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Two of the best in Hockey East and the nation will face off twice this weekend.  
 
Eleventh-ranked UMass Lowell (1-1-1) and the defending National Champion and the number one-ranked Eagles of Boston College (23-1-0) meet Friday Night at the Tsongas Center, at 7:00pm, and then again on Sunday Afternoon, at 4:00pm, at the Kelly Rink at the Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill.        
 
 “Boston College is the defending National Champions for a reason,” says Coach Norm Bazin. “They have a lot of assets; they get around the sheet extremely well.”
 
UMass Lowell and Boston College, both, are nationally ranked.  The River Hawks sit eleventh in the USCHO poll  and twelfth USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. The Eagles are number one in both polls.
 
For the River Hawks it is not about the opponents, it is about themselves.  “We have to try to execute our game plan to the best of our abilities and not worry about what Boston College is doing,” says Bazin.  “They do have a very mobile team, they are a good skating club.  We are going to have to play physical and make sure we manage the puck.”
 
UMass Lowell won only one of the three meetings between the clubs a year ago; a 3-2 decision at the Tsongas Arena in December.   “We won that one because of the crowd,” says Bazin.  “That was the difference.  We hope to have the same type of aggressive crowd that brings us over the edge.” 
 
The win in front of the home crowd ended what had been a BC six game winning streak against the River Hawks.  Boston College leads the all-time series, 58-32-7.
 
The River Hawks picked up their first win of the season last Saturday night, a 3-1 decision at Colorado College after dropping a game to the University of Denver the night before.    The CC game saw junior center Joseph Pendenza (Wilmington, Mass.) bang home the winner midway through the third period.  Goalie Doug Carr (Hamilton, Mass.) stopped 27 shots in net.  Freshman Ryan McGrath (O'Fallon, Mo.) and sophomore Stephen Buco (North Providence, R. I.) also scored for the River Hawks.
 
Three games into the season junior Josh Holmstrom (Colorado Springs, Co.) leads the team in scoring with two goals and an assist…  Between the pipes Carr carries a 0.89 goals against average and a .968 save percentage. 
 
Senior Pat Mullane leads Boston College scoring with two goals and 6 points.  The Eagle top line of Mullane, Johnny Gaudreau and Steven Whitney have accounted for six of BC's nine goals and 14 of the team's 24 points.
 
Boston College won two games last weekend, coming from behind to defeat Massachusetts, 5-4 in overtime, Friday night and then shutting out Northeastern, 3-0, on Saturday evening.
 
Bazin likes the steps he's seen his club take in the early going, but feels more are needed.  “We played some good hockey last weekend,” says Bazin.  “We are getting our share of chances, but the execution has yet to come. 
 
For the River hawks, the bottom line is playing “Lowell Hockey.”
 
“We're getting shots, we are taking the play to the opposition,” says Bazin. “And that's how we want to play; aggressively.”
 
After facing Boston College, UMass Lowell gets a break in the schedule.  The River hawks have twelve days off before hosting the University of Maine November 9^th and 10^th at the Tsongas Center.
 
Tickets for all home games are available for public purchase. Game tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors (65+) and children (12 and under). As always, UMass Lowell students receive free admission by scanning their ID as part of the Mission: All In campaign.
 
Tickets can be purchased at the Tsongas Center Box Office, which is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. during the week. Fans can also purchase tickets online at TsongasCenter.com or by calling 866-722-8780.
 
Season tickets will continue to be on sale through the River Hawk Marketing office and can be purchased by calling 978-934-4988.