LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Hockey Head Coach Norm Bazin has announced his recruiting class for the upcoming 2015-2016 season.

Bazin and his staff welcome defenseman Avni Berisha (Lake Ariel, Pa.), goalie Sean Cleary (Centerville, Mass.), forward Ryan Dmowski (East Lyme, Conn.), defenseman Niklas Folin (Kungsbacka, Sweden), goalie Christoffer Hernberg (Espoo, Finland), forward Nick Master (Broomall, Pa.), defenseman Jacob Townsend (Highlands Ranch, Colorado) and forward Connor Wilson (Calgary, Alberta).

"We are extremely excited with this year's incoming class of recruits," said Bazin. "It blends a mix of size, skill and hockey smarts that will bolster our lineup immediately. This class will allow us to compete against the best in Hockey East."

The River Hawks begin 2015-16 with an exhibition on October 4 against New Brunswick at the Tsongas Center, before hosting RPI on October 9 at 7:15 p.m. to open the program's 49th season of play.

RIVER HAWK HOCKEY PROFILES

Name: Avni Berisha
Hometown: Lake Ariel, Pa.
Previous Team: Sioux City Musketeers
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 205
Position: Defense
Major: Undeclared

Highlights: Appeared in 26 games for Sioux City during the 2014-15 USHL campaign … scored four goals and had six points from the blue line …  registered both a power play and shorthanded goal.

Personal: Son of Mairin and Abedin ... hobbies include nutrition, fitness and cooking ... lists the Montreal Canadiens as his favorite sports team ... favorite TV shows are ESPN 30 For 30 and Modern Family ... lists J.J. Watt and Scott Niedermeyer as his favorite sports figures ... greatest sports moments include National Championships and the World Junior Club Challenge.

Why UMass Lowell: "I chose UMass Lowell because of a strong sense of community, great academics and prestigious ice hockey program." 

Name: Sean Cleary
Hometown: Centerville, Mass.
Previous Team: Victoria Grizzlies
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 185
Position: Goalie
Major: Undeclared

Highlights: Appeared in 19 games during for the Grizzlies during the 2014-15 BCHL campaign … had a 3.32 GAA and an .888 save percentage during the 2014-15 season.  

Personal: Son of Marie and David ... his mother played hockey at Northeastern …  hobbies include fishing and hiking ... lists the Boston Bruins, Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots as his favorite sports teams ... favorite TV shows are Criminal Minds and Scrubs ... Lists Martin Brodeur as his favorite sports figure ... his greatest sports moments include beating Shattuck St. Mary's in overtime to win a tournament.

Why UMass Lowell: "It's a great school close to home with a lot of opportunity." 

Name: Ryan Dmowski
Hometown: East Lyme, Conn.
Previous Team: Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 205
Position: Forward
Major: Undeclared

Highlights: Appeared in 62 games over parts of two seasons with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL ... registered two assists in 2013-14 ... named Rookie of the Year in 2014-15 after scoring 23 goals and adding 16 assists. 

Personal: Son of Elizabeth and Dave ... hobbies include skiing, hiking, moutain biking and watching TV ... favorite TV shows include The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and The Curse of Oak Island ... lists the Boston Bruins, New England Patriots and Montreal Canadiens as favorite sports teams ... Joe Thornton is his favorite sports influence ... greatest sports moment is scoring six goals in a tournament championship game when he was 10. 

Why UMass Lowell: "The coaching staff and the rink, the school itself, and the ability for me to succeed here are why I chose this school. I think it offers potential for me to be successful."

Name: Niklas Folin
Hometown: Kungsbacka, Sweden
Previous Team: Omaha Lancers
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 188
Position: Defense
Major: Business Management

Highlights: Appeared in 128 games during three years with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL … had three goals and 16 points in each of his final two seasons with the Lancers.

Personal: Son of Susanne and Martin ... his father played professional soccer in Sweden for 15 years … his older brother Christian played at UMass Lowell for two years and plays with the NHL's Minnesota Wild … hobbies include soccer and golf ... lists Manchester United as his favorite sports team ... Favorite TV show is Friends ...  names Christiano Ronaldo as his favorite sports figure ... his greatest sports moments include being a member of the U-16 Swedish National Team.

Why UMass Lowell: "I have heard a lot of good things about the school and especially the hockey program and think that UMass Lowell is going to be the perfect spot for me to develop as a hockey player and person." 

Name: Christoffer Hernberg
Hometown: Espoo, Finland
Previous Team: Espoo Blues U20
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 187
Position: Goalie
Major: Undeclared

Highlights: Won bronze medal during 2014-2015 Jr. A SM-liiga season … led all goalies in playoffs with a .931 save percentage … in 2013-14 won the Jr. A SM-liiga Championship.

Personal: Son of Annamari and Goran Hernberg … has two sisters, Bettina (20) and Sofia (22) … hobbies include playing golf … his favorite TV shows are Game of Thrones and Family Guy … lists Tim Thomas, Andrea Pirlo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic as his favorite sports influences … his greatest sports moment was winning the Finnish U20 League in 2013-14.

Why UMass Lowell: "I chose UMass Lowell because of the exceptional hockey program and the great academics."

Name: Nick Master
Hometown: Broomall, Pa.
Previous Team: Tri-City Storm
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 180
Position: Forward
Major: Exercise Science

Highlights: Appeared in 56 games with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL during the 2014-15 season … third on the Storm in scoring with 23 goals and 42 points … scored six goals and 11 points on the power play …  carried a plus/minus rating of +20.

Personal: Son of Andrea and Michael ... hobbies include hanging out with friends, watching movies and fishing ... lists the Philadelphia Flyers, Eagles and 76ers as his favorite sports teams ... favorite TV shows are Sons of Anarchy and How I Met Your Mother ... Jonathan Toews is his favorite sports figure ... his greatest sports moments include winning the MVP in the Flyers Cup as a sophomore in high school.

Why UMass Lowell: "UMass Lowell has an incredible hockey program, great schooling and a really nice campus."

Name: Jacob Townsend
Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Previous Team: Wichita Falls Wildcats
Height: 6'
Weight: 175
Position: Defense
Major: Accounting

Highlights: Appeared in 170 games during his three-plus seasons with the Wichita Falls Wildcats of the NAHL … had a career year during the 2014-15 season scoring 14 goals and 42 points from the blue line … he left Wichita Falls holding several career records including most career goals by a defenseman (25), most career points by a defenseman (79), most career power-play goals by a defenseman (6), and most regular-season games played in a career by a defenseman (170).

Personal: Son of Michele and Patrick ... hobbies include golf, bowling, disc golf and hiking ... lists the Colorado Avalanche and the Denver Broncos as his favorite sports teams ... favorite TV shows are America's Got Talent and Prison Break ... Peter Forsberg and Rob Blake are his favorite sports figures ... his greatest sports moments include winning the in-line hockey nationals and committing to UMass Lowell.

Why UMass Lowell: "UMass Lowell has an unbelievable hockey program and is in a great conference. It also has a good business program. I also wanted to experience that side of the country." 

Name: Connor Wilson
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
Previous Team: Canmore Eagles
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 165
Position: Forward
Major: Business

Highlights: Appeared in 173 games during his three seasons with the Canmore Eagles of the AJHL … the team captain led the Eagles in scoring with 67 points (25g, 42a) during the 2014-15 regular season … he is a former Canmore Eagle Rookie of the Year and Academic Award winner.

Personal: Son of Julie and Paul ... hobbies include playing bass guitar and baseball ... lists the Calgary Flames and Toronto Blue Jays as his favorite sports teams ... Favorite TV shows are True Detective, Homeland and Breaking Bad ... Lists Jarome Iginla as his favorite sports figure ... his greatest sports moments include scoring the winning goal in triple overtime in a Pee Wee Championship game and getting four goals in a game with Canmore.

Why UMass Lowell: "I chose UMass Lowell because of the people I met while visiting the school, they cared about me as a person."