Season in Review

4/22/2022 2:22:00 PM

LOWELL, Mass.—With unfinished business on the mind, the UMass Lowell men’s hockey team dominated the 2021-22 campaign with an electric performance to finish with a 21-11-3 (15-8-1 Hockey East) overall record. The River Hawks kept themselves in the national rankings for 22 consecutive weeks and battled their way to the top of the Hockey East standings en route to a conference semifinal appearance and an NCAA tournament berth.

Team celebration against Providence (Feb. 18)

Bringing back 20 veterans to the ice at the Tsongas Center, including key players such as graduate student Connor Sodergren (Tewksbury, Mass.), the River Hawks bolstered their roster with the addition of six freshmen and two experienced transfers.

2021-22 NEWCOMERS RELEASE

With the lineup set, the team established its solid leadership core to guide the team through the competitive season stretch. Senior Lucas Condotta (Georgetown, Ontario) earned the honor of donning the Captain’s ‘C’ in his final season in the blue and red. Joining him, seniors Reid Stefanson (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Jon McDonald (Livonia, Mich.) rounded out the group as alternate captains.

2021-22 Leadership Crew (Left to Right): Alternate captain Jon McDonald, Captain Lucas Condotta, Alternate captain Reid Stefanson

Opening the season, the River Hawks took a trip out west to visit Arizona State. After dropping a tough battle in the season opener, UMass Lowell bounced back to split the series in a massive 4-2 decision before heading back to the Mill City.

GAME 1 RECAP v. ARIZONA STATE

GAME 2 RECAP v. ARIZONA STATE

For his impressive four-point weekend debut, freshman Matt Crasa (South Setauket, N.Y.) earned the first of many Hockey East weekly honors for the River Hawks.

MATT CRASA POTW RELEASE

UMass Lowell continued to dominate, going on a nine-game unbeaten streak across October and the first half of November. In the stretch, the River Hawks picked up multiple marquee victories including a 4-0 shutout over Michigan State (recap), a weekend sweep over then-No. 19 Boston University (recap), a 2-1 overtime thriller against then-No. 17 Northeastern (recap) and a 4-2 toppling of then-No. 16 Boston College (recap).

The team capped off its show-stopping first half with an 11-3-3 (8-2-1) mark after collecting major conference wins over Maine (recap), then-No. 14 Massachusetts (recap), and Vermont (recap/recap) as well as a non-conference victory against St. Lawrence (recap) on the road. With a key six points coming off the series in Burlington, the River Hawks went into the holiday break atop the Hockey East standings.

Brian Chambers vs. UMass (Dec. 3)

Freshman Owens (center) celebrates first collegiate goal vs. Northeastern (Jan. 28)

Moving into the back half of the slate, the River Hawks dialed in on the postseason and defending their first-place spot on the conference leaderboard. Starting with a weekend and series sweep against the Black Bears (recap/recap), UMass Lowell triumphed against then-No. 15 Northeastern (recap), Boston College (recap), Dartmouth (recap), then-No. 19 Providence (recap), and non-conference foe LIU (recap).

UMass Lowell closed out the regular season with a home-and-home series with UNH. Kicking things off with an explosive 6-3 rout over the Wildcats, the team returned to the ice at the Tsongas Center to celebrate their seniors in their final home game of the year.

SENIOR NIGHT HIGHLIGHTS

2022 Senior Night

Clinching the No. 3 seed in the 2022 Hockey East Tournament, the River Hawks hosted No. 6 seeded Merrimack for a redemption match at the Tsongas Center. In front of an electrified sell-out crowd, the team trounced the Warriors, 7-2, to secure a trip to TD Garden for the first time since 2017 for the 2022 Hockey East Semifinals.

HEA QUARTERFINAL V MERRIMACK RECAP

Berglund celebrates after scoring against Merrimack (March 12)

Facing a setback against UMass in the conference semifinals, the team awaited their postseason fate ahead of the NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey Selection Show.

Tabbed the No. 4 seed in the Loveland Regional, the River Hawks punched their ticket to their 14th NCAA Tournament appearance as they readied for a clash against No. 1 seeded Denver in the opening round at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colo.

NCAA TOURNAMENT RELEASE

Grinding through a gritty sixty-minute battle with the Pioneers, the River Hawks’ season came to a heartbreaking end in a down-to-the-wire 3-2 loss to the eventual National Champions.

NCAA REGIONAL V DENVER RECAP

Lucas Condotta goes head-to-head against Denver (March 24)

Team celebration against Merrimack (March 12)

With their historic season in the books, the River Hawks ended the year in second place overall in Hockey East for the sixth time while reaching several other milestones including:

A .643 winning percentage (second-best in Hockey East, 10th in the nation)
A 2.11 GAA (sixth-best in the nation)
Seven shorthanded tallies (first in Hockey East, third-best in the nation)
12 game unbeaten streak at the Tsongas Center (program record)
An average attendance of 4,532 (first in Hockey East, 10th in the nation)
Zero shorthanded goals allowed (one of five teams in the nation)

The River Hawks’ successful 2021-22 campaign was highlighted by standout individual performances from top to bottom.

Starting between the pipes, Owen Savory was an unshakeable force for the River Hawks as he backstopped his way to a career-best 20-7-2 overall record. Recording five shutouts to reach 10 total in his collegiate run, Savory earned back-to-back Stop It Goaltender of the Month nods as well as Hockey East Second Team All-Star recognition (recap).

HEA ALL STAR TEAM RELEASE

After finishing amongst the nation’s top 10 in both save percentage & goals against average, Savory was named a Hobey Baker Award nominee & a Mike Richter Award semifinalist

HOBEY BAKER RELEASE

MIKE RICHTER AWARD RELEASE

LOWELL, MA - FEBRUARY 5: The UMass Lowell River Hawks play host to the Dartmouth College Big Green during NCAA men's hockey at the Tsongas Center on February 5, 2022 in Lowell, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon)

Owen Savory readies to take on Dartmouth (Feb. 5)

On defense, the River Hawks blueline commanded the ice under the guidance of senior McDonald. Joining him, freshman Isac Jonsson (Angelholm, Sweden), sophomores Brehdan Engum (Burnsville, Minn.) and Ben Meehan (Walpole, Mass.), junior Marek Korencik (Zilina, Slovakia) and graduate student Nick Austin (St. Louis Park, Minn.) all played consistent minutes to help keep the River Hawks to just 74 goals against in their 35 games, good for second in the conference.

2021-22 UMass Lowell Blueline Stats

Jon McDonald: 1-9-10, one PPG, tied for first on the team in blocked shots (46)
Isac Jonsson: 0-10-10, second most points amongst UML freshman, 29 blocked shots, two-time Hockey East Defender of the Week, team best +15 rating
Brehdan Engum: 2-6-8, notched his first career goal against Michigan State, tied for first on the team in blocked shots (46), two-time Hockey East Defender of the Week, +12 rating
Ben Meehan: 5-9-14, two PPG, three GWG, one OT winner, 23 blocked shots, Hockey East Defender of the Week, +6 rating\
Marek Korencik: 3-3-6, 15 blocks, +6 rating
Nick Austin: 1-16-17, ranked second on the team in assists, one PPG, one GWG, 20 blocks

LOWELL, MA - NOVEMBER 13: The UMass Lowell River Hawks play host to the Boston College Eagles during NCAA men's hockey at the Tsongas Center on November 13, 2021 in Lowell, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon/UMass Lowell Athletics)

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 18: NCAA men's hockey between UMass Lowell and UMass in the Hockey East Championship semifinal at TD Garden on March 18, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon)

LOWELL, MA - MARCH 12: UMass Lowell plays Merrimack College during NCAA men's hockey at the Tsongas Center on March 12, 2022 in Lowell, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon)

LOWELL, MA - OCTOBER 22: UMass Lowell plays Michigan State during NCAA men's hockey at the Tsongas Center on October 22, 2021 in Lowell, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon)

On attack, juniors Carl Berglund (Hammaro, Sweden) and Andre Lee (Karlstad, Sweden) were offensive catalysts for the River Hawks. Scoring a combined 25 goals, the two wingers accounted for 25-percent of the goals scored by UMass Lowell this year. The Swedish duo finished tied for first on the team in points with 28 total. Lee’s 16 goals paced the team in the category while Berglund topped the stat sheet with a team and career-best 19 assists. With career-seasons under their belt, Lee and Berglund were both tabbed Hockey East Third Team All-Stars.

HEA ALL-STARS RELEASE

LOWELL, MA - JANUARY 30: The UMass Lowell River Hawks play host to the UMass Minutemen during NCAA men's hockey at the Tsongas Center on January 30, 2022 in Lowell, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon)

Condotta against UMass (Dec. 3)

Condotta’s hard-hitting presence on the ice was paramount to the River Hawks’ success. The Ontario native capped his four seasons with a career-best stat line comprised of 10 goals, 13 assists and 23 points to finish third on the team in overall scoring. A force on special teams, Condotta led the team with three shorthanded goals & ranked second with four power play strikes. His trio of man-down tallies tied him for second in the nation in the category.

Condotta was joined by a group of heavy hitters and clutch scorers on the power play. Junior transfer Ryan Brushett (Montreal, Quebec) impressed in his first season as a River Hawks with eight goals, five coming on the power play. Tied for second, Stefanson and Berglund picked up four extra-man tallies throughout the season.

Ryan Brushett: 8-14-22, five PPG, one GWG
Reid Stefanson: 8-12-20, four PPG, one SHG, one GWG, 23 blocks

Shining in his rookie campaign, Crasa established himself as a mainstay on the River Hawks' frontline. Leading freshman in scoring with 12 goals and nine assists for 21 points, Crasa became the first River Hawks since Berglund in 2018 to surpass the 10-goal threshold in his first season. Skating alongside Lee, Crasa tied the Swedish forward with a team-high four game-winners while adding a trio of power play goals. For his efforts, Crasa was tabbed to the Hockey East Pro Ambitions All-Rookie team and named a finalist for Hockey East Rookie of the Year.

HEA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM RELEASE

Crasa celebrates against Dartmouth (Feb. 5)

Cole has career-night against Boston College (Feb. 4)

Joining his classmates Jonsson and Crasa, freshman Owen Cole (Dunnville, Ontario) hit his stride in the back half of the season to earn a steady spot in the lineup. Earning his first career goal off a shorthanded tally against BC in January, the rookie finished with three goals and seven assists for 10 points to tie with Jonsson and McDonald.

With the dust settled on the 2021-22 season, the River Hawks saw several skaters ink professional contracts to continue their hockey careers.

LEE / CONDOTTA / STEFANSON / SAVORY