Men’s Hockey Entertains Franklin Pierce in 2017 Opener Saturday

BOSTON – After a month away from action, the Suffolk men's hockey team returns to the friendly confines of Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Rink Saturday, Jan. 7 to open the 2017 portion of the Rams' schedule when Franklin Pierce stops by for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop.  

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LAST TIME OUT
In its first semester finale, the Suffolk men's hockey team came back from a four-goal deficit and forced overtime versus Salem State. During the extra session the Rams could not find the back of the net and held off the Vikings to end the non-league game in a 4-4 stalemate Dec. 8 at Rockett Ice Arena.  

MORE READING: Men's Hockey's Comeback Ends in 4-4 Tie at Salem State

RUNDOWN ON THE RAMS
Suffolk had an up-and-down first semester that saw the Rams go 3-7-4 overall. 

The blue-and-gold is potting 2.57 goals per game with Tommy Bishop's five scores leading the way. The sophomore forward also paces the pack in points with 13 on a team-high eight handouts. Senior Danyil Medvedev is second on the squad in points with nine on four goals and five assists with sophomore Justin Holliday (5-3-8) also adding an offensive spark for Suffolk. 

In net, Michael Levine has seen the majority of the action, playing 11 games and starting 10. The sophomore goalie has made 314 stops (.897) and allowed 36 goals (3.71 GAA) for a 2-3-3 ledger. In six appearances Kevin Venturoso has built a .913 save percentage (115) and 3.26 goals-against average (11). Rookie Will Ribas rounds out the three-headed Rams netminder tangent with the freshman saving 37 pucks, letting in six goals in three appearances. 

RAVENS REVIEWS
Franklin Pierce comes to the Bay State to lift the lid on its 2017 schedule as well, after closing out 2016 on a seven-game winless streak that put the Ravens at 6-8-1 on the year. 

Nate Indelicato's 11 points on six goals and five assists lead the way for the Raven's 87-point offense with 36 goals and 51 handouts. Taylor Fletcher (3-6-9), Nick Indelicato (6-2-8) and Jonathan Haun (4-4-8) are also offensive threats for Franklin Pierce.

Tom McGuckin has held down the net for the Ravens as the junior sports a .904 save percentage (412) and a 3.30 goals-against average in 15 appearances.  

INSIDE THE SERIES
Suffolk leads the all-time series versus Franklin Pierce, 10-4-2. Last season, the Rams and Ravens split the two meetings with the blue-and-gold picking up the last outing, 5-3.  

EYES ON THE GAME

FROZEN FENWAY
Thursday, Jan. 5 will go inside Suffolk men's hockey record books as the Rams took the ice at legendary Fenway Park apart of the Capital One Frozen Fenway 2017. 

MORE READING: Men's Hockey Holds Intersquad Scrimmage at Frozen Fenway

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
After a 12-day break, Suffolk is back on the ice and CCC action at Johnson & Wales Thursday, Jan. 19. Game time is scheduled for 6:55 p.m.