Following one of the finest seasons in program history, UMass Lowell hockey announced its 2012-13 schedule on Thursday afternoon. The River Hawks will play 15 total home games and make their season debut at home on Oct. 12 against the University of Vermont.

The 34-game slate features Hockey East's annual 27-game billing and an exciting seven-game non-conference schedule highlighted by meetings with perennial powerhouses Denver and Colorado College.

“The 2012-13 schedule will be very challenging,” said reigning Hockey East Coach of the Year Norm Bazin. “We play a variety of opponents who have been regarded as elite programs for many years. We feel we have the veteran group to handle this challenge and will need every available fan to come to the Tsongas Center to support this team.”

The River Hawks kick off the campaign with the Tsongas Center home opener against the Catamounts on Oct. 12, followed by a home game against Bentley University on Oct. 13.

UMass Lowell then embarks on a trip to Colorado to play Denver University on Oct. 19 and Colorado College on Oct. 20. It'll mark the program's first meeting with the Pioneers since 2006 and the Tigers since 2003.

“Our non-conference schedule features trips to Denver, Colorado College, Harvard and Clarkson—teams that contend for post-season play on a yearly basis.”

Returning to Massachusetts, the River Hawks will take on defending NCAA Champion Boston College in a home-and-home weekend beginning at the Tsongas Center on Oct. 26 and 28

Among other highlights on the schedule, UMass Lowell battles New Hampshire three times in a span of two weeks, hosting the Wildcats on Nov. 16 and engaging in a home-and-home on Nov. 30-Dec. 1—with the River Hawks hosting the second night.

UMass Lowell will also feature three other home dates against 2011-12 NCAA Tournament teams as it hosts Maine in a weekend series on Nov. 9-10 and Boston University on Feb. 23.

In addition to Denver, Colorado College and Bentley, the River Hawks' non-conference schedule will include a special 4 p.m. home game against Princeton on Nov. 24, a trip to Harvard on Dec. 10 and a weekend at Clarkson on Jan. 4-5.

Fan's first chance to see UMass Lowell in action will come on Oct. 6 in an exhibition contest against the University of Toronto at 4 p.m. in the Tsongas Center.

Season tickets for the 2012-2013 campaign are currently on-sale through the UMass Lowell Ticket Office. Contact Scott Donnelly at (978) 934-4988 or via email at scott_donnelly@uml.edu for more information. To visit the River Hawk ticket page, click here.

For the complete 2012-13 UMass Lowell hockey schedule, click here.