Bruins development camp offered a hint of what’s ahead for Quinnipiac

Mason Marcellus had a decision to make.

The undrafted forward received invitations from multiple NHL teams to attend development camp this summer. The rising Quinnipiac senior ultimately chose the Bruins, thanks in part to conversations with Bobcats teammates Chris Pelosi and Elliott Groenewold, both of whom are Bruins draft picks and were headed back for their third edition of camp at Warrior Ice Arena ahead of their junior seasons.

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It was a bit of a role reversal for Marcellus, who was part of the veteran group that welcomed Pelosi and Groenewold as freshmen two seasons ago and was named captain for next year’s squad.

“Now they’re teaching me here,” said Marcellus, who turns 24 this month. “It’s not too bad though. They’re both so mature and such good guys, so I’m just trying to be a sponge with them, and learn what they know from here.”

Groenewold, 20, was drafted in the fourth round, 110th overall, in 2024. The 6-foot-2-inch defenseman had seven goals and 13 assists as a sophomore, and led the NCAA in plus/minus with a plus-39. The Springfield, Vt., native led the post practice stretch after Wednesday’s session, and enjoyed being able to spend more time with his Quinnipiac teammates.

“Mason and Chris are some of my best buds,” said Groenewold. “Mason’s an unbelievable player, a very under-the-radar guy, so I’m glad he’s here and going to a camp.”

Picked in the third round in 2023 at 92nd overall, Pelosi, 21, was third on the Bobcats in goals (18) and fourth in points (34) despite missing five games with an injury. He was selected to play for the US Collegiate Selects squad in the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland, last December. He’s looking to build off that as a junior.

“I think just consistency is a big thing,” said Pelosi. “Being consistent day in and day out.”

Marcello, who was second on the team with 26 assists and tied for fourth in points with Pelosi, will be a free agent when his college career is up. Groenewold and Pelosi, however, seem to be very much in the Bruins’ plans for the future, perhaps signing with the organization as early as the spring of 2027. The two will be roommates for the upcoming season.

“They’ve been excellent,” said Bruins player development coordinator and college scout Parker MacKay. “They’ve matured physically and mentally. They do a really good job at Quinnipiac of putting them through physical tests and helping them grow where they’re at physically, and I think you can see that in both of their games. [They’re] both excellent kids, relied on this week to be leaders, and they’ve continued to grow every year.”

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With camp over, the trio will shift their focus to the upcoming season. They are part of a collection of veterans that returns from last year’s squad that fell one win short of reaching the Frozen Four, losing in the regional final to North Dakota.

Included in that group is Calgary Flames draft pick Ethan Wyttenbach, who led the nation with 59 points (25 goals, 34 assists) and captured national rookie of the year honors, coming out on top of a field that included 2026 No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna.

There had been speculation Wyttenbach would enter the transfer portal, with Big Ten schools rumored to be offering greater NIL packages, but he put that notion to rest with an Instagram post on April 1 announcing he was returning.

The Bobcats will be favored to win a seventh consecutive ECAC title, as well as earn a trip to Washington, D.C., next April to play in the Frozen Four. The team is embracing the expectations.

“We have that conversation weekly,” said Groenewold. “We have a group of guys that are putting a lot of work in this summer. We just kind of remind ourselves that that’s the end goal.

“Having guys like Ethan back, it’s just so awesome. It helps guys to be better in practice, having to go against a guy like that, it makes you a better player. It helps the whole team out.”

Marcellus was the first to announce he was returning on March 30, with Groenewold and Pelosi following suit soon after. Three weeks later, Marcellus was named captain.

“I think as a group we kind of realized the opportunity we have this year if everyone were to come back,” said Marcellus. “That’s something Ethan talked to me about, and Elliott and Chris both talked about those things, like if one of us is coming back, then we all want to come back, because our core group would be so good.”

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