New England College Spoils Men’s Hockey’s Opener, 4-0

CHARLESTOWN, Mass. – Suffolk men's hockey was shutout in its 2021-22 debut as New England College put away a pair of even strength and special team goals, respectively, in a 4-0 decision Friday night at Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink. 

THE BASICS 
SCORE: Suffolk 0 | New England College 4
RECORDS: Suffolk (0-0-0) | New England College (0-0-0)  

HOW IT HAPPNED 
Suffolk fell behind 1-0 at the first intermission after the Pilgrims put away a power play goal. The Rams took care of business the first time they played with a man down as Phil Decresce was sent to the pen for elbowing at the 7:10 minute mark. 

It wasn't until Kyle Valiquette sat down for boarding four minutes later that New England college scored. With 30 seconds left on the power play Alex Laplante chipped the puck over Jarret Bovarnick's left shoulder to give NEC the go ahead. C.J. Valerian and Hunter Hall assisted on the season-opening goal.  

The blue-and-gold had a chance to level the playing field out of the locker room as it started the middle period with a man-up as Mattias Thoren had 46 seconds left on his elbowing penalty from the first frame. Things went in NEC's favor instead as Connor Inger took the puck down the ice and slipped a pass Trevor Momot. The Pilgrims' senior made a highlight-reel move that caused Bovarnick into a facedown split, which allowed an easy flip of the rubber past the goal line. The short-handed strike doubled the deficit to 2-0.  

NEC kept the pass of one goal per period 1:15 into the third. David Novtny put away the first even strength goal of the night thanks to help from LaPlante and Bernie McGovern to stretch the Pilgrims' distance to three.  

The scoring didn't stop there for the visitors as eight minutes later Inger found the back of the net to extend matters even further. Momot and Valerian aided in the marker that made it a 4-0 game, a margin that remained the rest of the way.  

NETMINDER NOTES

• Bovarnick logged a 35-save effort in the setback. 
• Spencer Kozlowski registered 20 stops in the shutout.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• New England College outshot Suffolk, 39-20. 
• The Rams were limited to just six shots in the first and second periods, respectively.
• The Pilgrims went 1-for-6 on the power play, while Suffolk could not convert any of its seven man-up chances. 
• NEC edged out the blue-and-gold in the face-off dot, 36-30. 
• Suffolk's defense blocked 12 New England College shots with Billy Roche blocking a third (4) of that total.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk lifted the lid on its home ice for the second straight season. 
• The Rams are now 7-6-0 in front of their home crowd in the first game of the season. 
• The blue-and-gold met NEC in its first game of the year for the first time. 
• Suffolk played its first game at Horrigan Rink since Feb. 10, 2020, 627 days. 
• Bovarnick made his second collegiate start, first since the NEHC Quarterfinals tilt at then-No. 1 Norwich Feb. 15, 2019.  

POST-GAME PIC
 

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
The Rams turn their attention to their Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) schedule which lifts up against Wentworth in a home-and-home series next weekend. Suffolk will entertain the Leopards Friday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m., before traveling across town the following day, Saturday, Nov. 6 for a 5 p.m. puck drop.