Oct. 20, 2011
Former UMass Lowell standouts Ken Kaiser (1979-83) and Mike Nicholishen (1994-98) will be recognized as Legends of Lowell Hockey in a pre-game ceremony on Friday, Oct. 28, as the River Hawks face Boston College in the Tsongas Center.
The pre-game ceremony, coinciding with the 4th Annual Riley Reunion Night, will recognize their impressive accomplishments as members of the UMass Lowell hockey program. The celebration will begin at 5:00 p.m. with a reception, video tributes and brief speaking program, followed by the game at 7:00 p.m.
Legends of Lowell: The Long Red Line ties the grand history of Lowell hockey together in a captivating display located at the Tsongas Center. Last year saw keystone players Craig Charron, Bob Kearin and Mike Murray join Paul Ames, Gary Bishop, Mike Carr, Jeff Daw, Tom Jacobs, Dean Jenkins, Paul Lohnes, Craig MacTavish, Jon Morris, Dwayne Roloson and renowned UMass Lowell hockey coach Bill Riley in the Legends of Lowell.
To RSVP for the 4th Annual Riley Reunion Night, please contact Sean Patno in the hockey office. He can be reached via phone at 978-934-4954 or email at sean_patno@uml.edu. Tickets for the event are $25 per person and include a ticket to the River Hawks' game at 7:00 p.m.
An All-American and two-time NCAA Division II Champion, Kaiser was a member of the then-named Chiefs from 1979-83. He remains the sixth-leading scorer in program history with an astounding 172 points in 103 games played. Kaiser scored 65 goals and 107 assists in his career and set the team record for goals in a game when he scored nine times against American International in 1981. One of Kaiser's greatest contributions was his goal and assist in the 6-1 victory over Plattsburgh State in the 1982 NCAA Championship game played in the Tully Forum.
The program's all-time leading scorer among Division I defensemen, Nicholishen skated for the River Hawks from 1994-98. A two-time Hockey East All-Star, Nicholishen scored 99 points on 27 goals and 72 assists and he was twice named the team's Best Defensive Player (1996-98). As a sophomore, Nicholishen helped lead UMass Lowell to its second-ever Division I NCAA Tournament berth where it defeated Michigan State, 6-2, in the first round.
The inductees were voted on by a selection committee comprised of former UMass Lowell hockey players, coaches and administrators.
