LOWELL, Mass.  –  Four former UMass Lowell hockey players have earned a National Hockey League Roster  spot as the league opens its 98th season on Wednesday night.

Defensemen Christian Folin (Minnesota Wild) and Ron Hainsey (Carolina Hurricanes), goalie Carter Hutton (Nashville Predators) and forward Bobby Robins (Boston Bruins) all found their names among the rosters released by the various NHL teams on Tuesday.  It is the largest group of River Hawks ever on the league's opening night rosters.  

Among the group Hainsey, who signed a professional contract after the 2000-01 season at UMass Lowell, has the most NHL experience with 673 games with five different teams over 11 seasons.  This will be Hainsey's second season as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes.  He scored four goals and added 11 assists for 15 points in 82 games last season.  His career totals show 38 goals, 169 assists for 207 points.  At UMass Lowell Hainsey earned All-American honors and was a Hockey East All-Star.  He scored 47 points including 13 goals in 66 collegiate games.

Robins is at the opposite end of the experience spectrum.  When he steps on the ice for the first time, as a Boston Bruin, the 2006 graduate of UMass Lowell will make his NHL debut.  Robins professional hockey career has included stops on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean including Northern Ireland and Austria.  He has spent six seasons with various clubs in the America Hockey League.  

Robins has played for the Providence Bruins for the last three seasons.  Better known as a physical presence on the ice, Robins has scored 11 goals and 37 points while racking up 687 minutes in penalties.  In four seasons as a River Hawk, Robins scored 32 goals and 69 points.  He was the team captain during his senior season.

Folin, who signed a professional contract after last year's River Hawk Hockey East Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament run, has just one NHL game under his belt.  He did pick up an assist in his NHL debut.  Folin played two years at UMass Lowell scoring 12 goals and 41 points and was part of two Hockey East Tournament Championships.  

Hutton, a 2010 graduate, is beginning his second season in goal for the Nashville Predators.  In his rookie campaign Hutton carried a 2.62 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.  He became the Preds sixth 20 win goalie posting a record of 20-11-4.  Hutton left UMass Lowell after four seasons as the school's all time leader in Goals Against Average, Save Percentage and Shutouts.  Those records have since been surpassed.

UMass Lowell, ranked 17th in the USCHO Poll, returns to action with the regular season and Hockey East opener Friday night, at 7:00 P.M., against fourth ranked Boston College.  

Tickets can be purchased at the Tsongas Center Box Office Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fans can also purchase tickets online at TsongasCenter.com or by calling 866-722-8780. UMass Lowell students receive free admission by scanning their ID as part of the Mission: All In campaign.