LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell senior goaltender Kevin Boyle (Manalapan, N.J.,) has been honored as the team's Most Valuable Player. The announcement was made Thursday Night at the hockey team's annual season ending dinner.
The award puts an exclamation point on a season that saw Boyle become one of the nation's elite goaltenders. The senior finished the season with eye popping stats, a 1.83 goals against average and a .934 save percentage. Boyle was honored by Hockey East as the co-winner of the Warrior Hockey East Play of the Year. He was among national leaders in almost all goaltending categories. He also won Hockey East's Stop It! Goaltending Award and was named the winner of the Army ROTC Three Star Award. The New Jersey native was in the top ten nationally in minutes played, saves, GAA, save percentage, shutouts and wins with 24.
Boyle, a Mike Richter Award finalist honoring the nation's top goalie, was also named the Coaches' Perseverance Award winner.
Boyle made a program Division I record 58 saves in the Hockey East Tournament triple overtime marathon semifinal 2-1 victory over Providence College.
Sophomore forward C.J. Smith (Des Moines, Iowa) was presented with the G. Harvey Chandler Award given annually to the team's leading scorer. Smith led the team offensively with 17-goals and 39-points. He was the first River Hawk to have a ten game point scoring streak since Ed McGrane during the 2002-03 season. Smith had a cycle hat trick against Arizona State scoring goals on the power play, shorthanded and at even strength.
Junior defenseman Michael Kapla (Eau Claire, Wis.) was honored as the team's Best Defensive player. Kapla finished the season with four goals, 20 points and a +10 plus/minus rating logging significant ice time against opposing teams top offensive lines.
Freshman Nick Master (Broomall, Pa.) was named the Rookie of the Year. Master had eight goals and 24 points in his rookie season. Fifteen of his 24 points came in the team's final 21 games including a hat trick against AIC. A strong two-way player, Master earned a +10 plus/minus rating.
Senior A.J. White (Dearborn, Mich.) was named the team's Unsung Hero. White, a captain, is known as a relentless hard worker in the corners, along the board and as a battler who gets to the front of the net. He scored 11 goals and 25 points, his strongest offensive season. It was White's goal in the third overtime that gave UMass Lowell a 2-1 win against Providence in the Hockey East semifinals.
The Most Improved Player Award went to sophomore Jake Kamrass (Atlanta, Ga.) The forward finished with five goals and ten points all coming in the team's final 16 games. His freshman season had found Kamrass with just one goal and two points.
The Gus Coutu Award, given annually to the player who best exemplifies the spirit of the UMass Lowell Hockey program, was presented to junior forward Joe Gambardella (State Island, N.Y.) Gambardella finished second in scoring with 37 points. He led the team with 27 assists and displayed an unrelenting pursuit of the puck.
Equipment Manager Ron Grove was named the recipient of the Marc Connelly Award. The award is given annually to the non-player who made a significant positive impact on the program. The award is voted on by the players. This was Grove's first year with the program.
