BEVERLY, Mass. – Two members of Suffolk men's ice hockey team, grad student CJ Hapward and sophomore Josh Milso, received spots on the All-Conference of New England (CNE) Second-Team, the league announced Wednesday.
The all-conference accolades are a first for Suffolk since 2018 when Mikhail Bryan was tabbed to the All-CCC (now CNE) Third-Team. The twosome are the first-ever teammates to garner All-CNE (formerly CCC) distinctions in the same season in program history and first Rams pair to pick up all-league honors in the same season since Justin Selep and Tyler Heineman were named to the All-ECAC Northeast in 2016. Hapward's second team distinction is the highest by a Ram by the CNE in program history. Milso, meanwhile, is the youngest Ram to be recognized with an all-league honor since Stanton Turner was a second-team ECAC Northeast slection in 2015.
Since joining the CNE in 2016, Suffolk has captured four awards from the league, half which came this year. When broken down the Rams CNE awards are one scholar-athlete, Joe Feeney in 2022, two second-team (Hapward, Milso), and one third-team (Bryan).
Hapward and Milso were instrumental to Suffolk's most successful season on the ice since 2015-16 as the Rams went 13-11-3 overall. Behind a 7-9-2 league ledger, the Rams not only made the postseason field for the first time since 2022, but earned the fourth seed, their highest finish since 2016. In the playoffs, the blue-and-gold won its first-ever postseason home game as it shutout fifth-seeded Nichols, 4-0, to punch its ticket to the semifinals for the second time in program history, first since 2008.
Hapward, a West Caldwell, New Jersey, native was a crucial cog to the Suffolk's milestones achieved throughout the season. The netminder started all 27 games in between the post and assembled a 1.99 GAA and .931 save percentage, good for 15th and 16th in NCAA Division III this season. He backstopped the Rams in all 13 victories, six of which were in shutout fashion, which is good for a share of first for total cleansheets by a goalie this year with Hobart's Mavrick Goyer.
Milso, who calls Bridgewater, Massachusetts, home, was a staple at the blue line in all 27 games this year. He was a scoring defender with 13 points, good for second on the squad, behind 10 assists, and three goals. His double-digit helpers were good for a share of first on Suffolk's squad with Michael McEachern.
In addition to the all-league honors, junior captain Thomas Dempsey was awarded a pot on the CNE Community Service Team, which recognizes student-athletes on every member institution's squad that demonstrates a commitment to their community.
2025 MEN'S ICE HOCKEY ALL-CNE
Player of the Year - Shane Soderwall, Curry
Goalie of the Year - Shane Soderwall, Curry
Rookie of the Year - Ryan Austin, Nichols
Scholar Athlete of the Year - Eelis Laaksonen, Curry
Coach of the Year - Peter Roundy, Curry
ALL-CNE FIRST TEAM
F - Andrew Kurapov, Endicott
F - Eelis Laaksonen, Curry
F - Dominic Murphy, UNE
D - Casper Soderling, Curry
D - Ryan Prewitt, Curry
D - A.J. Martinelli, Endicott
D - Chip Hamlett, UNE
G - Shane Soderwall, Curry
ALL-CNE SECOND-TEAM
F - Ryan Kuzmich, UNE
F - Ryan Willett, Endicott
F - Drew Olivieri, UNE
D - Josh Milso, Suffolk
D - Kadyn Fennell, JWU
G - CJ Hapward, Suffolk
ALL-CNE THIRD-TEAM
F - Gage Dill, Curry
F - Nathan Carl, Nichols
F - Primo Self, Endicott
F - Dominic Garozzo, Endicott
D - Ryan Austin, Nichols
D - Kevin O'Keefe, UNE
G - Atticus Kelly, Endicott
COMMUNITY SERVICE TEAM
Jacob Crespo, Curry
Jack Smiley, Endicott
Kadyn Fennell, Johnson & Wales
Luke Harvie, Nichols
Thomas Dempsey, Suffolk
Shea Courtmanche, UNE
George Weiner, Wentworth
Josh Bliss, WNE