In its first taste of regular season action, the Tufts hockey team curtly dismissed Suffolk College 8-4 on Saturday. The team began a trend that it expects to continue throughout the season: winning.

“It went pretty well for our first game,” senior captain Drew Carleton said. “We didn’t really know what to expect, and I think that we handled it well.”

The squad opened the first period with a high level of intensity, both physically and mentally. The offense capitalized on several key scoring opportunities. Carleton found the net twice and freshman Mike Carceo pitched in with his first career goal.

The Jumbo defense waned in the second period, however, as Suffolk picked up its play and scored three goals.

“We didn’t play our game in the second period,” second-year coach Brian Murphy said. “We got involved in some clutching and grabbing and they slowed us down.”

On the offensive end in the second period, with the help of seniors Mike Stewart and Scott Sullivan, Carleton put another two away, totaling four goals on the day. Sullivan also pitched in two goals to cushion the team’s lead. Senior Pete Schieffelin added another goal towards the end of the game.

Carleton’s four-goal game, although impressive, was not a surprise to those familiar with his talent. Last year, Carleton was the team’s leading scorer and earned All-New England and All-ECAC honors for the second straight season.

“I just go out there and want to put the puck in the net as much as possible,” Carleton said. “I never really expect to score four goals in one game, but things were just clicking, and Mike and Scott created some great opportunities for me.”

The team also displayed more confidence than it had in its exhibition match against Babson College.

“We played smarter offensively,” Murphy said. “We went to the net a little more and didn’t play on the perimeter, which allowed us to be more successful.”

Despite the win, the team was still concerned with its defensive play.

“Defensively, we cannot be giving up four goals a game,” Murphy said. “That involves everyone. It starts with our forwards, defensemen, then our goalie… but that will all come with time and experience.”

Suffolk, traditionally a weak opponent, surprised the Jumbos with its improved play. The Jumbos suffered an uncharacteristic 13 penalties on the day.

“I don’t think that it will be a trend,” Murphy said. “They slowed us down, and we took the penalties. I think it was just indicative of that particular game.”

Tufts was forced to overcome Suffolk’s scrappy style of play to defeat its first NESCAC opponent.

“It was a really important game for us to win,” Murphy said. “Not only was it our first game, it was a league game, and those are the ones that determine whether or not we make the playoffs. I’m really pleased with the way things have been going for us. The guys have been working really hard.”

One of the primary strengths of this year’s team is the leadership and experience of its upperclassmen. Carleton and assistant captains senior Scott Sullivan and junior Dan Mahoney will look to lead the underclassmen by example.

“Drew has been great so far, both as a player and a captain,” Murphy said. “He’s the hardest worker in practice, and it pays off. Other guys notice that.”

Murphy and his players are pleased with the level of play this early in the season, and are looking forward to improving their game.

“Every week I expect us to get better and better in all phases of the game,” Murphy said.

“We haven’t really been playing together that long,” Carceo said. “I think that when we come together as a team, we’ll be even better… and that’s going to happen pretty soon.

The Jumbos will face seven more teams before winter break, and will have to play those games without the help of sophomore Jason Boudrow. Last year, Boudrow was fifth among scorers in the nation, with 55 overall points as a freshman. He will return next semester and is expected to be a crucial addition to the team.

The team is hoping that over the next month, with less intimidating competition scheduled, the underclassmen will gain the necessary experience to be contributing forces.

“We’ve got a great group of freshmen,” Carleton said. “Once they become a little better acclimated, they are going to contribute in a really good way.”

Next weekend, the team will travel to Maine, where it will face perennial-powerhouse Colby in a Thanksgiving tournament. Tufts will go on to play against Bowdoin College or Oswego State College, depending upon the results of the first round.

“We are going up there to win,” Murphy said. “They are going to be some of our toughest competition, so we are just going to play hard.”

“Some of the better teams may think that we’ll be a cakewalk, but we aren’t,” Carleton said. “We can hang with some of the best teams, and we’re going to prove it.”