LOWELL, Mass. -- Senior forward Joe Gambardella (Staten Island, N.Y.) was named Most Valuable Player at the UMass Lowell Hockey annual team banquet on Sunday afternoon at Four Oaks Country Club in Dracut.

Gambardella also won the Gus Coutu Award, given annually to the player who best exemplifies the spirit of the River Hawk Hockey program, as well as the G. Harvey Chandler Award as the team's leading scorer.  Gambardella finished the season with a career-high 52 points (18g,34a) playing in all 41 games for the River Hawks. He was the recipient of the Walter Brown Award and was a Hockey East Second-Team All-Star. 

Freshman forward Ryan Lohin (Chadds Ford, Pa.) was honored as Rookie of the Year with 29 points (12g,17a) in his first season in Lowell. Senior defenseman Michael Kapla (Eau Claire, Wis.) was recognized as the team's Best Defensive Player, posting 30 points and 27 assists in his senior campaign as a Second-Team Hockey East All-Star. 

Junior forward John Edwardh (Calgary, Alta.) took home the Most Improved Player Award with 39 points in 2016-17, after recording 13 points in his sophomore campaign. Junior defenseman Chris Forney (Thief River Falls, Minn.) was bestowed with the Unsung Hero Award. 

Sophomore defenseman Avni Berisha (Lake Ariel, Pa.) was honored with the Coaches' Perseverance Award. Troy Thibodeau, who was in his first season as Director of Hockey Operations, was named the recipient of the Marc Connelly Award, given annually to the non-player that makes a significant positive impact on the program.