10th-ranked UMass Lowell hockey earned its first NCAA Tournament bid since 1996 on Sunday afternoon, as announced on the Championship Selection Show live on ESPNU. The third-seeded River Hawks will face second-seeded Miami (OH) in the opening round of the East Regional in Bridgeport, CT on Friday, Mar. 23, at 6:30 p.m.

The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU and ESPN 3.

"It's a thrill to be back in the NCAA Tournament, we're excited for it," said first-year head coach Norm Bazin.

"I think it's important teams keep things simple and play the type of game that got them there. We've had a great body of work this year and we want to continue that same style."

The 2012 Hockey East Coach of the Year, Bazin will lead UMass Lowell into its fourth Division I NCAA Tournament in program history. As a player, Bazin was a key member of the River Hawks' 1994 NCAA Tournament team that defeated Michigan State in the first round, 4-3, before falling to Minnesota in double overtime, 2-1.

"Last year we were on spring break at this time and the turnaround we've had this year with all the work we've put in--it's just incredible to be rewarded with this opportunity," said junior captain Riley Wetmore (Swanton, Vt.).

UMass Lowell has made trips to the Division I NCAA Tournament in 1988, 1994 and 1996, posting a 2-3-1 record in six games. In their last two appearances, the River Hawks have been matched up against Michigan State in the first round and have defeated the two-time NCAA Champions on both occasions.

Prior to making the jump to Division I in 1983-84, the then-named Chiefs appeared in five consecutive Division II NCAA Tournaments from 1979-1983 and won Division II National Championships in 1979, 1981 and 1982.