Hockey Salutes Graduating Class Saturday vs. Wentworth

BOSTON – The Suffolk hockey team will take the ice at Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink Saturday night as the Rams entertain Wentworth at 7 p.m. Prior to puck drop, Suffolk will honor the playing careers of its seven graduating players.

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GREAT JOB GRADUATES
Prior to puck drop, Suffolk will honor the playing careers of its seven graduating players; Zack Capozza, Mike Cherpak, Tyler Heineman, Connor McCarthy, Justin Selep, Shaughn Shields and Brandon Smolarek.

The Class of 2016 has been instrumental to the team's growth over the past four seasons, culminating in last year's ECAC Northeast Playoff berth, an eight-game unbeaten streak and receiving votes in the USCHO Coaches' Poll for just the second time in program history. Suffolk finished its 2014-15 campaign with an 11-13-2 record, the highest win total since 2009-10. 

Bolstered by these seven skaters, Suffolk currently stands in a tie for first-place in the ECAC Northeast standings at 12-6-2 overall with a 7-3-2 record against the ECAC Northeast. On January 21 at UMass Dartmouth, all members of the Class of 2016 were a crucial ingredient to help Suffolk pour in nine goals, the most in the Chris Glionna era. Currently, the Rams offense ranks in the top-20 of the country in scoring, having put in 3.65 goals per game. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Suffolk hockey team was upset by Curry, 6-2 in ECAC Northeast action Thursday night at the Max Ulin Rink. 

MORE READING: Curry Upsets Hockey, 6-2

RUN DOWN ON THE RAMS

• Now 12-6-2 overall and a 7-3-2 ECAC Northeast record, Suffolk looks to win-out the rest of the way and secure the top-seed in the conference tournament. The feat will be difficult as the Rams host Wentworth (Feb. 6), Becker (Feb. 13) and Nichols (Feb. 17) and travel to Johnson & Wales (Feb. 11). 
• Justin Selep has had a highlight season for the Rams. The junior forward currently ranks in the top-25 nationally in points per game (T24 - 1.25), goals per game (T13 - 0.70) and game-winners (T2 - 4). His point total of 25 sits atop the league and the team, while his team-high 14 goals are good for second amongst ECAC Northeast skaters. 
• Danyil Medvedev is also in the top of the league with the second-best assists on a team-high 13 and is seven in goals with (17). 
• As a team, Suffolk produces the best offense in the league with 3.65 goals per game. Overall, 26 different Rams have recorded a point this season, with 22 tallying multiple points and seven notching double figure points. 
• Defensively, Brandon Smolarek has been the go-to goalie as the senior has produced 472 saves for a .904 percentage and 3.00 goals-against average. 

LOW DOWN ON THE LEOPARDS

• A perennial ECAC Northeast powerhouse, Wentworth suffered from a 0-12-2 streak from November 11 through January 23, before winning its last three to hold a 6-13-2 overall mark and 5-6-1 ECAC Northeast ledger. 
• Twenty-two different Leopards have registered a point this season, but Wentworth is putting together the league's eighth-best offense at 2.29 goals per game. Three different skaters have put together double-figure points in Erik Andersson (6-4-10), Jake Flynn (5-5-10) and Jake McDonough (6-4-10). 
• In net, a threesome of goalies have seen time for Wentworth, but Joel Miller is the Leopards' stalwart, starting 12 of 14 games. The senior has accumulate 361 saves, while allowing 35 pucks past him to go along with a .912 save percentage and a 2.89 goals-against average, which ranks fifth in the league. 

WE MEET AGAIN
On November 17, the Suffolk hockey team skated away with a 2-1 win over Wentworth at Walter Brown Arena, thanks to two timely third period goals. Freshmen Tommy Bishop and Justin Holliday turned things around, sparking the Rams to victory. 

MORE READING: Third Period Goals Vault Hockey to 2-1 Victory over Wentworth

RIGHT ON, ROOKIES
The freshman class has made a significant impact for Suffolk this season. Rookie forward Justin Holliday's 14 points off seven goals and seven assists, sit third on the team. Tommy Bishop's 12 points (4-8-12) ranks fifth on the team, while his forward counterparts of Nick Mosher (4-6-10) and Connor Parent (6-2-8) round out the Rams' top 10 point earners. Brendan Heinze has scored three goals and handed out two helpers and Mikhail Bryan has three assists and one goal to his credit. Connor Henry (1-0-1), Sean Henry (0-2-2) and Dominic Rovero (0-1-1) round out the rookies with points.

As a whole, the Class of 2019 accounts for 30.9 percent of the Rams' offense with 26 goals and 30 assists. 

SHOW STOPPER
Brandon Smolarek has stood tall for Suffolk between the pipes and is a major reason why the Rams are 12-6-2 this season. The senior netminder has turned away 472 attempts, the sixth most among ECAC Northeast goalies. Smoalrek boasts a 3.00 goals-against average and .904 save percentage, which sit sixth and ninth in the league, respectively.

Smolarek brought his career total to 2,005 saves Saturday, a milestone that was reached by just one other Ram since 1999-00, Jeff Rose '11 who owns Suffolk's all-time saves record with 2,799.

The Chesterfield, Michigan native steered away 46 shots against Salve Regina November 4, the most by a Suffolk keeper since junior Kevin Venturoso stopped 52 attempts against Tufts January 8, 2014. 

A HEAPIN' HELPIN' OF HELPERS
The Rams have done well to spread the puck around with 14 scorers registering multiple goals, led by Justin Selep's 14 and Danyil Medvedev's and Justin Holliday's seven. On 73 total goals this season, Suffolk has racked up 108 assists, led by Medvedev's 13 and 11 from Tyler Heineman and Selep, respectively. 

GAME-WINNING GANG
Six of Suffolk's 12 game-winning goals this season have been scored by upperclassmen with the remaining three coming off the sticks of first-years. Junior Justin Selep leads the way with four, while freshman Justin Holliday has three. Junior Stanton Turner ach put in two with senior Zack Capozza, sophomore Luke Miller and freshman Nick Mosher each have game-winning scores to their credit.

NINE SCORES AND 14 YEARS AGO
For the first time in 14 years, Suffolk scored nine goals en route to a 9-5 trouncing of UMass Dartmouth January 21. Six skaters in blue-and-gold combined for the most scores by the Rams since December 4, 2002 in an 11-4 victory over Franklin Pierce. Twelve different players recorded a point to put in the most goals in the Chris Glionna era and the most tallies on the road in Suffolk history, according to the record books, which date back to the 1999-2000 season.

UP NEXT
With three regular-season games remaining, Suffolk stops by Johnson & Wales Thursday, Feb. 11 for a 6:45 p.m., before hosting Becker (Feb. 13) and Nichols (Feb. 17) to close out the season.