BIDDEFORD, Maine – For the first time since 2018, Suffolk men's hockey has earned a place in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) postseason as the blue-and-gold secured the fifth seed in the upcoming conference tournament.
Suffolk wrapped up the regular-season, its third in the CCC Saturday night with a 3-1 win over Wentworth to finish the year 8-12-4 overall and 7-10-4 in league action. The seven wins against CCC counterparts are the most for the Rams in CCC play in program history.
For the first time, the CCC Tournament will feature all eight conference teams as the league's membership decided to expand the 2022 playoff field due to rescheduling challenges created by COVID-19 protocols.
All eight teams will be in action in the quarterfinals Saturday, Feb. 26.
The Rams drew Curry who enters the field as the fourth seed after finishing with a 13-7-1 league ledger and 15-8-2 overall record for 40 points in the standings.
Suffolk went 0-2-1 versus Curry in the regular-season. The Rams won the extra point in the shootout in the first meeting with the Colonels this year, before falling in the following two battles. Historically, Curry has dominated the all-time meetings with the blue-and-gold (5-28-3).
The other quarterfinal match-ups include No. 8 Western New England at top seeded University of New England, second-seeded, nationally-ranked Endicott versus No. 7 Wentworth and three seed Salve Regina against six seed Nichols.
The winners of those clashes will advance to the semifinals on tap for Wednesday, March 2 where the standings will be re-seeded. The highest remaining seed will play the lowest remaining seed in one semifinal, while the other to quarterfinal victors' faceoff on the other side of the bracket.
From there, the semifinal winners will battle in the CCC Championship Saturday, March 5 with the winner earning the conference's automatic bid to the 2022 NCAA Division III tournament.
Suffolk will make its first postseason push since 2018-19 and second-ever run into the CCC tournament, first since 2018 and first as the fifth seed. The Rams hold the highest seed into a postseason tournament since being the fourth seed of the 2016 ECAC Northeast postseason.
2022 CCC MEN'S ICE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT
Quarterfinals – Saturday, Feb. 26
#8 Western New England at #1 University of New England
#7 Wentworth at #2 Endicott
#6 Nichols at #3 Salve Regina
#5 Suffolk at #4 Curry
Semifinals – Wednesday, March 2
Lowest Remaining Seed at #1 Endicott
Second Lowest Remaining Seed at Second-Highest Remaining Seed
Championship – Saturday, March 5
Semifinals Winners