EAST BOSTON – Multi-point efforts by Adam McNabney and Cole Scott and stand-up play in net by CJ Hapward sent Suffolk men's hockey back in the win column as the Rams skated past Wentworth, 4-1, Friday night in Commonwealth Coast Conference action at Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink.
Scott scored a pair of goals, while McNabney notched one goal and one assist and Hapward had 34 saves in the conference victory.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 4 | Wentworth 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (3-12-2, 2-7-1 CCC) | Wentworth (6-10-1, 3-7-1 CCC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Dane Probe buried a one-time off a Brendan Young won face-off to light the lamp for the Leopards 3:11 into the opening period.
Scott tipped in Jake Grace's slap shot from just inside the blue line 6:11 later to level the playing field at 1-all. McNabney dished out to Grace to have a hand in the game-tying goal.
A save by Hapward on Suffolk's end helped the Rams spring in front. Jack Kircher picked up the puck after Hapward denied it and found a zooming McNabney down the ice. The sophomore had a one-on-one with Jack McGovern and fired it past the goalie's stick side shoulder to send Suffolk in front 59 seconds into the middle period.
Suffolk extended its advantage 3:216 into the third period with Scott scored his second of the day. The sophomore went on a give-and-go with Nick Liotino in transition. McGovern turned aside Liotino's attempt, but Scott was there to scoop up the rebound and tuck it away to make it a 3-1 Rams game with just under 17 to play in regulation.
Wentworth made move to get its offense going with 1:55 left on the clock when McGovern left his post and went to the bench. The Rams capitalized on the empty net as Scott McManus converted a Will MacNeil pass into empty net insurance at the 18:20 mark for the 4-1 final.
NETMINDER NOTES
- Hapward had 34 saves in the victory, his first as a Ram.
- McGovern made 27 stops in the setback.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Scott scored a pair of goals.
- McNabney had two points to his credit as well with one goal and one assist.
- McManus notched one goal.
- MacNeil, Liotino, Lowe, Kircher and Grace logged one assist apiece.
- Wentworth outshot Suffolk, 35-31.
- The Leopards held an edge in face off wins, 41-39.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk defeated Wentworth for the first time since Jan. 14, 2023, a 2-1 overtime decision.
- The win over the Leopards is the Rams first in regulation in the Shawn McEachern era.
- Suffolk moved to 3-1-0 versus WIT under McEachern's guidance.
- The blue-and-gold is now 7-1-1 in the last eight meetings with Wentworth, all of which have come in CCC play.
- Overall, Suffolk is 18-25-1 versus WIT.
- In Boston, Suffolk 10-11-3 against the Leopards.
- The four goals scored against Wentworth is the most for Suffolk in the series with McEachern on the bench.
- The Rams have outscored the Leopards 17-6 through the last six meetings.
- Scott matched a career-high in points (2) and goals (2).
- Grace had the second assist of the year.
- McManus scored his second goal of the season.
- McNabney dished out his first collegiate assist.
- McNabney had his first multi-point game of his collegiate career.
- McNabney put away his second career goal and second of the season.
- Kircher and MacNeil both set-up their third strikes.
- Liotino notched his third assist of the year.
- Lowe registered his 11th handout of the season.
- Hapward recorded an assist. He is the first Rams goalie to notch a point since Suffolk Hall of Famer Jeff Rose had one in a 2-1 loss to Johnson & Wales Nov. 20, 2008.
- Hapward had his first victory in Suffolk's net.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk and Wentworth are in store for a rematch tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 20 at 3 p.m. at Allied Veterans Memorial Rink.