Men’s Hockey Closes First Semester with Home-and-Home with Wentworth

BOSTON – Suffolk men's hockey will skate for the final time in 2017 this weekend as the Rams are set for a home-and-home series with Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) counterpart Wentworth. The Rams visit the Leopards at Allied Veterans Memorial Rink Friday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m., before hosting Wentworth at Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink Saturday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

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LAST TIME OUT
Suffolk men's hockey junior Tommy Bishop's equalizer with 15.5 seconds remaining in regulation lifted the Rams to a 5-5 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) tie with the University of New England Saturday evening at Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Rink.

MORE READING: Men's Hockey Secures CCC Point in 5-5 Tie with UNE

RAMS RUNDOWN
Thanks to picking up one CCC point last weekend, the 5-5-1 overall Rams sit eighth in the conference standings with five points on a 2-5-1 league ledger. 

Suffolk's offense has been firing on all cylinders as of late with 20 of the Rams' 30 total goals coming in the last seven outings. Joseph Mortillaro leads the way in scoring with the freshman's six strikes good for atop the team, while the rookies seven points sit seventh behind team leader sophomore Brian Brooks (4g, 5a) and classmate Matt Bucher (4g, 4a). Connor Parent's team-best six assist for good for fourth-most in points on Suffolk's squad. 

Michael Levine has seen the most action between the pipes for the blue-and-gold. The junior has faced 326 shots, allowing 23 goals for a .929 save percentage and a 2.78 GAA.

LEOPARDS LOOK
Wentworth is coming off a weekend where it tied Salve Regina in back-to-back outings to move to 3-6-3 overall and 2-3-3 in conference contests, good for sixth in the league ranks. 

The Leopards have potted 24 goals through 12 games led by Angus Johnston's four. The junior forward owns six points to his credit, good for third on the team. Jake McDonough's nine points off a trio of strikes and a team-high six helpers leads the way for Wentworth point holds with Connor Beaudet's seven thanks to a pair of markers and five assists sitting second. 

In net, Ryan Hubbard and Kenny Graham have split the action. In eight games played and seven starters, Hubbard boasts a .904 save percentage and a 3.30 GAA, while Graham, who has played six games and started five, owns a .910 save percentage and a 3.27 GAA.

INSIDE THE SERIES
The Suffolk, Wentworth rivalry has a storied history dating back to 1999. Despite trailing the all-time series, 7-20-2, Suffolk swept the pair of regular season contests over the Leopards last season.

EYES ON THE GAME

STREAKING
Brian Brooks recorded at least one point in the last seven games. Over that stretch, the sophomore has notched nine points on four goals and five assists.

WHAT'S TO COME
Suffolk takes a three-week hiatus for finals and the holidays and will return to the ice Wednesday, Jan. 3 when the Rams welcome Salem State to Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink for a 7 p.m. midweek matchup.