediate revision now that Peart’s career has concluded. Her career point total places her second all-time in program history. She leaves in the top-15 all-time goal scorers and third all-time assist leaders in the program with 64 in her career.

Prior to joining the Bobcats, Peart was a 2019 semifinalist for Minnesota’s Ms. Hockey Award in final season with the Lightning, where she finished her high school career with 253 points with 98 goals and 155 assists. She holds GRG’s career assist record, according to Quinnipiac University and returns to her roots this upcoming Lightning season to help her former coach Brad Hyduke behind the bench.

“She’s going to be on the GRG staff this year and was on the bench this weekend running our forwards — no surprise — she offered great insights and the ladies really responded to her coaching,” Hyduke said after the GRG Lightning home tournament a week ago.

Hyduke adds experience and a familiar face behind the bench with Peart - once her head coach, Hyduke knows Peart’s instincts and understanding of the game. He regards her as an intelligent hockey player with on-ice priorities in the right order. A perfect combination for a potential transition from skates to bench.

“Sadie was a cerebral center with a defensive mindset and a pass first mentality, thus the gawdy assist numbers she put up in high school and then in college,” said Hyduke. “Sadie achieved at a high level with her team first mentality and high hockey IQ. One of her defining characteristics besides being a complete player was her skills winning draws — she was a top end faceoff player who turned faceoffs into wins and possession.”