BEVERLY, Mass. – Suffolk men's ice hockey's Austin McNicholas was named Conference of New England (CNE) Goalie and Rookie of the Week after backstopping the Rams to a 1-0-1 record in a home-and-home against then-No. 12 Endicott, the conference office announced Monday.
The freshman netminder assembled a 1.50 goals against average and .947 save percentage with 54 stops in the home-and-home series with the Gulls in which Suffolk scooped up four league points.
The Clarence, New York product turned aside 23 shots in Thursday's 4-1 win over the nationally ranked Gulls, marking Suffolk's first victory over a top-15 opponent since defeating then-No. 14 Endicott on Jan. 28, 2022. The win also snapped a 10-game skid against the Rams' league rival. A day later in Eastie, he compiled career-high 31 saves performance in the 2-2 overtime stalemate.
The results helped Suffolk match its best start since 2015-16 at 4-2-0.
McNicholas first collegiate weekly award comes after teammate Bobby Lachance earned CNE Rookie of the Week seven days ago. McNicholas also becomes the first Suffolk goalie to claim weekly honors since CJ Hapward '25 on Feb. 18, 2025.
McNicholas and the Rams take a break from CNE contests Tuesday, Nov. 25 when they host Colby at 5:00 p.m. at Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink.