Men’s Hockey Begins New Year at Boston Landing

FRIDAY, JAN. 4 // 2:40 PM WARRIOR ICE ARENA BOSTON, MASS.
LIVE STATS // VIDEO // EYES ON THE GAME  SERIES RECORD // SUFFOLK TRAILS, 0-5-1 LAST MEETING // FEB. 28, 2004, L, 4-2 LAST SUFFOLK WIN // NEVER STREAK // L5

SATURDAY, JAN. 5 // 2:40 PM OR 5:40 PM WARRIOR ICE ARENA BOSTON, MASS.
LIVE STATS // VIDEO // EYES ON THE GAME  SERIES RECORD // SUFFOLK LEADS, 25-21-3 LAST MEETING // NOV. 4, 2017, L, 3-2 (OT) LAST SUFFOLK WIN // JAN. 16, 2006, W, 5-2 STREAK // L3

SATURDAY, JAN. 5 // 2:40 PM OR 5:40 PM WARRIOR ICE ARENA BOSTON, MASS.
LIVE STATS // VIDEO // EYES ON THE GAME  SERIES RECORD // SUFFOLK TRAILS, 0-2-0 LAST MEETING // NOV. 9, 2018, L, 4-0 LAST SUFFOLK WIN // NEVER STREAK // L2

BOSTON –  After nearly a month off, the Suffolk men's hockey team is set to return to the ice this weekend as it competes at Nichols' Boston Landing Tournament at Warrior Ice Arena. The Rams open action Friday, Jan. 4 versus Lebanon Valley at 2:40 p.m. and will either face the tournament host Nichols or New England College the following day.

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LAST TIME OUT
Back-to-back goals from Skidmore proved to be enough as Suffolk men's hockey could not make up the ground and fell to the Thoroughbreds, 4-3, in the Rams' midseason finale Dec. 8 at Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink.



MORE READING:  Men's Hockey Slips to Skidmore, 4-2

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk won two of its three outings in December to improve to 4-7 on the season. 

The Rams' offense has been hot as of late, scoring nine goals in its last three goals to bring their season total to 28. Fourteen different skaters have found the back of the net at least once this season for Suffolk with Tommy Bishop's six leading the way. Mikhail Bryan and Jack Kelly share second on the squad with four strikes apiece. The trio is the top in points as well with Bryan's 12 behind a team-high eight handouts pacing the back. Kelly holds onto second joining Bryan with double figures at 10 (4g, 8a) with Bishop rounding out the top three with eight points (6g, 2a).

Michael Levine has backstopped nearly every minute of action for the blue-and-gold. The senior boasts a .921 save percentage and a 2.66 GAA in 10 games of action.

DUTCHMEN NOTES
Lebanon Valley has coupled back-to-back wins together prior to the holiday break to enter the weekend 5-3-2 overall. The Dutchmen's last outing was an offensive onslaught over Chatham, 8-4. 

Four different players have cumulated double figures in points this year with Brett Johnsons' 19 on 12 goals and seven assists leading the way. Bryan Hovanec (7g, 6a) and TJ Sneath (4, 9a) each have 13 points with Cole Hepler's 11 (1g, 10a) completing the top four scorers for Lebanon Valley.

The Dutchmen use a three-headed goalie contingent to defend the pipes. Nick Sorgio has the most experience with nearly 350 minutes of action in six games played and five starts in which he put together a 1.89 GAA and a .940 save percentage.  In four games Tyler Perhac has registered a 4.41 GAA and a .885 GAA. Matt Forslund rounds out the trio with a 3.72 GAAA and a .864 GAA.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk meets Lebanon Valley for the first time since 2004 and seventh time overall.
• The Rams have yet to take down the Dutchmen, trailing the series, 0-5-1.
• In the team's last meeting, Suffolk fell, 4-2, Feb. 28, 2004.

EYES ON THE MATCH

BISON BREAKDOWN
Nichols prepped for the Boston Landing tournament with a Sunday showdown against Connecticut College, which it dropped, 5-1, to move to 6-5-1 on the season. The Bison open the tournament Friday, Jan. 4 at 5:40 p.m. against New England College. 

The Bison's 38 goals are thanks in large part to Vincent Cirvello who has set up 14 strikes and scored three himself to be the only skater with double digit points to his credit. Matthew Menta and Curtis Carlson are the biggest threats when it comes to scoring as they have each found the back of the net five times this year. 

Henry Burns and Brett Epp have split significant time in net for Nichols. Burns looks to be the Bison's go-to goalie and holds a 2.49 GAA and a .908 save percentage, while Epp enters the weekend with a 2.90 GAA and a .888 save percentage.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• If Suffolk and Nichols are to meet on Saturday it will mark the 50th battle between the foes in an all-time series that dates back to 1982.
• The Rams own a 25-21-3 all-time series lead over the Bison, despite falling to Nichols in the last three meetings.
• Suffolk's last victory over Nichols came Jan. 16, 2016, in a 5-2 decision.

EYES ON THE GAME

PILGRIMS PREVIEW
New England College is unbeaten in its last four outings including three wins that put the Pilgrims at 6-3-2 on the season. 

Nikita Pintusov and Carlos Fornaris pace NEC's offense with 12 points apiece. The former's stat line is split in half between goals (6) and assists (6), while the latters is handout heavy with 11 set-ups and one score. 

Anthony Pupplo has seen the most action in net for the Pilgrims. The junior enters the weekend with a .932 save percentage and a 1.98 GAA. He shutout Suffolk in the team's first meeting this year, Nov. 9, 2017. 

NEC will open Boston Landing action versus Nichols Friday, Jan. 4 at 5:40 p.m. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk will meet New England College for the second time this season and third time overall.
• The Rams look for their first win over the Pilgrims as they trail the series, 0-2-0, which includes a 4-0 setback to NEC in the team's first meeting this year, Nov. 9, 2018. 

EYES ON THE GAME

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk returns to New England Hockey Conference action next weekend when it faces Johnson & Wales in a home-and-home series. The Rams will first host the Wildcats Friday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m., before venturing to Providence, Rhode Island, the following day, Saturday, Jan. 12 for a 4 p.m. clash.