LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Ice Hockey Head Coach Norm Bazin announced his leadership core for the 2025-26 season on Monday. Graduate student Jay Ahearn (Staten Island, N.Y.) was named captain of the River Hawk squad for the upcoming campaign, while senior Dillan Bentley (Peoria, Ill.), senior TJ Schweighardt (Manahawkin, N.J.) and junior Jak Vaarwerk (Clarence, N.Y.) will serve as alternate captains.
"It's my pleasure to announce our leadership core for this upcoming 2025-26 season," said Bazin. "This group compliments each other very well and it's exciting to finally see it come together heading into our first game week. Our young team will be leaning on their experience early to navigate our challenging schedule."
Heading into his first season as a River Hawk, Ahearn is no stranger to holding a leadership position as a two-time team captain at Niagara. The forward made 87 appearances in three seasons for the Purple Eagles, scoring 82 points off 36 goals and 46 assists. Now pursuing his MBA in the Manning School of Business, he logged a personal-best 39 points (19g, 20a) during his senior season.
Bentley has appeared in 88 games through his first three seasons in Lowell, compiling 15 goals and 18 assists for 33 total points. He is tied as the team's top returning scorer after logging a career-high nine goals last season. Off the ice, the forward is an education and psychology major.
Schweighardt, a staple on the River Hawks' defense, enters his fourth year being a part of the UMass Lowell hockey program. He has seen action in 87 games for the River Hawks, totaling 114 blocked shots, and 16 points (2g, 14a). He posted a personal-best 10 assists, while appearing in all 36 games during his junior season. Outside the rink, the defenseman is a business major.
Vaarwerk steps into the role of alternate captain for the hockey program after playing in 72 games over his first two seasons with the River Hawks. He has registered 31 career points (10g, 21a) with a .502 faceoff percentage. Currently pursuing his bachelor's degree, the forward is a business major.
