View the 2012-13 Hockey East All-Academic Team

The UMass Lowell hockey team, fresh off its greatest season in its NCAA Division I history, placed 13 student-athletes on the 2012-13 Hockey East Association All-Academic Team, released Tuesday afternoon.

Juniors Doug Carr (Hanover, Mass.), a goalie, and forward Josh Holmstrom (Colorado Springs, Colo.) joined junior defenseman Chad Ruhwedel (San Diego, Calif.) and forward Shayne Thompson (Stittsville, Ont.) in making their third straight appearances on the HE All-Academic Team. Sophomore defenseman Zack Kamrass (Atlanta, Ga.) and senior forward Colin Wright (Burlington, Mass.) made their second appearances.

Making their first appearances on the team were senior Riley Wetmore (Swanton, Vt.) and junior Derek McCoy (Newburyport, Mass.), both forwards; along with freshmen forwards Michael Colantone (Cave Creek, Ariz.), Michael Fallon (Glenview, Ill.) and redshirt Nick Gordon (Pittsburgh, Pa.). Freshmen defenseman Christian Folin (Gothenburg, Sweden) and freshman goalie Connor Hellebuyck (Commerce, Mich.) were also cited.

The Hockey East All-Academic Team honors student-athletes who achieved at least 3.0 grade point average in both semesters over the 2012-13 academic year.

The honors are the latest of several academic plaudits for the River Hawks this season. The team received the Bob Griffin Academic Cup, presented to the UMass Lowell men's and women's team with the highest collective grade point average, at the 2013 Athletic Department Annual Senior Salute on May 13.

"Academics are a big part of UMass Lowell Hockey and we're delighted to continue to set the bar high for excellence on and off the ice," said head coach Norm Bazin, who recently completed his second year. "These young men appreciate the world class education they're receiving, allowing us to remain the highest achieving male team on campus for the sixth straight year."

Ruhwedel, a business administration major who led all of UMass Lowell's honorees with a 3.70 grade point average for the year, enjoyed a magnificent season which saw him earn All-American honors and sign a two-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres at the season's end. Along with Hellebuyck, Carr, Folin and Kamrass, he helped lead the River Hawks to a goals against average of 2.02 – tops in Hockey East and fourth nationally.

Hellebuyck, an undeclared business major, achieved a 3.65 GPA for the year which saw him win a plethora of honors, including Most Valuable Player of the Hockey East Tournament and Second Team All-Hockey East status. He led the country in four categories: goals against average (1.37), save rate (.952), winning percentage (.870, 20-3) and shutouts (six).

Kamrass and Folin each played an integral role in UMass Lowell's stellar defense. An undeclared business major, Kamrass earned a 3.53 GPA for the year and chipped in a bit of offense with 10 assists (0-10-10) while Folin, who earned a 3.34 (undeclared business), added 6-5-21.

Carr a business administration major with a 3.64 GPA, played in 19 games this season and maintained a 2.79 GAA and an .897 save percentage.

Wetmore, also a Hockey East Second Team standout, maintained a 3.47 over the year while compiling 16-11-27. Wetmore was named UMass Lowell's recipient of the David J. Boutin Award, the athletic department's highest honor, for the second straight year.

Holmstrom, a business administration major with a 3.67 GPA for the year, enjoyed a solid year in which he registered 12-13-25 to rank among River Hawk scoring leaders. Wright, also a business major, posted a 3.27 GPA and appeared in 30 games with 1-3-4.

Thompson featured in all but one game and chipped in 3-4-7 while maintaining a 3.27 for the year in business. McCoy posted a 3.19 GPA in business and made one appearance in an early-season 6-3 loss at Boston College.

Colantone and Fallon proved to be impact freshmen. An undeclared business major, Fallon earned a 3.28 GPA while appearing 30 games with 2-6-8 while Colantone, a business major, featured in 18 games with 5-2-7.

Gordon, who redshirted the 2012-13 season, earned a 3.31 GPA in political science.