Suffolk

Rick Piracini was one of Suffolk’s outstanding defensemen. And he didn’t do badly on offense either: The tall skater is the all–time points leader from the blue line in program history in fact with 98 points on 29 markers and 69 helpers.

 

During the blueliner’s time on Beacon Hill, the Rams had some great victories. He was a crucial part of the “We are SU” movement. The senior captain helped distinguish the motto of the 1988-89 team, which opened the campaign with seven straight victories and went on to finish the year 19–7–1, marking the most successful Suffolk hockey squad at the time. The 19 victories are still good for second most in the Rams’ record books today. That team opened the eyes of many opponents and put Suffolk hockey on the map.

 

His most memorable event, however, was the Chowder Cup Tournament. Suffolk skated against the Jumbos of Tufts University in freezing conditions, quite literally as the water bottles froze to the bench. The Rams played through the frigid temps and went on to hoist the trophy.

 

Piracini’s time in a blue and gold sweater was unique as the Somerville, Massachusetts, native skated with seven other players that grew up in the same town, some of which he played high school puck with as well, like his co-captain Russ Rosa. Even his fellow 2019 inductee, baseball’s Mike Romano, lived one street over from him.

 

“Suffolk’s team in 1989 was pretty successful in large part due to the Somerville guys,” Piracini said. “A life–long Somerville friend, Suffolk Hall of Famer Brian ‘Scorin’ Horan and we can throw in a half season’s worth of goals from another Somerville guy and fellow Hall of Famer Brian Gruning in there too.”

Piracini is the fourth Suffolk hockey player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame from the late 80s, early 90s era joining the likes of Brian Horan (2007), Brian Gruning (2009) and Sean O’Driscoll (2016).

 

Following his 1989 graduation from Suffolk’s Sawyer Business School with a bachelor’s degree in business sales and marketing he has remained in Beantown working for Action Bearing Company for the past 30 years. He lives in Tewksbury with his wife Lori Covino–Piracini, BS ’91. They have three children, Marc (24), Jess (22) and Allison (20).