Quinnipiac’s Pecknold gets Spencer Penrose Award as top Division I men’s coach

Quinnipiac’s Rand Pecknold has led the Bobcats to a 31-3-7 record this season (photo: Melissa Wade).

Quinnipiac’s Rand Pecknold has been named the 2015-16 winner of the Spencer Penrose Award as the top coach in Division I men’s hockey.

It’s the first time Pecknold has won the award in 22 seasons with the Bobcats.

Quinnipiac is 31-3-7 heading into the Frozen Four semifinals against Boston College on Thursday. The Bobcats were the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament after winning the ECAC Hockey regular season and playoff titles.

The postseason championship was the first for the Bobcats in the ECAC.

Pecknold is a two-time winner of the ECAC’s Tim Taylor Award as coach of the year.

North Dakota coach Brad Berry was the runner-up.

The award will be presented at the American Hockey Coaches Association’s annual convention in Naples, Fla., on April 27.