Men’s Hockey Takes Break from Conference Play Tuesday, Hosts SNHU

BOSTON – In its final week of action before the holiday break, the Suffolk men's hockey team steps out of Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Play Tuesday, Dec. 6 when the Rams welcome Southern New Hampshire to Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink for a 7 p.m. contest. 

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LAST TIME OUT
Sophomore Brendan Heinze's goal with 16 seconds remaining in regulation lifted the Suffolk men's hockey team to a 2-2 overtime tie with Nichols in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action Saturday night at Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink. 

MORE READING: Men's Hockey Skates to 2-2 Tie With Nichols

RUNDOWN ON THE RAMS
Suffolk earned its first conference point in three weeks with its 2-2 stalemate with Nichols as the Rams moved to 3-6-3 overall and 1-5-2 against CCC competition. 

Tommy Bishop continues to be the Rams' force offensively as the sophomore is the lone blue and gold skater with double figure points thanks to team bests in goals (5) and assists (7). Classmate Justin Holliday also have five scores to go along with two handouts, while senior Danyil Medvedev joins Holliday with seven points on four goals and three assists. 

Michael Levine proves to be the most successful of Suffolk's three active goaltenders. The sophomore boasts a .906 save percentage with 298 stops, but has let in 31 goals for a 3.49 GAA. 

PIECES ON THE PENMEN
Since dropping a 5-1 decision to the Rams Nov. 27, SNHU has picked up back-to-back wins, a 3-2 victory over Saint Anselm and a 4-2 win at Franklin Pierce, to carry an 8-3 ledger into Tuesday night. 

Joe Collins' seven goals and 11 assists pave the way for the Penmen's 44-goal offense with Chris Moquin (4-5-9) and Jay Sylvia (7-2-9) adding nine pieces alice to SNHU's offensive output. 

Ryan Slatky has been the staple in net for SNHU, boasting a .950 save percentage and a 2.17 GAA. 

INSIDE THE SERIES
Suffolk and SNHU have met every year on the ice since 2001. The Rams have picked up the last three meetings, including a 5-1 win Nov. 27 in the consolation game of the Manchester PAL/Stovepipe Tournament. The blue and gold trail the all-time series 7-9-3. 

WE MEET AGAIN
Suffolk and SNHU met earlier this season in the consolation contest of the Manchester PAL/Stovepipe Tournament. The Rams snapped their then four-game skid, defeating the Penmen, 5-1. 

MORE READING: Men's Hockey Returns to Win Column, Upends SNHU, 5-1

EYES ON THE GAME

SHORT-HANDED
Luke Miller's first goal of the season came in short-handed fashion at Western New England Nov. 10. The junior forward is the first Ram to net a man-down score since Justin Selep '16 put one away in a 5-2 win at Nichols Jan. 16, 2016. 

CCC FROZEN FIRST
Simon Leahy's first goal of the season turned out to be a historic one as the senior from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was the first player across the CCC to find the back of the netting on the inaugural night of play for the first-year league. Since the tally was on the power play, he added to the historics, as the forward also became the first CCC skater to put one away on the man advantage opportunity. 

CCC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tommy Bishop of the Suffolk men's hockey team will go down in history as the first-ever Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Player of the Week as the sophomore grabbed the initial award of the inaugural season after a career opening night, the conference office announced Oct. 31.

MORE READING: Bishop Grabs First-Ever CCC Player of the Week Nod

UP NEXT
Suffolk wraps up first semester action Thursday, Dec. 8 as it stops by Salem State for a non-conference contest at 7 p.m.