The UMass Lowell ice hockey team's spectacular 2011-12 season - in which it posted a 24-13-1 record from a 5-25-4 clip the year before - was named the top local sports story of 2012 by The Sun on Tuesday.

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UMass Lowell placed in a share of second place in Hockey East with a 17-9-1 record and earned the No. 2 seed for the Hockey East Tournament. Despite an exit in the quarterfinal - the River Hawks dropped two of three games to No. 7 Providence - UMass Lowell went into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 1995-96 season, where it defeated Miami, 4-3, in overtime in the first round before falling to Union, 4-2, in the quarterfinal.

UMass Lowell's improvement was the second best single-season turnaround in Division I hockey history.

Awards were abundant for UMass Lowell, as head coach Norm Bazin was named the Hockey East Coach of the Year, and freshman Scott Wilson the Rookie of the Year. Additionally, goalie Doug Carr was cited to the Second Team while Zach Kamrass was named to the All-Rookie Team, and Matt Ferreira the Turfer Award for tenacity and commitment. Wilson and defender Chad Ruhwedel each garnered Honorable Mention status.

UMass Lowell, fresh off a 3-2 victory over Bentley Sunday, visits Clarkson Friday and Saturday (7:00/7:00).