LOWELL, Mass.—With just over two weeks until puck drop, UMass Lowell Hockey Head Coach
Norm Bazin announced the addition of 12 newcomers to the 2022-23 squad this afternoon.
Welcoming three transfers and nine freshmen, the new class of River Hawks hail from all across the globe with players from Latvia, Sweden and Canada, as well as homegrown talent from Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Illinois.
"We are excited to welcome twelve new additions to this year's team. We believe there is a mix of skill, size, sense and heart with this group. We look forward to giving them an opportunity to earn quality ice time in these early games," said Bazin about the incoming recruiting class.
MEET THE PLAYERS
2 – Mitchell Becker
Hometown/High School: Rogers, Minn./Rogers
Position: Defense
Height: 6-3
Weight: 220
Previous Team: New Mexico (NAHL)
Major: Undeclared
Before UMass Lowell: Played three seasons with the NAHL's New Mexico Ice Wolves, appearing in 161 games … Served as an alternate captain for the Ice Wolves during the 2021-22 season … Led New Mexico to the team's first postseason appearance last season, reaching the NAHL Robertson Cup semifinal round
Personal: Son of Al and Jody Becker … Has one brother, Matt … Cousin, Jack Becker, played hockey at Michigan and Arizona State … Goes by "Becks" … Names watching movies, fishing and pickleball as his hobbies … Lists
Game of Thrones and
How I Met Your Mother as his favorite shows … Names the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Wild as his favorite professional teams and Victor Hedman as his favorite professional athlete … Chose UMass Lowell because "of all the great people in the organization, the facilities and the culture they have established here" … Hopes to pursue real estate and coach hockey following graduation.
4 – TJ Schweighardt
Hometown/High School: Wayne, N.J./Don Bosco Prep
Position: Defense
Height: 5-10
Weight: 180
Previous Team: Youngstown (USHL)
Major: Business
Before UMass Lowell: Spent last season with the Youngstown Phantoms, making 48 appearances and scoring 15 points off three goals and 12 assists … Also played hockey at Don Bosco Prep, leading the team to a state championship in 2019 … Named to the All-State First Team his senior year.
Personal: Son of Maria and Thomas Schweighardt … Has two sisters, Kristen and Katelyn … Enjoys golfing, dirt biking, boating, fishing and lacrosse in his free time … Names the NJ Devils as his favorite professional sports team … Lists Zach Whitecloud and Connor Clifton as his biggest sports influences … Chose UMass Lowell because it was "the best fit for me to continue my academic and hockey career" … Hopes to play hockey professionally.
7 – Mark Cooper
Hometown/High School: Cambridge, Ontario
Position: Defense
Height: 5-10
Weight: 185
Previous Team: Hawkesbury (CCHL)
Major: Economics
Before UMass Lowell: Played three seasons with the Hawkesbury Hawks, making 94 appearances and scoring 19 goals and dishing out 59 assists for 78 points … Served as captain for Hawkesbury during the 2021-22 season … Tied for 11th in the CCHL in assists during the 2021-22 regular season … Helped lead the Hawks to the 2021-22 CCHL Championship … Named the Defenseman of the Year and Top Graduating Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season … Named a CCHL First Team All-Star in 2021-22.
Personal: Son of Jane Young and
Mark Cooper … His mother played tennis at the University of Mississippi and the professional level … Goes by "Coop" … Enjoys reading and watching TV in his spare time … Lists
Yellowstone,
Suits,
Breaking Bad and
The Office as his favorite TV shows … Names the Pittsburgh Penguins, New Orleans Saints, San Antonio Spurs and Tampa Bay Rays as his favorite professional sports teams … Lists Kris Letang, Roman Josi and Rafael Nadal as his biggest sports influences … Remembers scoring a goal in double OT of the CCHL semifinals of the playoffs as one of his greatest sports memories … Chose UMass Lowell because it "was a perfect fit for my college experience, both academically and athletically" … Hopes to play professional hockey after UMass Lowell before opening his own business.
9 – Jack Collins
Hometown/High School: Canton, NY/Hugh C. Williams
Position: Forward
Height: 6-4
Weight: 215
Previous Team: Lone Star (NAHL)
Major: Business
Before UMass Lowell: Played three seasons in the NAHL with the Lone Star Brahmas, making 131 appearances and scoring 54 points off 25 goals and 29 assists … Helped the Brahmas reach the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, including a South Division Championship in 2021-22 … Served as an alternate captain for the Brahmas during the 2021-22 season.
Personal: Son of Christy and John … Has two siblings, Emma (25) and Collins (23) … Father, John, played hockey at Saint Lawrence University … Uncles John, Charlie and Mitch, wrestled at Ohio State … Cousin, John, played lacrosse at Lehigh … Enjoys fishing, hunting and skiing in his spare time … Lists
Prison Break as his favorite TV show … Names the Buffalo Bills and the Ottawa Senators as his favorite sports teams … Lists Josh Allen and Alex Ovechkin as his biggest sports influences … Chose UMass Lowell because of the business school and because of the "exceptional coaching staff and the culture the UMass Lowell hockey team has created."
12 – Roc Truman
Hometown/High School: Lethbridge, Ontario
Position: Forward
Height: 6-0
Weight: 195
Previous Team: Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL)
Major: Business
Before UMass Lowell: Played last season with the Camrose Kodiaks, making 54 appearances … Scored 45 points off 17 goals and 28 assists during the 2021-22 season … Helped the Kodiaks reach the AJHL playoffs last year.
Personal: Son of April and Tom Truman … Has a brother, Scout, who plays hockey at UMass Lowell … Goes by "Rocco" … Enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, skiing and golfing in his free time … Names the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Celtics as his favorite teams … Lists Auston Matthews and Rafael Devers as his biggest sports influences … Calls winning the AAA Championship in bantam his favorite sports memory … Chose UMass Lowell because "of the fantastic staff, facility, the excellent academics, as well as the hockey" … Hopes to play hockey for as long as he can before pursuing a career in business.
13 – Filip Fornåå Svensson
Hometown/High School: Linköping, Sweden/Birgittaskolan
Position: Forward
Height: 6-4
Weight: 215
Previous Team: Alaska Fairbanks (Independent)
Major: Finance
Before UMass Lowell: Spent three seasons with the Nanooks, making 58 appearances … Finished with 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points … Led the team in scoring last season with nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points … Served as an alternate captain for Alaska during the 2021-22 … Six-time Chancellor's List honoree for achieving a GPA above 3.9 … Served as the captain of the Linköping HC U20 team … Helped Team Sweden capture the silver and bronze at the National Championships.
Personal: Son of Gita and Johan Svensson … Has a younger brother, Felix (20) … Goes by "Fil" … Enjoys cooking in his free time … Lists
Prison Break as his favorite TV show … Names Mats Sundin and Kobe Bryant as his favorite sports figures … Chose UMass Lowell because of "its great reputation, the staff, facilities, culture and program" … Hopes to either play professional hockey or pursue a career in finance after graduation.
16 – Owen Fowler
Hometown/High School: Tewksbury, Mass./Governor's Academy
Position: Forward
Height: 5-9
Weight: 182
Previous Team: Sioux City (USHL)
Major: Business
Before UMass Lowell: Most recently played with the Sioux City Musketeers and the Omaha Lancers in the USHL, making 55 appearances and scoring 37 combined points off 10 goals and 27 assists … Won the 2021-22 USHL Clark Cup after defeating the Madison Capitals in the Clark Cup Final.
Personal: Son of Karen and Jack Fowler … Has two siblings, Jamie (25) and Jonathan (23) … Enjoys watching movies in his spare time … Lists
Love Island as his favorite show … Names the Boston Bruins as his favorite professional sports team and Brad Marchand as his biggest sports influence … Remembers hoisting the Clark Cup has one of his greatest sports moments … Chose UMass Lowell because it's a "great school with a great hockey program and unbelievable facilities" … Hopes to play hockey professionally after UMass Lowell.
19 – Dillan Bentley
Hometown/High School: Peoria, Ill./James Madison Memorial
Position: Forward
Height: 6-4
Weight: 190
Previous Team: New Mexico Ice Wolves (NAHL)
Major: Elementary Education
Before UMass Lowell: Spent time with the New Mexico Ice Wolves of the NAHL for the last three seasons, making 126 appearances and amassing 101 points off 44 goals and 57 assists … Served as captain of the Ice Wolves during the 2021-22 season … Helped New Mexico reach the 2021-22 NAHL Robertson Cup Semifinals.
Personal: Son of Maureen and Chad Bentley … Has a sister, Kaitlyn (19) … Goes by the nickname "Bents" … Enjoys fishing in his free time … Lists
The Office and
Alone as his favorite TV shows … Names Michael Jordan as his biggest sports influence … Lists the Chicago Blackhawks as his favorite professional team … Chose UMass Lowell "because of the history behind the hockey team and the hometown feel of the school" … Hopes to either play or coach hockey after his collegiate career.
24 – Scout Truman
Hometown/High School: Lethbridge, Ontario
Position: Forward
Height: 5-10
Weight: 185
Previous Team: Des Moines (USHL)
Major: Business
Before UMass Lowell: Played two seasons with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL, making 95 appearances and registering 74 points off 29 goals and 45 assists … Named to the 2018-19 AJHL All-Rookie Team.
Personal: Son of April and Tom Truman … Has a brother, Roc, who plays for the UMass Lowell hockey team … Goes by the nickname "Scouter" … Enjoys golfing, playing basketball, watching movies and reading in his free time … Lists
Love Island, Keeping up with the Kardashians and
Ozark … Names Patrick Kane as his favorite professional athlete and the New York Islanders, Toronto Blue Jays and Tennessee Titans as his favorite teams … Chose UMass Lowell because of its "great facilities and hockey program as well as the academics" … Hopes to play professional hockey before pursuing a career in business … Knows how to juggle.
26 – Nick Rhéaume
Hometown/High School: Trois-Rivieres, Quebec
Position: Forward
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200
Previous Team: Prince George (BCHL)
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Before UMass Lowell: Played the last two seasons with the Prince George Spruce Kings of the BCHL, making 83 appearances and amassing 82 points off 37 goals and 45 assists … Helped the Spruce Kings reach the 2021-22 BCHL playoffs … Won a gold medal at the Quebec Games.
Personal: Son of Annie Lemay and Pascal Rhéaume … Has two siblings, Logane (25) and Alexane (22) … Sister, Alexane, played hockey at Mercyhurst … Father, Pascal, played in the NHL … Aunt, Manon, was the first and only woman to ever play an NHL game … Enjoys golfing, playing card games and video games in his spare time … Lists
Prison Break as his favorite TV show … Names the Montreal Canadians as his favorite professional team and LeBron James, Tom Brady, Sidney Crosby and Austin Matthews as his favorite athletes … Chose UMass Lowell because "of their great hockey program, coaching staff and engineering program" … Hopes to either play professional hockey or become an engineer following his collegiate career … Can speak both French and English fluently.
28– Jake Stella
Hometown/High School: Karlstad, Sweden
Position: Forward
Height: 5-11
Weight: 187
Previous Team: American International College (AHA)
Major: Business
Before UMass Lowell: Played three seasons with the AIC Yellow Jackets, making 81 appearances … Amassed 39 points off 13 goals and 26 assists … Served as an alternate captain for the Yellow Jackets as a junior … Helped the Yellow Jackets win back-to-back Atlantic Hockey Championships in 2021 and 2022 … Helped AIC reach the NCAA Tournament in 2021 and 2022.
Personal: Son of Sofia and Tom … Has two siblings, Evan and Olivia … Goes by the nickname "Stells" … Enjoys golfing in his spare time … Lists
Sons of Anarchy as his favorite TV show … Names AIK as his favorite professional sports team … Lists LeBron James as his biggest sports influence … Chose UMass Lowell because "it was a good place for me to develop in order to take the next step" … Hopes to play professional hockey after his collegiate career.
30 – Gustavs Davis Grigals
Hometown/High School: Riga, Latvia/Rigas Secondary
Position: Goaltender
Height: 6-1
Weight: 190
Previous Team: Alaska Fairbanks (Independent)
Major: Business
Before UMass Lowell: Played four seasons with the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks, making 61 appearances and posting a 2.59 GAA and .912 save percentage … Served as the captain of the 2021-22 Alaska Fairbanks squad … Spent time with the Shreveport Mudbugs of the NAHL, helping them capture the 2017-18 NAHL Robertson Cup … Named to Team Latvia for the 2019 and 2022 IIHF World Ice Hockey Championships … Two-time Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup Champion … 2021 WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award recipient … Won the Fan's Choice, Most Dedicated and MVP Award for the 2021-22 season, as voted on by teammates and fans.
Personal: Son of Vivita and Modris Grigals … Has two siblings, Oskars (34) and Arturs (30) … Goes by the nicknames "Grigz" or "Goose" … Enjoys golfing, spending time with his dogs, hanging out at the beach and traveling as his hobbies … Lists
How I Met Your Mother,
Suits and
Formula 1: Drive to Survive as his favorite TV shows … Names Michael Phelps, Tom Brady and Michael Jordan as his favorite athletes … Chose UMass Lowell because it is a "great program with a lot of opportunities to be successful" … Hopes to play professional hockey before pursuing a career in business … Knows how to speak three languages.
