CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | 2025 CNE MEN'S ICE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT BRACKET
BEVERLY, Mass. – For the first time since 2021-22, Suffolk men's hockey has earned a place in the Conference of New England (CNE) postseason as the blue-and-gold secured the fourth seed in the upcoming conference tournament.
Suffolk wrapped up the regular season, its sixth in the CNE (formerly Commonwealth Coast Conference) Friday night with a 1-1 tie to Nichols to finish the year 12-10-3 overall and 7-9-2 in league action. The seven wins against CNE counterparts match the most for the Rams in CNE play in program history, which was set by the 2021-22 squad, who went 7-10-4 versus CNE foes.
The Rams will make their first postseason push since 2022, third-ever run in the CNE tournament and first as the fourth seed. It is the best finish for the blue-and-gold in its CNE tenure and is the second time in program history that it took the fourth seed, first since the 2016 ECAC Northeast Tournament.
The Rams are in the hunt for their first postseason victory in the CNE tourney and first since the 2008 ECAC Northeast Quarterfinals, a 3-2 overtime decision over Wentworth. That overtime outing against the Leopards is Suffolk's lone postseason victory dating back to 1999-2000.
As the fourth seed, Suffolk garnered hosting rights for the first round and drew fifth seed Nichols, who compiled a 5-9-4 league ledger and a 9-12-4 overall record for 18 points in the conference standings.
Suffolk went 0-1-2 versus Nichols in the three-game regular-season series. The last two meetings between the Rams and Bison exceeded regulation and ended in 1-all draws. The overall series favors the blue-and-gold, 30-26-6. The foes will tangle in the CNE postseason for the first time.
Action of the first round is scheduled to get underway this Wednesday, Feb. 26 at Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink. It'll be the first time in program history that Suffolk will host a CNE postseason contest. Wednesday's outing will mark the first home postseason outing in a decade and third time dating back to 1999-2000, that Suffolk men's hockey will host a postseason game. The blue-and-gold is 0-2-0 when hosting a league tournament tilt.
The other first round match-up includes sixth seed Wentworth at third seed Endicott.
The winners of those clashes will advance to the semifinals Saturday, March 1 where the standings will re-seed. The highest remaining seed will trek to second seed the University of New England, while top seed, regular-season champ Curry awaits the lowest remaining seed.
From there, the semifinals winners will battle in the CNE Championship Saturday, March 8 at the highest remaining seed. The team that hoists the conference crown will earns the league's automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Division III Tournament.
2025 CNE MEN'S ICE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT
First Round - Wednesday, February 26
Game 1: No. 5 Nichols at No. 4 Suffolk - 2 PM or 6 PM
Game 2: No. 6 Wentworth at No. 3 Endicott - 7 p.m.
Semifinals - Saturday, March 1
Game 3: Lowest Remaining Seed at No. 1 Curry
Game 4: Highest Remaining Seed at No. 2 UNE
Championship - Saturday, March 8
Game 5: Winner of Game 3 vs Winner of Game 4 – Hosted by Highest Remaining Seed