MILTON, Mass. – The Curry College men's hockey team defeated Suffolk University, 7-4, on Thursday evening in Commonwealth Coast Conference action at the Max Ulin Rink. With the win the Colonels improve their record to 4-2 overall and 4-1 in the CCC. The loss drops the Rams to 2-3-1 on the season and 1-3-1 in the CCC.
Senior Tyler Vankleef (Dundas, Ont.) posted a career-high six points in a single game with five goals, also a career-high, and one assist. His five goals tied the record for most scored in a game which was set first in 1986 and again in 2003.
The Colonels netted five goals over a span of just 10 minutes in the first period. Senior James Murphy (Malden, Mass.) got his team on the board first with only 3:20 off the clock. Murphy was assisted by senior Dan McGinnis (Hanover, Mass.) and freshman Tomas Brejcha (Prague, Czech Republic). Vankleef netted the next four, including a power-play goal and the game-winner. Credited with assists were senior Jake Heisinger (Winnipeg, Manitoba) who earned three, sophomore Lionel Mauron (Lausanne, Switzerland) who had two and senior Sean Nelson (Brighton, Mich.) and junior Phil Kiss (Burlington, Ont.) who each helped on one. Suffolk's sophomore Nick Mosher (Cumming, Ga.) broke open the scoring with 3:05 left to play that sparked a Rams comeback.
Suffolk tacked on another three to rally back from a five-goal deficit to make it a one-goal game, 5-4, with plenty of time remaining in the third period. The Colonels however answered with back-to-back scores within a 1:22 minute span to seal the 7-4 victory.
Suffolk's final three goals came off the sticks of senior Danyil Medvedev's, sophomore Connor Parent (Danvers, Mass.) and freshman Brian Brooks (Canton, Mass.). All three players netted their first of the season with Brooks earning his first collegiate goal.
Freshman Jordan Williamson (Okotoks, AB) pushed Curry's lead back to two when he was set up by Vankleef. Just 1:22 minutes later Vankleef capitalized on another man-up advantage to garner his fifth and teams seventh of the night. Juniors Adam Valadao (Ajax, Ontario) and Jarret Kup (Rosseau, Ont.) each had an assist.
The Colonels held the edge in shots, 42-35, and inside the faceoff circle, 45-31. Curry was two for eleven on the power-play while Suffolk was one for seven.
Senior netminder Brett Sinclair (St. Catherine's, Ont.) notched his fourth win in between the pipes for the Colonels with 30 saves. Sophomore Michael Levine (Clarendon Hill, Ill.) made seven stops in the first 7:24 of action for Rams and allowing four goals before giving way to junior Kevin Venturoso (Franklin, Mass.) who made 31 saves, allowing three goals in 52:36 minutes.
Both teams are back in action on Saturday as Curry hosts Johnson & Wales in their annual Teddy Bear Toss for Team IMPACT at 4:45 p.m. Suffolk plays host to Endicott College at 7:30 p.m.
