Issue date: 9/29/04 Section: Sports

From the first cold night, to the first dash of a cool, brisk breeze on your face, it is evident that summer has departed.

While colder temperatures usually mean shorter days, longer nights and signify the transformation from summer to fall, the change in the weather also marks the beginning of a new hockey season.

In many ways this season promises to be just as special, if not more, than those prior.

Suffolk started with changes at the top by promoting Associate coach Chris Glionna to the head coaching position.

With a brand new coach at the reigns and the addition of talented freshman who are eager and ready to play, the Suffolk squad will be looking forward to another exciting hockey season.

Between managing a promising team and keeping his first year goals in front of him, Coach Glionna will no doubt be a busy man with much to accomplish.

However, Glionna is no stranger to hockey here at Suffolk, thanks to his experience as a player during his sophomore year in 1994 and by serving as the team's assistant coach for the past four years.

This will be Coach Glionna's fifth year on the bench and his excitement to become the head coach of such a prestigious university is apparent to anyone who knows him.

Glionna commented that the competition in the Eastern College Athletic Conference would definitely be aggressive, but with former head coach Brian Horan sticking around as an assistant, some of the tension will be relieved.

With the return of last season's leading scorer and honorable mention All-ECAC Kevin Coakley and goaltenders Greg Blais and Joe Paladino, the Rams look forward to an extremely competitive season.

These players, along with the other talented returning athletes, will prove to be valuable leaders towards the array of upcoming freshmen.

College hockey will most definitely receive more emphasis and attention around Boston this winter now that the NHL lockout is in full force.

With the possibility of no Boston Bruins games to attend, college hockey, especially here at Suffolk, hopes to be bigger than it has been in previous years.

The Rams will look to improve in the ECAC, particularly after putting up a 10-12-2 record last season.

Official tryouts for the team begin on October 26, with the first regular season game slated on November 11, at Stonehill College.

It will certainly be an electrifying journey this year for the Rams hockey club.

With the return of the skilled and experienced players from last season complimenting the arrival of many new faces, there is no limit to the potential of this team.

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