LOWELL, Mass. – Head Coach
Norm Bazin and the UMass Lowell hockey team are welcoming 11 new skaters to the 2023-24 roster.
The newcomers, consisting of eight freshmen and three transfers, have made their way to campus, as team activities have started back up ahead of the season.
"We are happy to welcome the freshmen for this upcoming season to campus this week," said Bazin. "The class is large and rather diverse with guys coming from several different leagues and from different backgrounds. We expect some of these young men will challenge for important playing time immediately, while others will take some time to make their impact. This summer session will give these young men time to acclimate to their new surroundings, while also allowing for camaraderie to develop with their new teammates. We are excited to welcome these young men to UMass Lowell."
MEET THE PLAYERS
1 - Luke Pavicich
Hometown/High School: Clarence Center, N.Y./Saint Joseph's Collegiate
Position: Goaltender
Height: 6-2
Weight: 195
Previous Team: University of Massachusetts
Major: Business Management
Before UMass Lowell: Played two seasons at the University of Massachusetts, appearing in 27 games and tallying a 9-11-4 record ... Posted a 2.75 GAA and .920 save percentage in his sophomore season ... Also played for the Kenai River Brown Bears (NAHL) during the 2020-21 season ... Was named NAHL Midwest Division MVP and to the All-NAHL Second Team ... Played for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres organization from 2015-2020.
Personal: Son of Paul and Jennifer Pavicich ... Has two brothers, Jake and Niko ... Names playing other sports and working out as his hobbies ... Lists New Girl as his favorite show ... Names the Buffalo Bills as his favorite professional sports team and Carey Price as his favorite athlete ... His greatest sports moment was winning the national championship at 15 years old ... Chose UMass Lowell because "I really like the coaching staff and what they have to offer to my teammates and I to succeed at the highest level" ... Hopes to play in the NHL after UMass Lowell.
8 - Jaiden Moriello
Hometown/High School: Saugus, Mass./Kimball Union
Position: Forward
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190
Previous Team: GBL Jr. Bruins & West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL)
Major: Political Science
Before UMass Lowell: Last played for the West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL) in 2022-23, totaling 55 points (25g, 30a) in 54 games played ... Also played for both the 16U and 18U GBL Jr. Bruins teams ... Collected 39 points (22g, 17a) in 20 games for the 18U Jr. Bruins in 2021-22 after picking up 37 points (18g, 19a) in 32 games during his time with the 16U team in 2018-19.
Personal: Son of Michael and Tanya Moriello ... Has a brother, Jesse ... Goes by the nickname "Jaido" ... Names boating, fishing, jet skiing, wake surfing and yard games as his hobbies ... Lists Shooter as his favorite TV show ... Names the Boston Bruins as his favorite professional sports team and Alex Ovechkin as his favorite athlete ... His greatest sports moment was winning a state championship at the TD Garden ... Chose UMass Lowell because "the hockey program and school fit who I am, as well as being so close to my family at home" ... Hopes to play professional hockey or own a marina after UMass Lowell.
11 - Alex Peterson
Hometown/High School: Collegeville, Pa./North Penn
Position: Forward
Height: 5-10
Weight: 180
Previous Team: Holy Cross
Major: Business Administration
Before UMass Lowell: Played four years at Holy Cross, garnering 55 points (18g, 37a) in 121 games and serving as an Assistant Captain during his senior season ... Also played for the Amarillo Bulls (NAHL) from 2017-19, totaling 107 points (45g, 62a) through two seasons (including postseason).
Personal: Son of Richard and Denise Peterson ... Has a sister, Taylor ... Names golf as his hobby ... Lists Blacklist and Suits as his favorite TV shows ... Names the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Penguins as his favorite professional sports teams and Sidney Crosby as his favorite athlete ... Chose UMass Lowell "for the opportunity to play another year of ice hockey for a prestigious program while pursuing a graduate degree" ... Hopes to either play professional hockey or get a job in wealth management.
17 - Jonathan Horn
Hometown/High School: Southbury, Conn./The Hotchkiss School
Position: Forward
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190
Previous Team: Vernon Vipers (BCHL)
Major: Finance
Before UMass Lowell: Played for both the Wenatchee Wild and Vernon Vipers (BCHL) during the 2022-23 season, totaling 13 points (6g, 7a) in 21 games for the Wild and nine points (5g, 4a) in 30 regular-season games for the Vipers ... Was also a member of the El Paso Rhinos (NAHL) during the 2021-22 season, picking up 45 points (18g, 27a) in 59 games.
Personal: Son of Tammy Horn ... Has a brother, Chris, and a sister, Jessica ... His sister, Jessica, was a member of the women's swimming and diving team at Air Force as a diver ... Names golfing, hanging out with friends and lifting weights as his hobbies ... Lists Suits as his favorite TV show ... Names the Boston Bruins as his favorite professional sports team and Patrick Kane as his favorite athlete ... His favorite sports memory was playing in the Elite Eight New England Prep playoffs ... Chose UMass Lowell because "it provided a good combination of athletics and academics" ... Hopes to play professional hockey or get a good job in finance after UMass Lowell.
18 - Sean Kilcullen
Hometown/High School: Kensington, Md./Gonzaga College High School
Position: Defense
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190
Previous Team: Maryland Black Bears (NAHL)
Major: Business Management
Before UMass Lowell: Played three seasons for the NAHL's Maryland Black Bears, totaling 77 points (10g, 67a) in 152 regular-season games and nine points (2g, 7a) in 17 total playoff games.
Personal: Son of Dennis and Angie Kilcullen ... Has two sisters, Abigail and Emma, and a brother, Ian ... His brother, Ian, plays rugby at Penn State ... Names Golfing, playing Xbox, hanging out with friends and watching movies as his hobbies ... Lists Entourage, Peaky Blinders and Stranger Things as his favorite TV shows ... Names the Washington Capitals, Washington Commanders, New Orleans Pelicans and New Orleans Saints as his favorite professional sports teams and Alex Ovechkin, Kobe Bryant, Joe Burrow and Jason Williams as his favorite athletes ... His greatest sports moment was winning back-to-back state championships to complete a three peat ... Chose UMass Lowell "to thrive in an environment of good academics and athletics" ... Hopes to play hockey or work in sports after UMass Lowell.
21 - Girts Silkalns
Hometown: Talsi, Latvia
Position: Forward
Height: 6-2
Weight: 187
Previous Team: Fargo Force (USHL)
Before UMass Lowell: During the 2022-23 season, he first played for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL, collecting six points (2g, 4a) in 15 games, before totaling 24 points (8g, 16a) in 40 games for the Fargo Force ... He then played for the Latvia U20 team in the 2023 World Junior Championship, scoring one goal for one point in six games.
22 - Adam Cardona
Hometown/High School: Beaconsfield, Quebec
Position: Defense
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200
Previous Team: Omaha Lancers (USHL)
Major: Business
Before UMass Lowell: Last played for the USHL's Omaha Lancers during the 2022-23 season, where he collected 18 points (5g, 13a) in 62 games ... Previously played for the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) in 2021-22, totaling eight points (3g, 5a) in 42 games.
Personal: Son of Ivan Cardona and Natacha Lambert ... Has two brothers, David and Chase, and one sister, Kate ... His grandfather, Yvon Lambert, was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in 1970 and played 10 years in the NHL, mainly with the Montreal Canadiens. Yvon won four stanley cups and totaled 479 points in 683 NHL games ... Goes by the nickname "Cards" ... Names playing guitar as his hobby ... lists Family Guy as his favorite TV show ... Names the Montreal Canadiens as his favorite professional sports team and David Goggins as his favorite athlete ... His favorite sports moment was getting dangled by a future first-round draft pick ... Hopes to play in the NHL after UMass Lowell.
23 - Shawn O'Donnell
Hometown/High School: Crescent, Pa./North Catholic
Position: Forward
Height: 5-11
Weight: 180
Previous Team: Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
Major: Economics
Before UMass Lowell: Played two seasons with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL from 2021-2023, totaling 28 regular season points (8g, 20a) and two postseason points (1g, 1a) ... During his 18U season with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite in 2020-21, O'Donnell was tendered to the Minnesota Wilderness of the NAHL, where he collected two points (1g, 1a) in nine games.
Personal: Son of Doug and Heather O'Donnell ... Has a sister, Kiley ... His mother, Heather, played collegiate basketball at Penn State and his father, Doug, played collegiate soccer at Penn State ... Goes by the nickname "OD" ... Names camping, reading about history and golfing as his hobbies ... lists Peaky Blinders and Band of Brothers as his favorite TV shows ... Names the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Steelers as his favorite professional sports teams and Patric Hornqvist as his favorite athlete ... His greatest sports moment was being a part of the team that won nationals in 2019 ... Chose UMass Lowell because "I love the way the team plays and the culture surrounding the team. It is a hard-nosed, gritty style that I love to play" ... Hopes to play hockey as long as he can after UMass Lowell, then become an agent.
29 - Jak Vaarwerk
Hometown/High School: Clarence, N.Y./Clarence
Position: Forward
Height: 6-0
Weight: 180
Previous Team: Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
Major: Business
Before UMass Lowell: Last played for the USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers during the 2022-23 season, scoring 13 goals with 32 assists for 45 points in 61 games ... Also played for the Jamestown Rebels of the NAHL in 2021-22, totaling 53 points (18g, 35a) in 56 regular season games, before adding 14 points (7g, 7a) in nine playoff games ... Was a member of the Buffalo Jr. Sabres from 2017-2021.
Personal: Son of Anthony and Jamie Vaarwerk ... Has two sisters, Haley and Kendal ... Goes by the nickname "Jaky" ... Names golfing, hanging out with family, hiking and spending time at the beach as his hobbies ... Lists Money Heist, Outer Banks and Prison Break as his favorite TV shows ... Names the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres as his favorite professional sports teams and Josh Allen as his favorite athlete ... His greatest sports memory was winning state finals his 15U year ... Chose UMass Lowell because "I love the city of Boston and loved the campus the moment I came to visit. The facilities were also spectacular and the division of Hockey East is amazing. I also loved the academics they provide." ... Wants to pursue hockey or work in the sports medicine or sports therapy field after UMass Lowell.
52 - Ben Brunette
Hometown/High School: North Bay, Ontario / St. Joseph Scollard Hall
Position: Defense
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190
Previous Team: Penticton Vees (BCHL)
Major: Business
Before UMass Lowell: Most recently played for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL in 2022-23, totaling 20 points (6g, 14a) in 40 games played ... Was also a member of the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks during the 2021-22 season, racking up three points (1g, 2a) in 15 games after a 10-point season (4g, 6a) with the Powell River Kings in the BCHL during the 2020-21 season.
Personal: Son of Peter and Marnie Brunette ... Has a sister Courtney and a brother Matthew ... Goes by the nickname "Bruno" ... Names golfing, fishing and boating as his hobbies ... Lists Psych and Seinfeld as his favorite TV shows ... Names the Toronto Raptors as his favorite professional sports teams and Brooks Koepka as his favorite athlete ... His greatest sports memory was beating his dad in their Father's Day golf match ... Chose UMass Lowell because he "liked the campus and coaches" ... Hopes to be a firefighter after UMass Lowell.
71 - Nick Granowicz
Hometown/High School: Macomb, Mich. / Dakota
Position: Forward
Height: 6-1
Weight: 183
Previous Team: University of Michigan
Major: Economics
Before UMass Lowell: Completed a four-year career at the University of Michigan, where he appeared in 101 games and totaled 36 points (17g, 19a) with a hat trick, two game winners, a +28 rating and 35 blocked shots ... Also played for the Merritt Centennials during the 2018-19 season, collecting 59 points (32g, 27a) in 58 games played.
Personal: Son of Dennis and Valerie Granowicz ... Has a sister Madison ... Goes by the nickname "Grano" ... Names golfing, fishing and sports card collecting as his hobbies ... Lists Prison Break, Game of Thrones and Outer Banks as his favorite TV shows ... Names the Detroit Lions, Red Wings, Tigers and Pistons as his favorite professional sports teams and Pavel Datsyuk as his favorite athlete ... His biggest role model is his father ... His greatest sports moment was scoring a hat-trick his freshman year at Michigan ... Chose UMass Lowell because the "prestigious hockey and academic program felt like the right fit for my future goals. I'm excited for the opportunity to contribute to the UMass Lowell ice hockey team as I pursue my Master of Science in Finance graduate degree." ... Hopes to play professional hockey for as long as he can after UMass Lowell and then do something in the field of finance or economics.
