WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 9, 2025) – The Western New England men's ice hockey team honored their Class of 2025 seniors prior to puck drop in a Conference of New England game on Super Bowl Sunday evening, falling 5-1 to the Rams of Suffolk University. 

Records:

• Western New England: 5-15-2, 1-12-2 CNE
• Suffolk University: 10-10-2, 5-9-1 CNE

How it Happened:

Suffolk opened the game with three of the first four starts on the evening as Anthony Aureliano made the start for Western New England after being pulled in his last start against the same Rams on Friday night, a 9-5 defeat for the Golden Bears. Jake Mendeszoon had the lone chance for WNE in the early goings. WNE would have the first power play of the game, taking three shots on Suffolk's CJ Hapward, who also made his second straight start against the Golden Bears. Hapward would make all three saves on WNE. Following the PP chance for WNE, Suffolk would have seven shots in a span of one minute on Aureliano, who stood tall for the Golden Bears, seeing the Rams off the board. Both teams would earn another power play each but could not score through the midway point of the first period. The Golden Bears would break the ice with 3:11 to play in the opening period when Nolan Dawson, a WNE senior, found the back of the net to give the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead. Sam Logan and Mathew Fortin earned assists for WNE on the play, which was a board battle that Fortin would win, sending the puck to Dawson in the middle of the slot, who took a shot that deflected off a Ram and into the back of the net. Suffolk would have a bid in the final seconds of the opening period as Nolan Leonard would take a shot that would go just wide of the net, keeping the Rams from scoring. Suffolk led the Golden Bears in the shots department 13-10 in the opening frame. Neither team would come away with a power play goal, WNE 0/2 on their chances, Suffolk 0/1. Suffolk won 12 of the 17 faceoffs in the first period.

It would be all Suffolk in the second period as the Rams would score four times to take a 4-1 lead by the period's end. Daniel McKieran would open the scoring just 1:19 in the second period, taking advantage of a WNE turnover that resulted in a breakaway that McKieran would finish, coming up with the tying goal. Justin Sullivan would have the only two shots on goal in the second period for the Golden Bears, who lived on the penalty kill for much of the second period as Suffolk fired home three power play goals in the frame. Matthew Pimental's first of two goals of the period would break the tie at the 8:16 mark of the period, getting assists from Scott McManus and Jake Grace, giving the Rams a 2-1 lead. Jake Grace would be on the board for his third goal of the season to give the Rams a 3-1 lead, again a power play goal. Michael McEachern and Scott McManus would earn assists on the goal from Grace, who took a wrister from the blue line that would get by Aureliano. The Rams found their fourth of the game with 1:07 to play in the period as Pimental would register his second of the game and third of the season, extending Suffolk's lead. Suffolk took 20 shots on goal in the second period, with Aureliano coming up with 16 saves. The Rams dominated the faceoff circle, going 22/27 overall in the period. Western New England attempted just three shots in the 20-minute period and had six penalties assessed to them.

The Rams would again outshoot the Golden Bears by a wide margin in the third period and would add a goal in the opening four minutes of the period, this time an even-strength goal to give the Rams a 5-1 lead as Daniel McKiernan would find the back of the net on a wrist shot from the circle. Western New England would not be able to find the back of the net again as Dawson's goal would stand as the only one on the night, seeing WNE fall by a final score of 5-1.

Inside the Lines:
·      Penalties doomed the Golden Bears on the night as Western New England was called for 46 minutes of penalties, 12 total minors.
·      Suffolk would score three goals on the power play in the third period to go ahead for good in the loss.
·      Nolan Dawson's sixth of the season was the only goal for WNE. Dawson's goal would be assisted by Mathew Fortin and Sam Logan.
·      Anthony Aureliano did all he could to keep WNE in the game, coming up with 39 saves in the losing effort.
·      Suffolk would dominate the faceoff circle, with 66 total faceoffs taken, 50 going to the Rams.
·      The Rams have outscored WNE 14-6 through two games this season. The two teams will meet one final time this coming Saturday in Boston.

Next Up on the Schedule:
·      Western New England will play in their final home game of the season on Friday, February 14, for a rare 12:00 PM start against the University of New England.