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Last weekend the UMass Lowell hockey team probably had to shovel two feet snow, this weekend the challenge will be different and potentially just as difficult.
The River Hawks engage their mid state cousins, the University of Massachusetts, in a home-and-home series that can have a significant impact on the Hockey East standings. Friday night the two teams meet in the Mullins center in Amherst, Saturday the Tsongas Center hosts the rematch. Face off both nights is at 7:00pm.
UMass Lowell (14-9-2 / 8-8-2, 18pts.) sits in sixth place in Hockey East seven points back of first place Boston College and three points ahead of seventh place Massachusetts (10-13-2 / 7-10-1, 15pts.) The River Hawks are three points back of Providence in fourth, the final home ice playoff spot.
The River Hawks are ranked 14
th in the nation in the USCHO poll and 15
th in the USA Today/ USA Hockey Magazine Men's Poll. Massachusetts is not ranked.
The games are the second and third meetings between the two teams. UMass Lowell, lead by a
Riley Wetmore (Swanton, Vt.) hat trick, defeated Massachusetts, 8-2, November 18, 2012, at the Mullins Center.
“We converted, we executed,” says UMass Lowell Head Coach
Norm Bazin of the first meeting. “It was what we needed at the time.”
But Bazin knows that both teams hold little resemblance to what they were the first time around. “We know they've beaten Boston University and Boston College. They are a very capable hockey team,” says Bazin. “Everybody has improved, everybody has changed, we are going to have to bring our best.”
Bazin hopes his squad puts that lopsided first meeting out of their minds.
“You have to forget because it is of no importance on Friday night,” says Bazin. “It doesn't matter what happened before, it's all about what happens this weekend.”
The Minutemen come off a Sunday loss to Merrimack, 4-2. UMass Lowell had last weekend off. The blizzard of 2013 forced the postponement of its scheduled meeting with Boston College.
“I think it was good just us,” says Bazin of the weekend without hockey. “It was a much needed break for some of those younger bodies. Hopefully, we will be more energized and excited to play this weekend.”
Energy may be a requirement Friday night when the two teams meet on the oversized (200 x 95), but not quite Olympic sheet at the Mullins Center.
“We know we have to create opportunities for ourselves,” says Bazin. “It's a bigger sheet, there's more room out there, and we want to be able to get to pucks (first.) In order to do that, we've got to be at our best.”
Massachusetts' offense is lead by Branden Gracel with 26 points evenly split between goals and assists and he is one of Hockey East's top face off men.
At the other end of the ice, Kevin Boyle has started 18 of the Minutemen's 25 games. He carries a 2.54 goals against average and a .904 save percentage. Those numbers have been more impressive in league play, 2.08 / .925.
History favors the River Hawks. UMass Lowell owns a 35-24-6 edge all time including a 18-11-4 Massachusetts home sites.
After Saturday, UMass Lowell will have only three home games remaining on the schedule. The next visitor will be Boston University on February 23
rd.
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.
