BEVELRY, Mass. – Two days away from puck drop of the 2023-24 season debut, Suffolk men's hockey was projected to finish seventh in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Preseason Poll, in a vote by the league's eight head coaches, the conference announced Wednesday morning.
Suffolk secured 18 points to finish ahead of Nichols (17).
No. 3 Endicott, who competed in the NCAA Division III Semifinal a year ago, is the favorite to win the 2023-24 CCC Championship as the Gulls collected all, but one of the first place votes for 62 points. No. 5 University of New England, who was in the 2023 national four as well, is projected to finish as the conference's runner-up with 51 points.
Salve Regina, who receives votes in the DCU/USCHO.com Preseason Poll, picked up the remaining first place vote to round out the top three with 47 points.
No. 9 Curry (45), Western New England (24) and Wentworth (21) slid into spots four through six.
Suffolk is prepped for its second season under Shawn McEachern's guidance. The former NHLer hit the recruiting trail hard over the off season and brought in a 15-member class comprised of 14 true freshmen and one transfer. The Rams rookies will be joined by veteran leadership in grad student forward Devin Lowe and defensemen Olle Akermark and Samuel Rand.
The Rams 2023-24 season commences this Friday, Oct. 27 when Albertus Magnus pays Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink a visit for a 4 p.m. puck drop.
| 2023-24 CCC MEN'S HOCKEY PRESEASON POLL | |||
| SCHOOL 1. No. 3 Endicott 2. No. 5 University of New ENgland 3. Salve Regina 4. No. 9 Curry 5. Western New England 6. Wentworth 7. Suffolk 8. Nichols |
Point (FPV) 62 (7) 54 47 (1) 45 24 21 18 17 |
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