SUFFOLK SCOOP suffolk university athletics official newsletter
Issue 2 • February 16, 2021
What’s Inside We’re Back!
03. CCC’s Winter Decision
Suffolk to compete in shortened winter 2020–21 winter non–conference schedule.
On Jan. 21, the CCC Board of Directors made the decision on winter sports.
Wasylk’s Shiresy’s to Benefit Suffolk Cares Taylor Wasylk has committed her NWHL shiresy sale profits to Suffolk CARES.
06. Wasylk Plays in NWHL Taylor Wasylk signed a contract with the Buffalo Beauts of the NWHL. She headed to Lake Place, N.Y. for the two– week season.
08. CCC Fall Academic 48 Rams achieved CCC Fall Academic All–Academic for the 2020 Fall Semester.
2 • Suffolk Scoop
We’re Back! Following recent announcements made by the NCAA and the CCC, Suffolk University has put together plans for its winter sports programs.
After thorough review and continuing consultation with campus leadership and at the local, state and federal levels, select Rams’ teams have been cleared for in-state, nonconference competition.
Suffolk’s Schedules With every intention to begin competition with its four of its winter teams — men’s and women’s basketball and men’s and women’s basketball — Suffolk University athletics will release schedules on a week–by–week basis. With the health and well–being of students and staff remaining the highest priority, it is important to acknowledge that these schedules are written in pencil. Suffolk Athletics asks for flexibility and understanding of last–minute changes, postponements and cancellations. Any and all updates to schedules will be shared with Ram Nation as early as they are known on the official site of Suffolk University Athletics, GoSuffolkRams.com, as well as the official social media channels @GoSuffolkRams on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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With the health and well-being of students and staff remaining the highest priority, Suffolk will allow men’s and women’s basketball and men’s and women’s hockey the option to still compete against other institutions in a limited capacity over the course of the next month. Schedules for these competitions will be released on a week-byweek basis. In addition to these teams, all student-athletes will still be provided athletic opportunities, including strength and conditioning, practices, and team-related activities. Strict adherence to the NCAA’s Core Principles to Resocialization in College Sports will be met. Further information on varsity athletics participating and safety measures, including testing requirements, have been provided to participating studentathletes and their families.
Spectators will not be allowed at any indoor and outdoor Suffolk Athletics events, including students, faculty or staff not competing or working the contest. The nospectator policy allows Suffolk Athletics game management staff to focus on maintaining the health and safety of those participating in the event. Although spectators will not be allowed to attend games at the Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court or the Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Rink, Suffolk Athletics is committed to live-streaming as many home contests as possible to allow members of Ram Nation and its opponents the ability to watch the blue-and-gold for free online. Suffolk Athletics will continue to work with campus, city and state health officials as this semester’s athletic schedule progresses and will provide any updates regarding spectator attendance when that information becomes available.
Suffolk Scoop • 3 During a meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 20, the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Board of Directors voted to cancel conference competition for winter sports for the 2020–21 season. The cancelation of conference competition applies only to contests scheduled by the league office, including the conference championship. Each institution maintains autonomy to compete independently, including contests against other conference schools that choose to play. This position applies to both winter sports and any others in the 2020–21 season that had been previously canceled. This decision which, affects men’s and women’s basketball and men’s and women’s ice hockey, was made following months of discussions by conference leadership including presidents and athletic directors regarding how to return to play safely in the midst of the COVID–19 pandemic. Throughout these discussions, ensuring the health and safety of not only our student– athletes, but everyone in our campus communities and mitigating the spread of the virus remained the principal objectives. Given current infection rates and the state regulations regarding interstate travel, the Board came to the conclusion that a CCC winter sports schedule was not feasible.
CCC Board of Directors Makes Decision on Winter Competition
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This decision which affects men’s and women’s basketball and men’s and women’s ice hockey, was made following months of discussion by conference leadership including presidents and atlhetic directors regarding how to return to play safely in teh midst of the COVID–19 pandemic.
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At this time, it is the Conference’s intent to sponsor CCC competition for spring sports beginning March 27 pending the Board’s review of health guidance and travel restrictions. Spring sports include baseball, softball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s golf, and women’s track & field. Additionally, due to state and local restrictions, there will be no spectators permitted at any sporting event that is conducted in 2020–21.
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4 • Suffolk Scoop
Suffolk Sights: Varsity Weight Room Suffolk revamped its second–floor varsity strength and conditioning facility and made it a state–of–the–art weight room exclusively for varsity athletes in the summer of 2016. Located on the second–floor of the Ridgeway Building, the facility allows Suffolk to offer sport-specific programming for all 19 varsity teams. The facility features two custom made Power Lift racks for a total of six complete racks as well as a variety of cable machines. The weight room also features two complete racks of dumbbells and other various machines for secondary leg and core exercises
Bench Press for Breast Cancer Suffolk’s Varsity Weight Room allowed Ram Nation to conduct a fundrasier benefitting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) over the last two years. In that span, Suffolk Athletics raised over $2,500 for the cause in the month of October.
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The fundraiser is a friendly competition between athletes on who can get the most reps of a pre– determined weight. Joe Feeney of the men’s hockey team is a two–time champ of the men’s 185– pound category.
Suffolk Scoop • 5
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6 • Suffolk Scoop
Wasylk Signs with Buffalo Beauts, Competes in NWHL Season Suffolk women’s hockey head coach Taylor Wasylk inked a deal with the Buffalo Beauts of the NWHL two days prior to the start of the sixth season, and played in four games in the bubble. Taylor Wasylk’s, Suffolk women’s hockey head coach, saw her season with the Buffalo Beauts of the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) wrap up after round–robin play. The abrupt end cameFeb. 3 as the league, in coordination with the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), suspended the remainder of the season due to new positive COVID–19 tests. The decision came due to the resulting safety concerns for the players, their respective staff and the community. Prior to the shutdown, Wasylk and the Beauts found their way in the Isobel Cup semifinals after a not so traditional road. In round–robin action Buffalo slipped in its first three games, including Wasylk’s debut, a 4–2 setback to the Toronto Six Jan. 27. From there, the Metropolitan Riverters departed the bubble and the remainder of the regular–season Beauts’ schedule turned into a best– of–three series with the Boston Pride. Buffalo and Boston traded victories to set–up a dramatic Monday night do–or–die contest. Minutes before Wasylk’s name was announced in the starting line-up for the first time in her NWHL career, the NWHL accepted the decision of the Connecticut Whale to forfeit their game schedule and no matter the outcome of the action at Herb Brooks Arena Monday night, both the Beauts and Pride would advance to the Isobel Cup semifinals. After falling to the Pride Monday evening, 7–1, Buffalo was set to be the fourth seed and scheduled to take on
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the Toronto Six live on NBC Sports Network in the first semifinal matchup Thursday, Feb. 4 at 5:30 p.m., however, the chase for the cup ended early with the NWHL’s decision to cancel the remainder of competition. Over her trip in Lake Placid, New York, Wasylk, who was the only active NCAA head coach playing in the 2021 NWHL season, got on the ice in four of Buffalo’s six games. The defensive forward scattered three blocks in those outings and aided to the Beauts only victory, a 2–1 decision over the Pride Saturday, Jan. 30.
About the NWHL The National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) is a women’s professional hockey league located in the United States and Canada.
Suffolk Scoop • 7
WASYLK’S NWHL SHIREYS SALES to BENEFIT SUFFOLK CARES
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Suffolk University does a tremendous job in assisting our community and the CARES team works tirelessly to ensure that our students facing food insecurity are cared for. It is an honor to be a small part of something so inspiring on our campus.
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TAYLOR WASYLK HEAD COACH
Taylor Wasylk, Suffolk women’s hockey head coach, and one of the newest members of the Buffalo Beauts of the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL), has a plan for her portion of the proceeds of her shirseys sales, donate them to Suffolk CARES. Wasylk, who headed to Lake Placid, New York, on Saturday, Jan. 23 to join the Beauts in the two-week long whubble (women’s hockey bubble) is granted 15 percent of every shirsey, a t–shirt that replicates a jersey, sale with her name on the back. Instead of pocketing the profit, Wasylk has decided to give back to her Ram Nation roots and give her portion of the profits to Suffolk CARES, which works collaboratively with students and their families, faculty, staff and other campus resources to provide support for
students through a variety of challenges they may encounter, while at Suffolk. “I am immensely proud to partner with Suffolk CARES and provide support to students in need on our campus,” Wasylk said. “Suffolk University does a tremendous job in assisting our community and the CARES team works tirelessly to ensure that our students facing food insecurity are cared for. It is an honor to be a small part of something so inspiring on our campus.” Since her arrival in Beacon Hill, Wasylk has been an advocate for Suffolk CARES. In May, she spearheaded Suffolk’s effort in Under Armour’s Though This Together campaign, a week-long online t-shirt sale in which the Rams raised over $1,300 to benefit the University’s organization. Fans can purchase their Wasylk shirsey for $25.50 at bit.ly/shirseystore.
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Next Issue 01. Winter Sports Update Suffolk’s winter teams will be halfway through their shortened seasons. Check back to see how the Rams are doing.
02. Suffolk Sights A look inside Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink, home of Suffolk women’s hockey.
03. Rams ’Round the World Emilio Tenacio took his talents abroad for the second straight spring semester.
CCC FALL ACADEMIC
Rams Round–Up Stay Connected You have the a chance to keep up with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics, its student–athletes and teams by following the Rams on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Support Ram Nation Help give Suffolk Athletcs a competitve edge. Donate now by texting “SURAMS” to 71–777.
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In its first eligible season as a department, 48 Suffolk University studentathletes were among 500 across the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) to be acknowledged for academic accomplishments with a spot on the CCC Fall Academic All-Conference Team, the league office announced Monday, Jan. 25. In order to be recognized as a member of the CCC Academic All–Conference Team, a student–athlete must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 (on a 4.0 scale) and must also have attained sophomore status. Suffolk’s 48 studentathletes represent the Rams’ men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and
women’s soccer, women’s tennis and women’s volleyball team. The 48 individuals honored were the seventh most institution wise with the University of New England’s 66 leading the way. Along those numbers, the 500 individuals acknowledged by the conference is the most in the award’s history since it was split by semester in 2012-13. In the Rams’ team race, Will Feldman’s men’s cross country team led the way with 11 earned the distinction, while the women’s cross country team and women’s soccer team each placed nine student-athletes on the list.