Two former players and a doctor will be honored in pre-game ceremonies on Saturday, February 23, as #12 UMass Lowell hosts #13 Boston University at the Tsongas Center.
Former on-ice standouts
Chuck Sage (1979-83) and
Ed Campbell (1993-96) will be recognized as Legends of Lowell Hockey and Doctor Mark Romanowsky will receive the Bill Riley Award.
It is all part of the fifth annual Bill Riley Reunion Night. The festivities begin at 5:00pm and include a reception, video tribute and speaking program. The game follows at 7:00pm.
The Legends of Lowell Hockey: The Long Red Line honors the history of the UMass Lowell hockey program, from its origins at Lowell Tech to the present, and the players and coaches who have played a key role in writing that story.
Chuck Sage earned a reputation as a clutch scorer during the post season. The center iceman was dubbed “Mr. March” for efforts that included the game winning third period goal in a 5-4 victory against Plattsburgh State in the 1981 National Championship game. He also is remembered for scoring the game winner with 30 seconds left on the clock to beat Merrimack in the 1982 NCAA semi-final.
Sage finished his 120 game ULowell career with 64 goals and 132 points. He played for two NCAA championship teams.
Ed Campbell was known a hard-nosed defenseman and a key member of the blue line corp. on two NCAA teams in the mid 1990s. In only three seasons of college hockey he is the second all time leading scorer among Division I defensemen at UMass Lowell with 20 goals and 91 points. Campbell scored 38 points in 39 games during the 1995-96 season, the most in a single season by a defenseman during the Division I era at UMass Lowell. His tough as nails style also helped make Campbell the school's all time penalty minutes leader with 326.
The ceremonies will also shine a light on off-ice contributions to the program with the naming of Dr. Mark Romanowsky as the recipient of the first Bill Riley Award.
Romanowsky has provided and coordinated the medical care for UMass Lowell athletes as the Team Physician for more than three decades. A master rower, Romanowsky has a keen sense for the health care needs of student-athletes and is a respected member of the Lowell medical community. He is a past president of the Merrimack River Rowing Association and the current president of the Lowell Land Trust. Romanowsky is also the Team Physician for Lowell High School Athletics.
The addition of Sage and Campbell will bring to 18 the number of players and coaches honored as Legends of Lowell Hockey.
Last year the program honored forward Ken Kaiser and defenseman Mike Nicholishen. They joined Paul Ames, Gary Bishop, Mike Carr, Craig Charron, Jeff Daw, Tom Jacobs, Dean Jenkins, Bob Kearin, Paul Lohnes, Craig MacTavish, Jon Morris, Mike Murray, Dwayne Roloson and Coach Bill Riley in the Legends of Lowell.
The inductees were voted on by a selection committee comprised of former UMass Lowell hockey players, coaches and administrators.
