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"Lowell hockey" is the point of emphasis as UMass Lowell welcomes two of the more prominent college hockey programs to the Tsongas Center this weekend.
 
The tenth ranked River Hawks (14-6-1 overall / 4-3-0 in Hockey East) host the University of Maine (11-7-2 / 5-2-1) Friday night, at 7:15pm, and Boston University (7-11-2 / 2-5-1) Saturday night at 7:00pm.  Maine is ranked 19^th in the USCHO poll, Boston University is unranked.
 
"We're anxious to play again," said Head Coach Norm Bazin.  "I think our guys are excited, we're at5 home at one of the best rinks in the country with some of the best fans and we want to get back at it."
 
Both games can be heard on the ESPN River Hawk Radio Network.  The four-station network spanning the Route 3 corridor from Concord, NH to Burlington, MA can 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. 
 
UMass Lowell is looking to get back into the win column after a rain soaked 4-1 loss to Northeastern at an unFrozen Fenway.
 
"We want to get back to playing classic Lowell-style hockey," said Bazin.  "That's puck aggression, that's blocking shots, that's doing the little things to gain some offense and generate chances."
 
The River Hawks are seventh in the league in scoring, averaging only 2.81 goals per game and averaging fewer than two goals a game at even strength.
 
"We've got to get back to owning the bulk of the offensive zone play; puck possession time," said Bazin.  "I thought we got away from that a little bit the last two games."
 
The team has worked hard, maybe too hard according to the coach; "sometimes you try too hard and you're not in position because of it.  You have to think your way around the rink.  I think we have to work smarter, not necessarily harder."
 
Big goals grab headlines, but it is the details that win games and that has been a focus during the week to practice.  "We've talked about it all week," said Bazin.  "We gotta get back to the strong Lowell-style details."
 
The River Hawks are 3-1-1 since returning from the winter break but dropped their only Hockey East contest in that stretch.  They sit in sixth place but have played the fewest league games; seven.   
 
"I don't pay much attention to it," said Bazin.  "I look to see who we have to catch and what the four point games are and put even more importance on those games."
 
The hockey team is done with its non-conference schedule.  From here on in, it's all Hockey East all of the time.
 
"You know there are 13 regular season games left, so it's time to get after it," said Bazin.  "Character has to take over."
 
The Friday night clash with Maine is one of those four point games we a team UMass Lowell would like to catch.
 
The Black Bears, with new Coach Red Gendron behind the bench, won the first meeting between the two clubs, 4-2, in early December.  Maine has a three point lead in the standings but has played one more game than the River Hawks.
 
History favors the visitors from Orono, Maine.    They lead the all time series 78-34-3.  UMass Lowell knocked Maine out of the Hockey east post season a year ago in two games, but it was Maine that took the regular season series 2-1-0. 
 
Saturday's opponent also has history on its side.  Boston University leads the all time series 68-24-8, but the River hawks have won six of the last seven meetings between the two including the Hockey east Championship Game last year.
 
The Terriers have a great deal of talent and a new coach in David Quinn, who replaced the legendary Jack Parker, but have yet to find their groove.  They sit in tenth place in the eleven team league and face historic rival Boston College, Friday night, before visiting the Tsongas Center.
 
Tickets for all River Hawks home hockey games are on sale now. Game tickets are $18 ($19 day of game) for adults and $12 ($13 day of game) for seniors (65+) and children (12 and under). 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.

The UMass Lowell Athletic Department is also selling season, mini-pack and group tickets at this time. Packages can be purchased online at TsongasCenter.com or by contacting Andrew Ralph (andrew_ralph@uml.edu; 978-934-2181) or Joe Fellini (joseph_fellini@uml.edu; 978-934-5751).