River Hawks Gather for 26th Annual Hockey Golf Tournament
7/23/2026 11:55:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell ice hockey alumni, coaches, current players, staff and friends of the program gathered at Four Oaks Country Club in Dracut on Friday, July 17, 2026, for the 26th annual River Hawk Hockey Golf Tournament. The annual event once again brought together generations of River Hawks for a day of camaraderie, competition and support of the men's hockey program.
The tournament featured 18 holes in a scramble format with a shotgun start, followed by lunch, raffles and remarks from Head Coach Norm Bazin and university representatives. As it has for more than two decades, the event served as an opportunity for alumni and supporters to reconnect while helping strengthen the future of the program.
For many former players, the tournament is about more than golf. It is a chance to return to a place that played a defining role in their lives and reconnect with teammates and friends who remain part of the River Hawk family.
"The program going from an outdoor arena and then to the Tsongas Center, the gradual progression of getting bigger and better, eventually, as you leave, you want to stay involved," said hockey alum Paul King, one of the program's original players.
That sense of connection was evident throughout the day, as alumni from multiple eras of River Hawk hockey shared stories and reflected on the impact the program continues to have long after graduation.
"I loved every minute of my four years here," said former captain Ben Holmstrom ('10). "Norm has done a great job connecting alumni. He's reached all different groups, from the guys that he played with, to the current kids and everywhere in between. That's the cool part about being here today is getting to see a bunch of guys that you are connected with."
The annual outing has become one of the program's signature events, bringing together former players from across the country and reinforcing the bonds that make River Hawk hockey unique.
"It was probably the best four years of my life," said former captain AJ White ('16). "It prepared me, one for pro hockey but also life after hockey. I'm forever grateful for it and I'm going to make any kind of time of the day for a place like Lowell in my life."
With another successful tournament in the books, the day served as a reminder of the lasting relationships and shared experiences that unite generations of River Hawks.
While the annual outing celebrated the program's rich history, it also provided an opportunity to look ahead. Attention now turns to the upcoming 2026-27 season, as the River Hawks open the campaign on October 9-10 against Clarkson and St. Lawrence at the Tsongas Center.
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The tournament featured 18 holes in a scramble format with a shotgun start, followed by lunch, raffles and remarks from Head Coach Norm Bazin and university representatives. As it has for more than two decades, the event served as an opportunity for alumni and supporters to reconnect while helping strengthen the future of the program.
For many former players, the tournament is about more than golf. It is a chance to return to a place that played a defining role in their lives and reconnect with teammates and friends who remain part of the River Hawk family.
"The program going from an outdoor arena and then to the Tsongas Center, the gradual progression of getting bigger and better, eventually, as you leave, you want to stay involved," said hockey alum Paul King, one of the program's original players.
That sense of connection was evident throughout the day, as alumni from multiple eras of River Hawk hockey shared stories and reflected on the impact the program continues to have long after graduation.
"I loved every minute of my four years here," said former captain Ben Holmstrom ('10). "Norm has done a great job connecting alumni. He's reached all different groups, from the guys that he played with, to the current kids and everywhere in between. That's the cool part about being here today is getting to see a bunch of guys that you are connected with."
The annual outing has become one of the program's signature events, bringing together former players from across the country and reinforcing the bonds that make River Hawk hockey unique.
"It was probably the best four years of my life," said former captain AJ White ('16). "It prepared me, one for pro hockey but also life after hockey. I'm forever grateful for it and I'm going to make any kind of time of the day for a place like Lowell in my life."
With another successful tournament in the books, the day served as a reminder of the lasting relationships and shared experiences that unite generations of River Hawks.
While the annual outing celebrated the program's rich history, it also provided an opportunity to look ahead. Attention now turns to the upcoming 2026-27 season, as the River Hawks open the campaign on October 9-10 against Clarkson and St. Lawrence at the Tsongas Center.
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