LOWELL, Mass. (May 27, 2008) – Shawn McEachern, a former NHL player and Northeastern assistant coach, has been named an assistant coach for the UMass Lowell hockey program, announced head coach Blaise MacDonald Tuesday.

“Shawn is a terrific addition to our coaching staff,” said MacDonald. “He will have a profound impact on our team, specifically our forwards. He brings with him an amazing hockey career having been a captain in the NHL and a Stanley Cup champion.

“Most importantly he brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to the job,” added MacDonald. “He loves coaching and has translated his experience of playing for great coaches into his career as a college coach.”

McEachern, a fifth-round draft pick (110th overall) by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1987, played for five teams – Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Ottawa, Atlanta and Boston – during his 14-year NHL career. He won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 1992 and captained the Thrashers for two seasons (2002-04).

McEachern made his NHL debut with the Penguins in March 1992 and played in 14 regular season games that year. In the playoffs he tallied nine points on two goals and seven assists in 19 games as Pittsburgh won the second of its back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.

McEachern played parts of four seasons from 1992-95 in Pittsburgh, with a brief stint with the Kings in 1994-95.

After one season for his hometown Bruins, a season in which he recorded 53 points on 24 goals and 29 assists, McEachern was traded to the Ottawa Senators. He appeared in 454 games over six seasons with the Senators and totaled 304 points (142 goals, 162 assists).

Beginning with the 1997-98 season, McEachern had four straight 20-goal seasons. He tallied 31 goals in 1998-99 and had his best statistical season in 2000-01 when he recorded career-highs in points (72), goals (32) and assists (40).

On June 29, 2002 McEachern was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers. He played two seasons in Atlanta and had 81 points on 27 goals and 54 assists in 128 games. He was the team’s captain both seasons.

McEachern returned to Boston in 2005-06 and had eight points on two goals and six assists in 28 games for the Bruins.

McEachern played three seasons at Boston University and is the program’s sixth all-time leading scorer. He had his best season in 1990-91 when the tallied 82 points (34 goals, 48 assists). That season he was a First Team All-American, a Hobey Baker finalist and the Hockey East Tournament MVP.

McEachern spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Northeastern under head coach Greg Cronin. His coaching career began before his playing career ended as he was an assistant coach at Salem State College during the NHL lockout in 2004-05.

“Our ability to attract a coach like Shawn speaks to the bright future of our program and the commitment the university and community have shown,” MacDonald said. “Personally, I had the chance to coach Shawn at BU and developed a strong relationship with him over the years. I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for him as a person.”

McEachern replaces Kenny Rausch on the staff. Rausch left to pursue other coaching opportunities.

The River Hawks finished the 2007-08 season 16-17-4 overall and 10-13-4 in Hockey East play. The 16 wins doubled their win total from 2006-07. UML qualified for the Hockey East playoffs this season, finishing seventh in the standings with 24 points.

UMass Lowell was ranked in the USCHO.com/CSTV Division I national poll for 11 weeks during the season, reaching as high as 13th in the country on January 7.