Sam Lipkin could have turned pro after a standout freshman season at Quinnipiac in which he produced 43 points (tied for 13th in NCAA Division I ranks) in 39 games and helped lead the Bobcats to the 2023 national championship. Coming off a 71-point season (12th in the USHL) with the Chicago Steel, Lipkin had already established himself in two leagues and had the look of a draft-day steal.

Instead, the 2021 seventh-round draft pick (No. 223) opted for one more season of development at Quinnipiac and a chance to defend the school’s first title despite a significant loss of personnel.

“It gave me a great chance to put on 10 to 15 pounds since my freshman year and enable me to take strides in my skating, which is something I’ve been working hard at,” Lipkin said. “I just wanted to get bigger, faster and stronger. Quinnipiac gave me a great development path to do that and I feel like I did a good job executing it so I feel ready for the next step.”

The Bobcats fell short of their repeat goal, losing to Boston College in overtime in an NCAA regional final, but with another strong year of development under his belt, Lipkin decided that was enough. He agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Coyotes late Wednesday and is expected to report to the Tucson Roadrunners. 

Just as Josh Doan did when he turned pro last season, Lipkin will play the remainder of the season with Tucson on an ATO (amateur tryout) and his ELC will kick in next season. He is eligible to compete for the Roadrunners in the Calder Cup playoffs, which began later this month. 

Lipkin’s stats weren’t quite as impressive this season, but he took strides in other areas.

“His first year was crazy,” Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold said three weeks ago. “It was crazy to develop the way he did in the USHL and then have the first year he had for us. I don’t know if it’s fair to try to match that because it was phenomenal, but for sure he’s had another good year. 

“His skating is improving. He’s getting stronger, he’s getting more athletic. We have him taking a lot more faceoffs.”

Pecknold also wanted Lipkin to assume a leadership role as a sophomore on a team that sustained multiple losses after its historic season.

“He was a really good [co-]captain in Chicago when he won [the USHL’s Clark Cup] with the Steel,” Pecknold said. “When you’re going to be one of the team’s better players, whether you like it or not, you’re a leader. With leadership comes responsibility.”

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Coyotes director of player development Lee Stempniak saw Lipkin earlier this season (as well as later) and thought the Bobcats forward got off to a slow start. While he had a four-point game against American International, he had points in just three of the Bobcats’ first eight games and just six points in that span.

After that, he rounded into form.

“He’s been playing a lot stronger in the last month of the season,” Stempniak said while the Bobcats were still playing. “I think you were hoping he would take a little more of a step to drive play on his line, but in the last month especially, he’s been doing that more.

“He’s been playing on the inside. He’s been around the net. He’s been getting more passes in the slot. He’s been moving his feet more and skating more and his game has improved.”

When Lipkin told Pecknold he was leaving, it was an emotional moment for both. Pecknold will also have to absorb the loss of Lipkin’s linemates, Collin Graf (Sharks) and Jacob Quillan (Maple Leafs).

“Happy and excited for Sam to sign with Arizona,” Pecknold texted. “He has been tremendous in his two years at Quinnipiac. I feel fortunate to have been able coach him here and at World Juniors.”

Tucson is currently in a push to earn home-ice advantage in the first round of the AHL playoffs despite playing without two critically important forwards: Coyotes call-ups Dylan Guenther and Doan. With seven games remaining, the Roadrunners are in third place in the Pacific Division, but just one point ahead of fifth-place Abbotsford.

Guenther and Doan will report to Tucson for the postseason, as will defenseman Michael Kesselring. With Lipkin also in the fold (and possibly prospect Conor Geekie, depending on how Swift Current performs in the WHL playoffs), the Roadrunners will have bolstered ranks later this month.

“It’s a great situation for me, playing in NCAA Regionals and just leading into this,” Lipkin said. “There’s a great group in Tucson that I’m already familiar with from camp and being up with organization. For me to be able to step into that situation is great and I can’t ask for more.”

Lipkin was scheduled to arrive in Arizona on Thursday.

Top photo of Sam Lipkin courtesy of Rob Rasmussen/Quinnipiac Athletics

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