Men’s Hockey Seals Spot in CNE Semis, Shutouts Nichols in First Round, 4-0

EAST BOSTON – After back-to-back overtime draws in the regular season with Nichols and sending-ending elimination on the line, the fourth-seeded Suffolk men's hockey team powered its way by the fifth-seeded Bison, in the First Round of the 2025 Conference of New England (CNE) Tournament, 4-0, Wednesday night at Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink.  

CJ Hapward was instrumental to the victory, Suffolk's first postseason win since 2008, as the goaltender denied all 46 shots he faced.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 4 | Nichols 0
RECORDS: Suffolk (13-10-3) | Nichols (9-13-4)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Give-and-go action between Daniel McKiernan and Ryan Webb resulted in a Suffolk score at the 16:39 mark of the first frame. McKiernan gained possession in the neutral zone, slipped a pass to Webb, who gave it right back to his teammate for a quick wrist shot and score.  

Suffolk doubled its distance 7:14 into the second period when Ralph Berry sniped a shot from in between the face-off circles. Joe O'Brien and Nick Liotino helped set up the strike that padded the margin to a pair, which remained at the second intermission.  

More insurance came for the blue-and-gold with just over two minutes removed from the final period as Berry found the back of the net for the second time. The sophomore chipped the puck away with aid from Adam McNabney and Liotino.  

Hapward put on his hero cape from there as the netminder was peppered with nearly 10 shots and stopped them all to keep Nichols from sneaking on the scoreboard. That effort was during a stretch in which the Bison pulled Liam Choquette from in between the post for an extra skater. 

Suffolk assured its victory with 4:07 left in regulation when Nolan Leonard lit the lamp in transition. Josh Milso had a hand in the fourth and final goal of the night.  

NETMINDER NOTES

• Hapward registered a 46-save shutout. 
• Choquette produced 25 saves in the setback.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Berry scored half of Suffolk's goals. 
• McKiernan and Leonard netted one goal each. 
• Liotino handed out three assists. 
• McNabney, Milso, O'Brien and Webb dished out one helper each. 
• Nichols outshot Suffolk, 46-29. 
• The Rams narrowly edged the Bison at the face-off dot, 34-33.

NOTEWORTHY
* all records are noted through the game-by-game record books, which dates through the 1999-2000 campaign 

• Suffolk won its first postseason game since 2008. 
• Suffolk competed in the postseason for the first time in the Shawn McEachern era. 
• Suffolk made its first postseason appearance since 2022 and 10th dating back to 1999-2000. 
• Suffolk made the CNE (formerly CCC) postseason field for the third time, first since 2022. 
• Suffolk will advance to the semifinals for the second time, first since 2008. 
• The postseason win is the first in regulation.
• Suffolk hosted its third postseason game in program history, first CNE postseason contest. 
• Suffolk moved to 2-9-0 in the postseason.
• Suffolk is 1-2-0 in CNE tournament play.
• At home, Suffolk is 1-2-0 in postseason play. 
• The Rams competed in the league's postseason field as the fourth seed for the second time and first time since 2016. 
• The Rams played in the 4 vs. 5 first round game for the sixth time. 
• Suffolk is now 2-4-0 in such outings, and won its first contest as the fourth seed. 
• Tonight's decision was the fourth shutout in postseason play in Suffolk's game-by-game history. 
• The Rams kept an opponent off the scoreboard in the postseason for the first time. 
• Suffolk is now 1-3-0 when a team is kept off the scoreboard in the playoffs. 
• The shutout is a first for Suffolk in the CNE postseason. 
• Suffolk had its sixth shutout of the season. 
• The Rams bested the Bison for the first time since Feb. 2, 2024. 
• Suffolk moved to 31-25-7 all-time against Nichols. 
• The Rams moved to 16-16-3 as the home team versus the Bison. 
• Tonight's decision was the fifth cleansheet in the all-time series. 
• The Rams are 3-2-0 when a team is kept off the scoreboard. 
• It is the first shutout between Suffolk and Nichols since a 2-0 Suffolk win Feb. 2, 2024.
• Suffolk moved to 2-4-2 against Nichols under McEachern's guidance. 
• McKiernan scored his sixth goal of the year. 
• Berry notched a personal-best in points (2) and goals (2). 
• Liotino logged a career-high in assists (3) and points (3). 
• Leonard recorded his third goal of the season. 
• Hapward had his sixth shutout of the year, seventh of his collegiate career. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk will take its talents to the top-seed, No. 4 Curry Saturday, March 1 for a 3:00 p.m. semifinal outing.