Leopard_Balcony_Booster
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Posted: Jan 20, 2026
CNE RELEASE
BEVERLY, Mass. – Suffolk men's ice hockey forward Aidan O'Connell was named Conference of New England (CNE) Player of the Week, while freshman goaltender Austin McNicholas earned CNE Rookie of the Week honors following the Rams' weekend sweep of Wentworth, the league office announced Tuesday.
Suffolk opened the series with a dominant 5-0 road victory before completing the sweep with a 4-1 win at home. O'Connell paced the Rams offensively with six points, scoring four goals in the shutout and adding two assists in the series finale. The honor marks O'Connell's first career CNE weekly award and Suffolk's first player of the week selection since Matt Pimental earned the distinction on Feb. 10, 2025.
McNicholas stopped 41 shots, while allowing just one goal across the home-and-home series. The rookie posted a combined .976 save percentage and 0.50 goals-against average. The recognition marks McNicholas' third CNE weekly award of the season and his first since earning picking up both Goaltender and Rookie of the Week honors on Nov. 24, 2025.
Suffolk returns to the ice with another CNE home-and-home, Jan. 23-24, facing Johnson & Wales. Action begins on the road Friday at 7:00 p.m., before the Rams welcome the Wildcats to Porrazzo Rink on Saturday for a 5:00 p.m. puck drop.