CCC RELEASE

BOSTON – In the inaugural Commonwealth Coast Conference men's ice hockey preseason poll Suffolk was selected sixth by the league's 10 head coaches, the conference office announced Wednesday afternoon. 

Suffolk grabbed 48 points and was pegged to finish ahead of Curry (41), Johnson & Wales (38), Becker (23) and Western New England (17). 

The conference's top two contenders in Endicott and Salve Regina received votes in the initial USCHO.com Poll of the season. The Gulls, who received seven first-place votes, were picked to win the first CCC crown with 97 points, while the Seahawks picked up three first-place nods for second. New England (75), Nichols (68) and Wentworth (68) rounded out the top five with the Bison also garnering votes in the USCHO.com Preseason Poll. 

Chris Glionna, the winningest coach in Suffolk hockey history, continues his reins as the Rams' head coach and enters his 13th season at the helm. The Rams return 25 skaters with their senior leadership of Jack Jenkins, Danyil Medvedev and Stanton Turner leading the 16 upperclassmen and nine new comers into their first-ever CCC season. 

Fans will get their first glimpse of Suffolk hockey in 2016 Saturday, Oct. 29 at Assumption. The Rams and Greyhounds will meet for the seventh straight year in Suffolk's season opener at 6:35 p.m. at Buffone Arena. Suffolk's home opener, which is slated for Thursday, Nov. 3, will also serve as the Rams CCC debut as the blue and gold entertains Becker at Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink in Charlestown at 7 p.m.