Suffolk University Men’s Hockey (Amy Barry, Suffolk Athletic Communications)
Suffolk University Rams (15-7-1) vs Curry College Colonels (15-7-1)
Friday & Saturday – February 20 / 21 – 6pm / 3pm ET
Curry leads all-time series 43-10-3
As the regular season winds down across Division III, two of the Conference of New England’s [CNE] top teams meet in a pivotal home-and-home series. The Suffolk University Rams & the Curry College Colonels close out their regular season campaigns this weekend with identical 15-7-1 records.
Curry leads the all-time series 43-10-3 and won the earlier meeting this season, defeating Suffolk 5-2 in the Canton Ice House. Despite the historical edge, the stakes this weekend are clear. Suffolk currently sits third in the CNE standings, with Curry five points behind in fourth. If the Colonels hope to overtake the Rams for the three-seed, they will need either a regulation sweep or a regulation win, combined with an overtime / shootout victory.
Suffolk hosts Friday night at 6:00 p.m. ET at the Porazzo Rink in East Boston before the series shifts to the Canton Ice House for a 3:00 p.m. ET matinee on Saturday afternoon.
Curry enters the weekend after dropping its previous three games, including a sweep at the hands of conference rival #7 Endicott & a shootout loss to Nichols, a game in which Curry was considered the heavy favorite. Despite the recent skid, Curry remains firmly in the CNE playoff picture and will look to regain momentum heading into the postseason, looking to defend their CNE title from last season.
Offensively, Curry has been among the most productive teams in the country. The Colonels have scored 96 goals in 23 games, ranking 10th nationally in goals per game at 4.17. Depth has been a strength, with only two skaters yet to record a point and only three with one or fewer. Senior forward Gage Dill has led the way with 24 points in 23 games, including 11 goals and 13 assists. In conference play, Dill has totaled 17 points in 18 games.
Suffolk, meanwhile, is putting together one of the most significant seasons in program history. The Rams have reached 15 wins for the first time since the early 1990s and are currently riding a nine-game winning streak. In their last 10 games, Suffolk has outscored opponents 50-17, including a win over conference leader UNE, highlighted by a 2-0 shutout victory.
The Rams have largely flown under the radar despite signature results. Suffolk owns wins over #7 Endicott (18-3-2), #5 University of New England (19-5-0), & tied Endicott earlier this season before falling in the shootout. In the non-conference, the Rams also have slim 3-2 overtime losses to both Amherst & Wesleyan (Plattsburgh Tournament). Entering the year, Suffolk was labeled the dark horse of the CNE in Chris Sugar’s preseason preview, and the Rams have delivered on that projection in Head Coach Shawn McEachern’s fourth season at the helm.
Offensively, Suffolk mirrors Curry’s firepower. Four skaters have surpassed the 20-point mark, led by sophomores Nolan Leonard and Marko Giorouf, who’ve combined for 59 points. Leonard has recorded seven goals and 22 assists, while Giorouf has added 13 goals and 17 assists. The duo ranks third and fourth in the CNE in total points.
With playoff seeding on the line in the CNE, Curry and Suffolk close the regular season in a home-and-home series that could reshape the conference standings. The Rams host Friday night at 6:00 p.m. ET in East Boston before the Colonels return home Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. ET in Canton.
