LOWELL, Mass.—Nine new River Hawks will be taking the ice this fall as UMass Lowell men's hockey Head Coach
Norm Bazin announced the newest additions to the 2021-22 roster Tuesday afternoon.
With two transfer students and seven freshmen, the incoming class of 2025 represent three states, two Canadian provinces and three countries. The group's five international student-athletes hail from Quebec, Ontario, Sweden and the Czech Republic, while the four stateside River Hawks will be making the trek to the Mill City from Minnesota, New York and Virginia.
"We're very excited with this incoming class of student-athletes leading into the upcoming 2021-22 hockey season. We feel we have a mix of players who will have an immediate impact and others who will grow with time," commented Bazin. "Many of these players will be asked to have an immediate impact as the competition for playing minutes commences. We feel this group has a high competitive drive and tremendous character, which was tested throughout their junior careers. Our coaching staff is looking forward to their arrival!"
MEET THE PLAYERS
12 – Nick Austin
Hometown/High School: St. Louis Park, Minnesota/Benilde-St. Margaret's
Position: Defense
Height: 5-11
Weight: 190
Previous Team: Colgate (ECAC)
Major: Computer Science
Before UMass Lowell: Spent four years in the ECAC with Colgate, playing 110 games for the Raiders…Amassed nine goals and 37 assists for 46 points…Four-time ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team honoree…Four-time Raider Academic Honor Roll honoree…Named to the 2017-18 ECAC Hockey Rookie Team.
Personal: Son of Susan and Make Austin…Has two siblings, Johnny (25) and Ali (26)…Enjoys golfing in his free time…Lists The Boys as his favorite TV show…Names the Colorado Avalanche as his favorite professional sports team…Lists Steph Curry as his favorite athlete…Hopes to play professional hockey in the future.
16 – Gabe Blanchard
Hometown/High School: East Aurora, N.Y./Trinity Pawling School
Position: Defense
Height: 6-0
Weight: 195
Previous Team: Sioux City (USHL)
Major: Undeclared
Before UMass Lowell: Played two seasons with the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL), serving as an alternate captain last season…Appeared in 93 games during his two seasons with Sioux City, amassing nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points…Helped the Musketeers reach the 2020-21 Western Conference Championships.
Personal: Son of Noreen and Jay Blanchard…Has a sister, Isabelle, who is a member of the rowing team at Dayton…Enjoys fishing, golfing and traveling in his spare time…Lists Peaky Blinders as his favorite TV show…Names the Buffalo Bills and Sabres as his favorite sports teams…Remembers his favorite sports moments as winning the Founders League Championship with Trinity Pawling and playing in the Western Conference Championships with Sioux City…Hopes to play hockey professionally and then own his own busines or coach at the Division I level in the future.
Why UMass Lowell: "I chose UML because I want to play professional hockey. I know the program and coaches at UMass Lowell can help me get there. UMass Lowell also has one of the best fan bases in college hockey. I'm excited to play in front of a wild crowd."
29 – Ryan Brushett
Hometown/High School: Montreal, Quebec/John Renie High School
Position: Forward
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185
Previous Team: Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC)
Major: Business Administration/Management
Before UMass Lowell: Spent two years at Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC)…Saw action in 54 games for Mavericks, scoring three goals and dishing out 22 assists for 25 points across two seasons…Two-time NCHC Academic All-Conference honoree…Led Powell River (BCHL) in scoring in 2018-19 and finished second in league scoring with 41 goals and 43 assists for 84 points prior to joining Nebraska-Omaha.
Personal: Son of Paula Neill and Timothy Brushett…Has one sibling, Michelle…Enjoys reading and playing video games in his spare time…Lists Entourage as his favorite TV show…Names the Montreal Canadiens as his favorite team…Hopes to play professional hockey one day.
5 – Owen Cole
Hometown/High School: Dunnville, Ontario/Ridley College
Position: Forward
Height: 5-10
Weight: 173
Previous Team: Brooks (AJHL)
Major: Exercise Science
Before UMass Lowell: Played 20 games for the Brooks Bandits (AJHL) last season…Tied for fourth on the Bandits in scoring with 23 points off six goals and 17 assists…Played two seasons for the Ottawa Jr. Senators in the CCHL prior to Brooks, serving as the captain his second year…Helped the Jr. Senators win the Bogart Cup and Fred Page Cup en route to winning the CJHL National Championship in 2018-19…Served as the captain of the Ridley College hockey team during his junior and senior year…Voted the Male Athlete of the Year at Ridley College as a senior…Recipient of the Mason Gold Medal, given to the Prefect of the Year…MPHL Champion as a senior.
Personal: Son of Sherry and David Cole…Has three siblings, Shayla (25), Vanessa (23) and Kellen (19)…Enjoys working out, walking, eating and staying fit and healthy…Lists The Office, How I Met Your Mother, Friends and Breaking Bad as his favorite TV shows…Names Sidney Crosby, Patrice Bergeron and Jonathan Toews as his favorite athletes…Hopes to pursue a career in professional hockey before working as an athletic trainer for a junior, NCAA or professional sports team.
Why UMass Lowell: "I chose UMass Lowell because of the amazing facilities, coaching staff and culture that I experienced on my tour, as well as the school having the program I am interested in to pursue my career after hockey. Directly related to my program, the track record of athletic trainers in the program influenced me to learn more about my future career away from the classroom."
25 – Matt Crasa
Hometown/High School: South Setauket, N.Y./South Kent School
Position: Forward
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
Previous Team: Fargo (USHL)
Major: Business Administration/Management
Before UMass Lowell: Played last season with the Fargo Force (USHL), scoring 23 points off 11 goals and 12 assists in 53 games…Helped the Force win the 2020-21 USHL Western Conference Championships…Helped the Central CT Selects win the 2019 U18 USA Hockey National Championships, playing 77 games and amassing 36 goals and 64 assists on his way to being named the Offensive Player of the Year…USA Hockey U16 semifinalist…USA Hockey U15 semifinalist.
Personal: Son of Caryl and Fred Crasa…Has one sister, Cydney (23), who was a gymnast at George Washington…Enjoys fishing, quadding and hunting in his free time…Lists Manifest and Ozark as his favorite TV shows…Names LeBron James and Patrice Bergeron as his favorite athletes…Remembers winning the USA Hockey U18 National Championship and the 2020-21 USHL Western Conference Championships as some of his best sports moments…Hopes to own a business and travel after graduation.
6 – Isac Jonsson
Hometown/High School: Angelholm, Sweden/Ronne Gymnasiet
Position: Defense
Height: 5-10
Weight: 173
Previous Team: Tri-City (USHL)
Major: Business Administration
Before UMass Lowell: Spend the 2020-21 season with the Tri-City Storm (USHL)…Played 39 games, scoring 21 points off four goals and 17 assists and finishing with a +5 rating…Helped Tri-City to the 2020-21 playoffs.
Personal: Son of Asa and Benny Jonsson…Has two brothers, Gabriel (17) and Elliot (11)…Enjoys golfing, padel and fishing in his spare time…Lists Breaking Bad as his favorite TV show…Names the Chicago Blackhawks as his favorite pro team…Lists Cale Makar has his favorite sports figure…Remembers playing in the playoffs with Tri-City as one of his greatest sports memories…Hopes to play professional hockey after UMass Lowell.
1 – Edvard Nordlund
Hometown/High School: Nacka, Sweden/Solna Gymnasium
Position: Goalie
Height: 6-2
Weight: 176
Previous Team: Danbury (NAHL)
Major: Business
Before UMass Lowell: Played the 2020-21 season with the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks in the NAHL…Saw action in 17 games, posting a 9-5-3 mark, 3.03 GAA and .902 save percentage…Named the Gastrikland U16 Division I Goaltender of the Year…Solna Gymnasium Social Sciences Rank 1.
Personal: Son of Catharina Enblad Nordlund and Anders Nordlund…Has two siblings, Thea (18) and Ella (12)…Enjoys cooking and reading in his free time…Lists The Office and Game of Thrones as his favorite TV shows…Names AIK Hockey and the Nashville Predators as his favorite professional teams…Remembers winning the Swedish U16 Regional Championships as one of his greatest sports memories…Hopes to pursue a career in ice hockey as a player before hopefully working in a front office role.
Why UMass Lowell: "I chose UMass Lowell to get four years of tremendous ice hockey development combined with a great academic program to prepare me for the rest of my life. It was really a no-brainer when the opportunity arose."
27 – Stefan Owens
Hometown/High School: Midlothian, Va./James River High School
Position: Forward
Height: 5-10
Weight: 169
Previous Team: Maine Nordiques (NAHL)
Major: Engineering
Before UMass Lowell: Played the last two seasons in the NAHL with the Maine Nordiques…Named an alternate captain in his second season with Maine…Saw action in 56 games last season, scoring 51 points off 24 goals and 27 assists…Helped the Nordiques reach the 2020-21 NAHL Final Four last season, netting three goals and eight assists in the postseason…Named to the All-East Division Team…Played for the Richmond Generals prior to moving into the NAHL.
Personal: Son of Stig and Christine Owens…Has four siblings, Cory (27), Stian (25), Justin (21) and Rebecca (20)…Enjoys playing tennis and hanging out with friends in his free time…Lists Impractical Jokers as his favorite TV show…Names the Carolina Hurricanes as his favorite professional team and Michael Jordan as his favorite athlete…Remembers advancing to the final four of the NAHL with Maine as one of his greatest sports memories…Hopes to play professional hockey or pursue engineering after UMass Lowell
Why UMass Lowell: "The school offers a variety of major options that I am interested in as well as having a top hockey program in the country."
34 – Theo Pistek
Hometown/High School: Tabor, Czech Republic/Virginskaskolan
Position: Forward
Height: 6-0
Weight: 187
Previous Team: Örebro HK
Major: Health Science
Before UMass Lowell: Played three seasons with Örebro HK J20…Amassed 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points across 19 games last season…Tabbed to the Czech National Team…Helped Sweden win Bronze in the U16 league.
Personal: Son of Petra Pistekova and Michal Pistek…Has one sister, Tereza Pistekova (16)…Enjoys traveling, food and watching movies/TV in his spare time…Lists Lucifer and La Casa De Papel as his favorite TV shows…Names Alex Ovechkin, David Pastrnak and Conor McGregor as his favorite athletes…Lists playing for Sweden's National Team as one of his favorite moments…Hopes to play professional hockey after UMass Lowell…Speaks three different languages (Czech, Swedish and English).
