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Suffolk vs. Curry |
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BOSTON – The Suffolk hockey team put a game away in regulation Thursday night and looks to carry that momentum into Saturday's showdown with Curry at Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink. The ECAC Northeast contest is scheduled for a 7 p.m. puck drop.
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THE FIRST LINE
- After playing in three consecutive overtime contests, Suffolk took down Western New England in regulation Thursday night thanks to Stanton Turner's goal with 27 seconds remaining.
- Coming into the weekend, Suffolk (2-0-2, 1-0-2 ECAC Northeast) is one of two unbeaten teams in ECAC Northeast. Joining the Rams in near perfection is Johnson & Wales who mirrors Suffolk's record, 2-0-2, 1-0-2 ECAC Northeast.
- Suffolk is three games into its conference schedule, with a 1-0-2 record in ECAC Northeast action. The Rams currently stand in a tie for second in the conference standings with four league points.
- Justin Selep scored two goals at Western New England, marking the first Ram to have a multi-goal game since Tim Sprague '15 netted two in a 5-5 tie versus Wentworth last season. The two-goal game performance is the junior's second in his career and first since January 22, 2015 (2-2-4).
LAST TIME OUT
Western New England tied the ECAC Northeast contest with just 35 seconds remaining, but Stanton Turner lit the lamp at the right time as the junior's game-winner came just eight seconds later to lift the Suffolk hockey team over the Bears, 4-3, Thursday night at Smead Ice Arena.
Turner's third score of the season vaulted the Rams to victory (2-0-2, 1-0-2 ECAC Northeast), while senior Brandon Smolarek's play in net allowed Suffolk the opportunity to remain in the hunt for the win. Smolarek finished with 25 saves over the three periods, the Rams first regulation game this season, while his counterpart, Austin Keiser was tested by the Rams stopping 35 shots.
Juniors Justin Selep and Danyil Medvedev each put together three-point performances to lead the Rams' offensive charge. Selep found the back of the net twice and dished out one assist, while Medvedev put in one tally and had two helpers. Senior Tyler Heineman had two assists on the night with senior Mike Cherpak and freshmen Justin Holliday and Nick Mosher handed out one assist apiece.
MORE READING: Turner's Game-Winner Lifts Hockey Over Western New England, 4-3
YOUNG GUNS
The freshman class has made a significant impact for Suffolk this season. Rookie forward Justin Holliday's four points is second on the team off one goal and three handouts. Freshman forward Tommy Bishop (1-1-2) and Nick Mosher (0-2-2) have two points, respectively, while defenseman Mikhail Bryan dished out one helper.
SHOW STOPPER
Brandon Smoalrek has stood tall for Suffolk between the pipes and is a major reason why the Rams are unbeaten this season. The senior netminder has turned away 140 attempts, the second most amongst ECAC Northeast goalies, to go along with his 2.40 goals-against average and .933 save percentage. The Chesterfield, Michigan native steered away 46 shots against Salve Regina November 4, the most by a Suffolk goal keeper since junior Kevin Venturoso stopped 52 attempts against Tufts January 8, 2014.
Smolarek's career total is now 200 shy of 2,000 saves.
CATCH UP ON THE COLONELS
Curry has yet to mark a tally in the win column as it sits at 0-4-1 overall and 0-2-1 in ECAC Northeast action. The Colonels lone point this season came in a 1-1 overtime tie versus Johnson & Wales November 7.
Sean Nelson and Jake Heisinger are leading the way for the Colonels in terms of scoring this season. Nelson holds the team lead in goals (2-1-3), while Heisinger boasts the top assist total (0-3-3). The Curry penalty kill is one of its biggest weapons, as it ranks fourth in the conference at .895 (17-19).
Brett Sinclair has received all the playing time in goal for Curry. The junior's numbers are the best amongst ECAC Northeast top goalies with a league-best 184 saves to go along with a 2.38 goals-against average (fifth) and .939 save percentage (fourth),
THE SERIES
Curry has pulled away in the all-time series dating back to the 1999-00 season, as Suffolk trails the Colonels, 4-20-2. The Rams last victory over Curry came on Suffolk's home ice in overtime on February 15, 2014, but the Colonels swept the series a year ago.
WE'RE GOING INTO OVERTIME, AGAIN
Suffolk's first three games this season needed extra time, marking a first in the Ram's hockey record books, which date back to the 1999-2000 season.
Last season the Rams played five four-period contests (2-1-2) including three in the month of November.
The most overtime games Suffolk has played in a single season dating back to 1999-2000 is six, which happened on two occasions; 2012-13 and 2005-06. The Rams went 1-0-5 in four-periods in 2012-13 and 1-1-4 in OT games in 2005-06.
UP NEXT
A three-game week is in store for Suffolk. The Rams will take on Wentworth at historic Walter Brown Arena Tuesday night, before entertaining Stonehill Thursday, Nov. 19 and Johnson & Wales Saturday, Nov. 21.