LOWELL, Mass.  –  UMass Lowell leading scorer C. J. Smith (Des Moines, Iowa) has been named to the Hockey East Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team.  The freshman forward leads the River Hawks with 16 goals, 19 assists and 35 points.  

Smith and those named to the team will be recognized at the annual Hockey East Awards Banquet Thursday night at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Smith is the first UMass Lowell freshman to score 30 points since Scott Wilson scored 38 during the 2011-12 season.  He is second among Hockey East freshmen in goals and points and second among Division I freshmen in goals and fourth in points.  He is one of ten rookies in the country to lead his team in scoring.  

The left wing has been the picture of consistency during his first collegiate season.  Smith has scored points in 22 of UMass Lowell's 37 games and has 13 points in his last 11 games.  Six of Smith's goals have been "clutch" either tying the score or giving UMass Lowell the lead.  He also has two game winning goals.  Smith leads UMass Lowell in power play goals (5), assists (6) and points (11).  

Smith was named the Hockey East Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Month for November and the Hockey East Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week on March 16th.  He follows in the footsteps of teammate Michael Kapla (Eau Claire, Wis.) who was named to the All-Rookie Team a year ago.

Smith is joined on the All-Rookie team by goaltender Cal Petersen (Notre Dame), defensemen Noah Hanifin (Boston College) and Brandon Montour (Massachusetts) and forwards Alex Tuch (Boston College), and Jack Eichel (Boston University). 

UMass Lowell, ranked 12th in the USCHO and the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls, continues the pursuit of its third consecutive Hockey East Tournament Championship Friday when it faces off against Vermont at 5PM.