UMass Lowell hockey will add nine freshmen to its 2012-13 roster, as announced by head coach Norm Bazin on Monday. The freshman class will include Gregory Amlong (O'Fallon, Mo.), Adam Chapie (Oxford, Mich.), Michael Colantone (Cave Creek, Ariz.), Michael Fallon (Glenview, Ill.), Christian Folin (Gothenburg, Sweden), Connor Hellebuyck (Commerce, Mich.), Logan Johnston (Penticton, B.C.), Ryan McGrath (O'Fallon, Mo.) and A.J. White (Dearborn, Mich.).

“We are excited to welcome these nine young men to our program,” said Bazin. “They're anxious to contribute and our staff looks forward to helping develop them over the course of their careers. We feel there are several players who are going to have an impact from day one and we know that they are eager to face the challenge ahead.”

In addition, redshirt freshman Dmitry Sinitsyn (Moscow, Russia) and redshirt junior Joe Houk (Richboro, Pa.) will make their debuts after sitting out the 2011-12 season.

The River Hawks return 18 players from one of the strongest seasons in program history as UMass Lowell went 24-13-1 overall, earning its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1996. Under the Hockey East Coach of the Year, Bazin, the River Hawks completed the second largest turnaround in Division I NCAA history, winning 19 more games than the previous season.

A defenseman, Gregory Amlong (6-2, 200) joins the River Hawks after two seasons with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Amlong helped lead the RoughRiders to the Anderson Cup in 2010-11 and served as an assistant captain in 2011-12. A right-handed shot, he totaled 38 points (10g, 28a) in 99 career games with Cedar Rapids.

Adam Chapie (6-1, 175) has spent the last two seasons playing forward for the New Mexico Mustangs of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). A gifted scorer, he totaled 91 points (46g, 45a) in 118 career games with the Mustangs. Chapie enjoyed a career year in 2011-12, leading New Mexico in points (57), goals (31), power play goals (9), game-winning goals (4) and short-handed goals (2). He was selected to the NAHL's Top Prospects Tournament in 2012.

Playing for two teams in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) over the past two years, Michael Colantone (5-11, 190) will bring his high-scoring antics to UMass Lowell in 2012-13. Colantone ranked 11^th in the BCHL in goals (33) and 14^th in points (74) last season with the Prince George Spruce Kings, averaging over 1.25 points per game. Prior to that, he scored 35 points (13g, 22a) in 57 games with the Victoria Grizzlies in 2010-11.

Fallon (5-11, 175) will join the River Hawks after a strong campaign with the Chicago Steel of the USHL. The forward led Chicago in points (48), assists (29), power play assists (13), power play goals (9) and game-winning goals (4). Prior to that, Fallon scored 58 points (17g, 41a) in 58 games with the Springfield Jr. Blues of the NAHL in 2010-11.

The second defensemen in UMass Lowell's incoming class, Christian Folin (6-3, 210) enjoyed a stellar career with the Austin Bruins of the NAHL over the last two seasons. In 2011-12, he scored 11 goals and 20 assists while recording a plus-45 rating and earning a spot on the NAHL's All-Central Division Team. Folin totaled 41 points (12g, 29a) in 87 career games for Austin.

A fifth round NHL Draft pick by the Winnipeg Jets, Connor Hellebuyck (6-4, 200) spent last season in net for the Odessa Jackalopes of the NAHL. In his lone campaign Hellebuyck was named the league's Co-Rookie of the Year and Co-Goaltender of the Year. He led the NAHL in minutes played (3,085:37) and saves (1,695) while recorded a 26-21-5 record, .930 save percentage and 2.49 goals against average.

Logan Johnston (6-1, 205) is a power-forward who skated for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL for the last four seasons. As captain, he led the Vees to the 2011-12 Royal Bank Cup and is a two-time NAHL Playoff MVP. In 208 career games, Johnston scored 39 goals, 61 assists and recorded 340 penalty minutes.

Hailing from the same hometown and team as fellow freshman Amlong, Ryan McGrath (5-7, 160) played for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders from 2010-12. McGrath helped lead the RoughRiders to the Anderson Cup in his first season while scoring 42 points (18g, 24a). He was limited in 2011-12 due to injuries, but scored 17 goals and 19 assists in 39 games.

Lastly, A.J. White (6-2, 180) skated for two seasons with the Michigan Warriors of the NAHL, scoring 85 points (39g, 46a) in 115 games. In 2011-12, he led the Warriors in points (50), goals (28), power play goals (8) and game-winning goals (5). White was selected to the NAHL's Top Prospects Tournament this past year.