The Suffolk University men’s hockey team entered the final weekend of the regular season with games against nationally ranked Curry College and the Wentworth Institute of Technology, with the Rams looking to earn a spot in the Commonwealth Coast Conference playoff bracket.
The Rams couldn’t accomplish that goal, however, losing both games to end the season with a 6-17-2 record, missing out on a playoff spot. Suffolk ended the season with a 4-16-1 record in conference play and a seven game losing streak.
Suffolk started the weekend by facing no. 6 ranked Curry on Feb. 17, with the Rams dropping the game by a 5-1 score. The Rams fell to 0-3-0 against the Colonels this season.
“I thought we played really well in the first period, we actually hit the post twice, and I thought the guys played really well, kinda stuck to what we wanted to do,” said head coach Shawn McEachern. “Then, what’s happened throughout the season is if we don’t get the success we want, sometimes we get away from the game plan and being disciplined, and I think that kinda happened in that game.”
Matt Connor scored first for the Colonels in the first period, but both teams went to the locker room after the period tied 1-1 thanks to junior forward Kyle Valiquette’s third goal of the season; with forward Cole Scott and defenseman PJ Donahue assisting on the goal.
Curry controlled the play after that, scoring two goals in both the second and third periods to leave East Boston with a 5-1 victory.
Special teams proved to be a big factor, with the Colonels scoring two power play goals on five chances and Suffolk only getting one power play opportunity, which they failed to score in.
Senior goalie Cal Wilcox started in net for the Rams, making 37 saves on 42 shots. Reid Cooper was in net for the Colonels and made 30 saves on 31 Suffolk shots.
On Feb. 18 against Wentworth, the Rams fell by a score of 2-1 in the regular season finale — officially ending their chances at a playoff berth. Suffolk played the Leopards three times in the regular season, with all three games ending in a 2-1 final score. Suffolk took home the win in two out of three of those games.
“Pretty even games,” said McEachern on how the Rams stack up against Wentworth. “They play a little different style than us, but overall we’re pretty similar teams, and I think you can tell through the scores.”
Trailing 2-0 late in the third period, McEachern made the move to pull Wilcox from the net for an extra attacker. The move paid off, with senior Devin Lowe scoring with 2 minutes and 49 seconds left on the clock to pull Suffolk to a one goal deficit.
After that, the Rams were unable to crack Wentworth goalie Jack McGovern again, with McGovern making 31 saves on the day. Wilcox got the start in net again for the Rams, saving 23 shots.
“I think Cal played pretty well,” said McEachern on Wilcox’s weekend performance. “Maybe a couple he’d want back, but overall he played pretty well. I think Cal goes the same as our team goes.”
The Rams now look ahead to next season, with a tall order ahead as they look to replace nine seniors and one graduate student as McEachern’s first season as head coach comes to an end.
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