CCC QUARTERFINALS: No. 1 Endicott Hosts No. 8 Western New England

Posted: Feb 24, 2017

BEVERLY, Mass. – The first-seeded Endicott men's ice hockey team will host No. 8 seed Western New England University this Saturday in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Tournament quarterfinals at 2:50 PM at Raymond J. Bourque Arena. Ticket prices for Saturday's game are as follows: Endicott students are free, $3.00 for students/senior citizens and $5.00 for adults (children under 12 are not charged admission).

The No. 7/9 nationally ranked Gulls earned the first seed in the CCC Tournament after winning the inaugural CCC men's ice hockey regular season championship with a 14-3-1 conference record. Meanwhile, the Golden Bears locked up the No. 8 seed with an 8-15-2 league record.

THE MATCHUP: Endicott (20-3-2) enters Saturday's game on an eight-game winning streak. The Gulls are also 11-2-0 at home this season. During its current eight-game winning streak, Endicott has outscored its opponents 50-12, which includes a 9-0 win over Western New England in the their last meeting on Thursday, February 16.

Western New England (8-15-2) checks into Saturday's matchup having just broken a five-game skid with a 7-2 victory over Wentworth (2/21) that helped the Golden Bears clinch the No. 8 spot in the CCC Tournament. Prior to Western New England's last triumph, the Golden Bears had been outscored by a 26-9 during their five-game losing streak.

SERIES HISTORY: Endicott is 4-0-0 in the all-time series versus Western New England University. The Gulls have outscored the Golden Bears 25-3 in those four matchups, and have not allowed a goal to Western New England in the last three contests.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

The winner of Saturday's matchup will advance to the CCC Tournament semifinals. If Endicott were to win, the Gulls will host the lowest remaining seed in the tournament on Wednesday, March 1 at 7:00 PM. If Western New England were to upset Endicott, the Golden Bears would play the highest remaining seed in the tournament on the road.

CCC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (Games hosted by the higher seed)

Quarterfinals – Saturday, Feb. 25

#8 Western New England at #1 Endicott, 2:50 p.m.

#7 Becker at #2 Nichols, 3:40 p.m.

#6 Johnson & Wales at #3 Salve Regina, 4 p.m.

#5 University of New England at #4 Curry, 4:45 p.m.

Semifinals – Wednesday, March 1

Lowest remaining seed at Highest remaining seed, TBA

Third highest remaining seed at Second highest remaining seed, TBA

Finals – Saturday, March 4

Semifinal winners at higher seed, TBA

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