BOSTON, Mass. – UMass Lowell forwards Joe Gambardella (Staten Island, N.Y.) and C.J. Smith (Des Moines, Iowa) and defenseman Dylan Zink (Madison, Wis.) have been named semifinalists for the 65th Walter Brown Award, presented annually to the best American-born college hockey player in New England.
 
The announcement was made Monday by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston.  In all there are 23 semifinalists for what is the nation's oldest nationally recognized college hockey honor.  The award, established in 1953, is named for Walter Brown who coached the 1933 Massachusetts Rangers to the World Championship in Prague Czechoslovakia.
 
Gambardella, Smith and Zink have been key members of a nationally ranked River Hawk team which has scored the third most goals in the country.  The River Hawks with a 17-9-3 record have scored 104 goals, an average of 3.59 goals per game.  The trio has fueled a power play unit that is the second most potent in the country finding the back of the net at a 27.3% clip (36-for-132).
 
The semifinalists represent 13 different teams.  UMass Lowell is one of four schools with three players on the semifinal list. 
 
Gambardella, a senior, leads the River Hawks in scoring with 12-goals and 37 points and is bidding to be the team's first 40-point scorer since 2004.  He has found his way on the score sheet in 21 of 29 games.  His 37 points matches his career high.  Gambardella has a team leading three game-winning goals and has assisted on five other game winners. 
 
"Joseph Gambardella has developed into a proven threat every game he has played this year." according to UMass Lowell Hockey Head Coach Norm Bazin.  "His game has always been about more than points. He is a top faceoff performer, best plus minus player and currently  leads us in scoring. He plays with substance and plays in every situation. He's only concerned about giving his team a chance to be successful every night and that' s what differentiates him from his counterparts. He's the ultimate team player."
 
Smith, a junior, leads the River Hawks in goals with 16 and is second with 32-points.  He tops the nation's juniors with 106 career points and has put together his third consecutive 30-point season.  Smith has five multi-goal games and has scored points in all but nine of the River Hawks 29-games. 
 
"CJ Smith has played some great hockey for us this year," according to Bazin.  "He stands out as one of the best offensive players in Hockey East and continues to improve in all other aspects away from the puck. People won't find many other players that match his hunger for pucks when he's on his game. We look forward to CJ continuing his strong two way play in the second half."
 
Both Smith and Gambardella lead the team with seven power play goals.  Gambardella tops the team with 16 power play points, Smith is second with 15.
 
Zink, one of just three defensemen under consideration, is second among the nation's defensemen with 27 points.  His nine goals from the blue line leads country.  Four of Zink's nine goals have given the River Hawks the lead and 19 of his 30 career goals have been defined as "clutch" either tying the score or giving the River Hawks the lead.  Those 30 career goals is the most by a UMass Lowell defenseman during the Division I era.  Zink is UMass Lowell's top scorer (19-points) in Hockey East conference play.
 
"Dylan Zink has a knack for the dramatic and wants the puck in big moments," said Zink.  "His competiveness is very strong and he has developed into a top two all-around defensemen for our hockey club this year. I'm glad for Dylan because I know he has worked extremely hard for the success he is now experiencing."
 
The finalists and winner of the award will be announced in March, following league playoffs and before the start of NCAA tournament play. The award will be presented to the winner at the New England College Hockey Writers' Dinner in April.