LOWELL, Mass. (Oct. 8, 2013) – The UMass Lowell River Hawks today announced their television and radio broadcast partners for the 2013-14 season. WBIN-TV will broadcast five UMass Lowell games, while all games, home and away, will be broadcast on the newly-formed ESPN River Hawk Radio Network.

"We are thrilled to launch new broadcast partnerships with WBIN-TV and ESPN 900," said UMass Lowell Director of Athletics Dana Skinner. "Interest in the UMass Lowell hockey program has only escalated with the success of the team on the ice, and this expanded coverage will allow alumni and fans throughout New England who are unable to make it to the Tsongas Center to catch live River Hawks action."

WBIN-TV, which reaches approximately 2,409,000 households in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine via broadcast, cable & satellite TV, will broadcast UMass Lowell hockey games for the first time beginning this season. The five games to be broadcast on WBIN-TV are: Saturday, October 12 vs. Massachusetts; Saturday, November 9 vs. Northeastern; Friday, November 22 vs. Notre Dame; Saturday, January 18 vs. Boston University; Friday, February 14 vs. Massachusetts. WBIN-TV can be found on channel 18/811 on Comcast, 50/8777 on the Dish Network, 50/950 on DirecTV and 6/506 on FIOS (Massachusetts). The October 12 game will be carried on Comcast channel 288. Check http://wbintv.com/channel-guide.html for additional cable listings in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.

"We are very pleased to add UMass Lowell to our outstanding line-up of college hockey broadcasts this year," said Gerry McGavick, General Manager of WBIN-TV. "The River Hawks should be one of the top teams in the country, and our five games are against high-profile opponents. It should be an exciting year for our viewers and all UMass Lowell fans."

UMASS LOWELL ANNOUNCES ESPN RIVER HAWK RADIO NETWORK: In addition to the eight televised games, UMass Lowell also announced the formation of a new radio network. With a flagship station of ESPN 900, the ESPN River Hawk Radio Network will carry all 31 River Hawks hockey games this season. The four-station network spanning the Route 3 corridor from Concord, NH to Burlington, MA will be heard on ESPN 900 AM (flagship station), ESPN 1250 AM, WSMN 1590 AM, and WCAP 980 AM. Fans worldwide can also listen online at ESPNNH.com or through the ESPN Radio smartphone application.

This will be the River Hawks first season on commercial radio with the radio voice of the River Hawks, Bob Ellis, returning for his 30^th season behind the mic. He will be joined by color commentator Jim Connelly, a noted college hockey writer and the 2013 winner of the prestigious Joe Concannon Hockey East Media Award.

"We could not be more excited to form this partnership between the University and our ESPN stations for the upcoming winter sports season," said Matt Perrault, General Manager of Absolute Broadcasting LLC. "We would also like to thank our new partners WCAP in Lowell for joining us on this venture to bring the fans of the River Hawks all the exciting action on the radio. We feel like this is the beginning of a tremendous relationship with all involved. In a crowded New England sports radio market, we hope we can give UMass Lowell fans a place to call home this season."

The UMass Lowell River Hawks will open the 2013-14 regular season Friday, October 11 at home against Sacred Heart University at 7:15 PM. Prior to the game, the team will raise its 2013 Hockey East Regular Season Champion, Hockey East Tournament Champion and Frozen Four banners to the rafters of the Tsongas Center. The first 1,000 fans through the turnstiles will receive a commemorative Hockey East Champions mini banner, and indoor fireworks will be held following the game. On Saturday, October 12, the team will host their first conference rival, the University of Massachusetts, at 7 PM in the first televised game of the season. The first 1,000 fans will receive a commemorative Frozen Four mini banner.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW: Tickets for the #1 nationally ranked River Hawks are on sale now and can be purchased at the Tsongas Center Box Office, which is open Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM during the week. Fans may also purchase tickets online at TsongasCenter.com or by calling 866-722-8780. The UMass Lowell Athletic Department is also selling season, mini-pack and group tickets. Packages may be purchased online at TsongasCenter.com or by contacting Andrew Ralph (andrew_ralph@uml.edu; 978-934-5749) or Joe Fellini (joseph_fellini@uml.edu; 978-934-5751).