Men’s Hockey Sunday Service Features Nichols in Season Debut

SUNDAY, FEB. 28 // 1:10 PM  LOUIS E. PORRAZZO MEMORIAL SKATING RINK EAST BOSTON, MASS. LIVE STATS // VIDEO
EYES ON THE GAME // PROGRAM SERIES RECORD // SUFFOLK LEADS, 25-21-4 LAST MEETING // JANUARY 5, 2019, L, 4-2 LAST SUFFOLK WIN // JANUARY 16, 2016, W, 5-2 CURRENT SUFFOLK STREAK // L4

BOSTON – The long-awaited Suffolk men's hockey 2020-21 season opener is now just days away with the Rams slated to entertain Nichols in the first game of the year Sunday, Feb. 28 at 1:10 p.m. at Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink in East Boston.

SPECTATOR SECTION
With a strict no spectator policy set for the 2020-21 athletic season, here's how fans can follow Suffolk game-day action.

SOCIAL SAYINGS
Ram Nation has a chance to keep up with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics, its student-athletes and teams by following the Rams on  Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #RamNation a behind-the-scene look at Suffolk Athletics.

For an insider look at Suffolk men's hockey, Ram Nation can subscribe to @suffolkuhockey on Instagram and Twitter.

RAMS REWIND
Suffolk skated in the NEHC for its second and last season in 2019-20. With stiff and nationally known competition, both in conference and non-conference contests, the Rams missed the league's post-season with a 2-14-2 league ledger and finished the year 6-17-2 overall.

RAMS RETURNERS
Despite some crucial departures, multiple scoring sticks for Suffolk are back including Devin Lowe and Shawn Montgomery, who put together identical stat lines of four goals and eight assists last season. Alex Kolowrat (5g, 5a), Nick Lachaine (5g, 5a) and Miller Rubin (1g, 9a) return to the Rams as well after contributing double-digit points to the 59-goal offensive output from a year ago. 

Goaltenders Nathan Pickett (4.16 GAA, .905 save %) and Cal Wilcox (4.16 GAA, .891 save %) traded time in between the pipes as freshman and could do the same in their sophomore seasons. Veteran blue liners Joe Vingi (2g, 3a) and Billy Roche (3g, 5a) will back up the blue-and-gold gloves.

RAMS ROOKIES
In the off-season, Suffolk men's hockey head coach Chris Glionna brought in half a dozen skaters to the fold for the 2020-21 campaign. 

Five of the new faces in blue-and-gold sweaters are true freshmen, while Daniil Ocvhinnikov is a junior transfer from Plattsburgh Sate. Position wise, four are forwards, with a pair of defensemen.

MORE READING: Rams Rookies: 2020-21 Men's Hockey

GEOGRAPHY 101
Suffolk's 25-player roster is comprised of national and international student-athletes. 

U.S. natives are mainly Massachusetts natives with 11 Rams calling the Bay State home. Three hail from Connecticut with a pair making the trip from North Carolina and Pennsylvania. California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Rhode Island and Vermont are all represented by one student-athlete each.

The international skaters flew in from the Czech Republic and Sweden.

CLASS CATEGORIES
The bulk of the Rams' roster is in the 12-member sophomore class with five freshmen and juniors, respectively, and three seniors.

PUCK POSITIONS
When broken down by position, Suffolk has 15 forwards, seven blue liners and three goalies.

RAMS RINGLEADERS
Joe Vingi begins his second term as Suffolk men's hockey captain, while juniors Joe Feeney and Billy Roche join the leadership contingent as assistant captains. 

MORE READING: Vingi Ready to Lead Men's Hockey in 2020-21, Feeney, Roche Tabbed Assistants

HOME RINK
For the 2020-21 condensed season, Suffolk men's hockey will call the Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink in East Boston home.

ON THE BENCH
Chris Glionna returns to the fray for the Rams, entering his 17th season as head coach.

He will continue to be assisted by John Burgess and Greg Fowke.

OPENING ACT

• The Rams are 10-10-1 in season debuts dating back to 1999.
• Suffolk has captured its last nine openers, seven coming against Assumption and two versus Franklin Pierce.
• The blue-and-gold will lift the lid on its schedule as the home team for the first time since 2017-18. The Rams are 6-5-0 in front of their home crowd.
• Suffolk will meet Nichols in its season opener for the fifth time, first since pulling the curtain back on the 2008-09 campaign. The Rams are 3-1 when playing the Bison in game one of the year. Suffolk has outscored Nichols, 27-14, in the season debut.

BISON BREAKDOWN
Nichols had a near .500 campaign in 2019-20 with a 12-13-2 overall record that saw the Bison reach the CCC semifinals. 

Back for the Bison is a threesome of 20-plus point producers in Justin Perron (13g, 12a), Curtis Carlson (12g, 12a) and Fillip Virgili (9g, 14a). Petr Miko (3g, 15a), Nate Foster (7g, 9a), Huner Fraser (7g, 9a) and Lucas Andersson (2g, 8a) also contributed double-digit points to Nichols' 93-goal offense last season.

Matt Efros (2.26 GAA, .913 save %) and Korbinian Lutz (4.09 GAA, .888 save %) bring in the experience in net for the Bison, while Shane O'Brien and Mathias Backstrom have been added to Nichols' netminder folder. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• After taking last season off, Suffolk and Nichols renew a rivalry, which dates back to 1982.
• The Rams own a slim, 25-21-4 lead over the Bison.
• Suffolk looks to snap a six-game winless stretch versus Nichols. That span contains four straight setbacks including the last meeting, a 4-2 victory in the Bison's favor at the Boston Landing Collegiate Invite.
• The Rams last victory over Nichols came Jan. 16, 2016 in a 5-2 decision.
• Suffolk and Nichols have needed extra time to decide a winner on six occasions. The Rams are 0-2-4 in overtime against the Bison. The last time the foes played an extra session was Nov. 4, 2017 in Harrisville, Rhode Island with Nichols winning, 3-2.

EYES ON THE GAME

SUFFOLK SOUNDS
During the longer than usual off-season, head coach Chris Glionna represented men's hockey on Suffolk Sounds, the official podcast of Suffolk Athletics.

MASK UP FOR SUFFOLK CARES
Suffolk University is asking members of Ram Nation to come together to help raise funds for students most in need by purchasing a reusable Suffolk branded face mask for $10. Net proceeds will support the Suffolk CARES program.  

The 3-ply face mask cover comes in four different designs – University, Suffolk Law, Rams, Logo Repeating. The non-medical grade masks are heavyweight, 100 percent polyester, washable and reusable. Masks can be purchased here.