First Line: Quick Hits on the 2019-20 Women’s Hockey Season

BOSTON – Suffolk women's hockey is prepped for its second varsity season, which gets underway with a two-game series at Nazareth this weekend. Prior to the official puck drop on the Rams' year two, Ram Nation has a chance to catch up on six hot topics.  

1. NEHC NOTES
   
   Suffolk will have one final chance to etch its name in the New England Hockey Conference's (NEHC) record books as the Rams will compete in the highly competitive league one final time before making the switch to the inaugural women's hockey Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC). The CCC announced that it will oversee women's hockey as a championship sport in 2020-21, assuming operation of a renamed Colonial Hockey Conference (CHC) and the Rams will bring their talents alongside Becker, Endicott, Nichols, Salve Regina, the University of New England and Western New England as the Suffolk's entire Athletic Department will make the conference switch as the league's 10th full-time member, which was announced this summer. 
   
   
2. SECOND IS THE BEST
   
   After the hype of the inaugural season, Suffolk looks to do more damage in year two. The Rams put together a first-year record of 15-9-2 and went 10-4-2 against league foes to claim second in the conference standings. 
   
   
3. BAY STATE SKATERS
   
   The first-ever Suffolk women's hockey roster was absent of a Bay State skater, but the second recruiting class features a pair of Massachusetts players: Cassidy Gruning and Meagan MacNeil. 
   
   MacNeil is a junior transfer from Saint Anselm College, while Gruning begins her collegiate debut with the Rams.    
   
   
4. FRESH COMPETITION 
   
   Suffolk will skate against five new foes this season in Amherst (Feb. 13), Connecticut College (Jan. 14), Nazareth (Nov. 1-2), Trinity (Jan. 5) and Wesleyan (Nov. 30 & Dec. 1). 
   
   
5. SUFFOLK TIES
   
   Cassidy Gruning, a true freshman, has Suffolk roots as the daughter of Suffolk Athletics Hall of Famer, Brian Gruning. 
   
   The Rams' rookie has big skates to fill as her father led the NCAA, all Divisions, in goals scored (48) and was the runner-up in total points (86) his senior season in 1991-92. 
   
   Cassidy Gruning brought her talents to Boston after a successful career at Tewksbury High School where she anchored the squad to a MIAA State Championship in 2019 and a runner-up showing the year before. 
   
   
6. SKATING FOR A CAUSE
   
   Suffolk will lace up its skates for the greater good for the second straight season following its inaugural cause game a year ago where the Rams wore puzzle piece jerseys to bring awareness to autism February 2, 2019.  
   
   Be on the lookout for the official announcement from head coach Taylor Wasylk on what the Rams will be playing for this season and be sure to save the date of the contest, which is set for Saturday, Jan. 25 against UMass Boston at 5:30 p.m. at Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink. 
   
   
7. HOW TO FOLLOW SUFFOLK MEN'S HOCKEY IN 2019-20
   
   Family, fans and friends of Suffolk men's hockey can follow all of the action via the official website, GoSuffolkRams.com. Ever game will be previewed and recapped with in-game lives stats offered for very home event. 
   
   Members of Ram Nation are also encouraged to stay up-to-date on the Rams' official social media sites, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and use the official hashtag #RamNation for an insider's look at Suffolk's teams and student-athletes. 
   
   For a more in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at Suffolk men's hockey, fans can follow the Rams on Instagram and Twitter @SU_WHOCKEY.