Nov. 29, 2010
Gametracker | B2 Network | WUML Radio | Game Notes
The River Hawk hockey team (2-10-2, 2-8-0 Hockey East) will host the New Hampshire Wildcats (7-2-4, 5-1-2 HE) in their final home game before the holiday break on Thursday night at 7 p.m. Coinciding with the release of the movie The Fighter, Micky Ward will drop the puck on Thursday and will available to sign autographs during the first intermission.
UMass Lowell trails in the all-time series with the Wildcats, 30-52-15. In addition, the River Hawks have struggled at home, posting a 14-20-8 mark overall and 6-10-4 in the Tsongas Center.
In their only previous meeting this season, the River Hawks fell to New Hampshire, 2-1. Goaltender Doug Carr (Hanover, Mass.) made a career-high 41 saves in the narrow defeat, including 17 first period stops.
Offensively, Matt Ferreira (Bramption, Ont.) potted the lone UMass Lowell goal to temporarily level the score at 1-1 in the second period.
More recently, the River Hawks are in the midst of a five-game losing streak--sparked by the Nov. 6th loss to the Wildcats. Last weekend UMass Lowell suffered a pair of losses to Minnesota State at the Tsongas Center by scores of 8-3 and 3-2.
For the season UMass Lowell is led by sophomore Riley Wetmore (Swanton, Vt.) with 12 points on six goals and six assists. The assistant captain is riding a four-game point streak and has already tied his career-high for goals in a season. In Saturday's slim loss to the Mavericks, Wetmore had two goals, including a short-hander.
Close behind in the scoring race is rookie defenseman Chad Ruhwedel (San Diego, Calif.). Ruhwedel has two goals and six assists through 14 games and was named HE Rookie of the Week on Oct. 25.
As a part of Thursday's game, the River Hawks welcome Lowell boxing legend "Irish" Micky Ward to the Tsongas Center. The subject of the new movie The Fighter, starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale, Ward will drop a ceremonial puck before the game and sign autographs on the concourse during the first intermission.
UMass Lowell will also be raffling off an exclusive River Hawk hockey jersey signed by both Micky Ward and Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg. Raffle tickets for this one-of-a-kind item will only be available for purchase at Thursday's game--so don't miss out! In addition, the first 1,000 fans will receive mini-boxing glove key chains, courtesy of All Sports Heroes Promotions, and 50 lucky fans will go home with The Fighter movie passes, courtesy of National Amusements.
Fans are also asked to support the River Hawks in the community on Thursday evening. Those attending the game are asked to bring items to support the Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Student Veterans Organization, and Restore Hockey. For more information on all three causes and a detailed list of requested items, please click here.
To purchase tickets for Thursday's contest, please visit the Tsongas Center Box Office in person, online or call (866) 722-8780.
