Hockey Ready for SNHU, Becker

BOSTON – The Suffolk hockey team is set to host two contests this week. SNHU will visit Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink Wednesday, Dec. 2, before the Rams welcome in Becker for a ECAC Northeast battle Friday, Dec. 4. Both games are slated for a 7:40 p.m. puck drop. 

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LAST TIME OUT
Four different Rams scored, but it was Salem State's Cam Moniz shorthanded goal with 2:47 remaining that was the difference as the Vikings outlasted Suffolk, 5-4, Sunday afternoon at Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Rink. 

MORE READING: Hockey Felled by Salem State's Late Rally, 5-4

RUN DOWN ON THE RAMS

• Suffolk is coming off a 5-4 setback to Salem State on Sunday. Seven Rams' registered at least a point, with four different Suffolk skaters found the back of the net. Connor Parent led all point-earners with two points (1-1-2). 
• After opening the season on a seven-game unbeaten streak, Suffolk has dropped its last two outings to move to 5-2-2 overall and 3-1-2 in ECAC Northeast. 
• Justin Selep's 10 points lead all 21 Rams that have tallied a point this season. The senior forward has scored a team-high six goals and dished out four helpers. Danyil Medvedev (4-4-8) and Stanton Turner (4-2-6) have each put in four goals this season. 
• Tyler Heineman (0-5-5) and Simon Leahy (0-5-5) have set up the most tallies for Suffolk as the defenseman and forward have passed out five assists each. 
• In net, Brandon Smolarek has been the backstop for Suffolk. The senior goalie has made 262 saves, the second most amongst ECAC Northeast netminders, and allowed 21 goals for a .926 save percentage and 4-2-2 record. 

PROWL ON THE PENMEN

• SNHU (3-6-1) is coming off a thorough 7-2 handling of Daniel Webster Sunday. Before the win, the Penmen were on the losing end of two contests.
• Forward Jim Gabrione leads the charge for SNHU with nine points, lead the team with seven assists and two goals this season. Gabrione is complemented by a bevy of underclassmen in Artem Efimov-Barakov (3-4-7), Timothy Baylis (3-2-5), Kevin Lorcher (2-3-5) and Sean McTiernan (2-3-5) to round out the top-5 Penemen point-grabbers.
• Three Penmen netminders have seen time for SNHU this season, led by Ryan Slatky's seven starts. The sophomore has 246 saves, allowing 18 goals for a 2-4-1 record. Fellow classmate Matthews MacInnis (34 saves, four goals allowed; 0-1-0) and senior David Letarte (81 saves, 14 goals allowed; 1-1-0) make up the rest of the rotating platoon for SNHU. 

FLYING WITH THE HAWKS

• Becker comes into Friday's game with a 3-6 mark, going 1-4 in ECAC Northeast play. The Hawks are 2-1 through the last three contests, most recently defeating Worcester State, 5-2, Sunday. 
• In its high-octane offense, Becker has 19 skaters with at least one point through nine games, led by Corey Sherman (3-5-8). Connor Merrick (5-2-7), Nicholas McKe (2-5-7) and Gerald Owen (2-5-7) round out the top scoring threat for the Hawks. 
• Becker relies on a potent three-headed goaltending tandem in net. Tyler Stepke does the heavy lifting for the Hawks, with seven starts under his belt this season (1-6-0). Stepke has 261 saves and has let by 29 shots. Behind him sits, Bryan Canter, who has two appearances, and Gregg Hussey, who has seen the ice once. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk closes out first semester action Saturday, Dec. 12 when it entertains Franklin Pierce at 7 p.m.