Another crucial two games were decided this past week for the Suffolk University men’s hockey team. With the remainder of the schedule conference games, every tilt is an important one for the Rams.

With only six more opportunities to log conference wins, Suffolk looked to push for a playoff spot starting with a home game versus Salve Regina who they fell to earlier in the season, 6-3.

Suffolk continued its work on the penalty kill early in the first period but were fortunate enough to hold Salve from scoring. Just around the eight-minute mark, Suffolk freshman forward Stanton Turner netted his fifth goal of the season. Turner was assisted by Simon Leahy and Charlie McGinnis.

On the following faceoff, Salve’s William Gromolinski evened the game just seven seconds after Suffolk had taken the lead. The score remained tied at one after the first.

The second could have started better for the Rams ,as three minutes in they found themselves down a goal thanks to Salve’s talented John Scorcia.

The rest of the period belonged to Suffolk though, as the team scored three unanswered goals to a 4-1 advantage.

Mike Cherpak, Tim Benedetto, and Mike Pantano were responsible for scoring the three big second period goals. Benedetto’s goal came on the power play, which is a good sign for the Rams, as their special teams play has been up and down this season. Turner and McGinnis also added assists in the second period to give them each multi-point teams. McGinnis continues to wind down his impressive Suffolk career and is doing it scoring points game in and game out.

In the third, Suffolk continued its strong play, along with Leahy’s eighth goal of the year of the empty net variety to put the nail in the coffin. The final score was 5-2 in favor of the Rams, giving them their third conference win of the year.

Next, Suffolk faced off against a strong Nichols team who came into the game 6-2-1 in the ECAC Northeast.

A total of nine goals were scored in this contest; four of them came in the first period. Suffolk and Nichols traded blows out of the shoot with Nichols getting the first goal. Suffolk responded quickly with two goals of their own off the sticks of Stanton Turner and Tim Benedetto. The 2-1 lead would be short lived as Nichols tied it up before 20 minutes were up.

In the second period Suffolk took its only penalty of the game, unfortunately that penalty would lead to a power play goal for Nichols, and the loss of the lead. Nichols’ goal was the only one tallied in the second; on to the third with Suffolk trailing by one.

Nichols took over in the final period, scoring the first three goals, which gave Suffolk a 6-2 lead. Before it was all said and done, the Rams added another goal when David Lazaro netted his second of the year.

The loss was a disappointing one, as the Rams only have a handful of games left to play. They did hang tough versus a top conference team until the third period, and that is something to take positively from the game.

Now with just four games to go and conference wins needed badly, the men and head coach Chris Glionna are feeling confident about their game going down the stretch.

“The team feels good about our playoff chances,” he said.   “We control our own destiny.  We play the team chasing us, and then team we are chasing in our next two games.”

Practice time is the most important it has ever been at this juncture of the year, sometimes breaking the game down to the simple things can be keys to a team’s success.

“This time of year practice is a lot about fundamentals.  We are just trying to make sure we are doing the little things right.”

Finally, Coach Glionnawill be looking to his seniors to pull the team together and get the job done.

“I would look to our seniors Charlie McGinnis and Jon Stauffer to step up in the last two weeks.  They want to end their career on top. “

McGinnis and Stauffer are both having impressive seasons for the Rams as the two seniors have been a staple of this hockey team during their tenure at Suffolk. Stauffer is an assist machine and the best on the blue line Suffolk has to offer. McGinnis does it all as well, this year scoring eight goals along with seven helpers, good for second on the team in points.

Suffolk will take on Western New England Thursday night at home. Both of these teams are fighting for a final spot, we will see who wants it more.