Cam Ellsworth enters his seventh season on the UMass Lowell hockey staff and his first season as Associate Head Coach of the River Hawks. He spent the previous six seasons as an assistant coach on Norm Bazin's staff. One of the program's primary recruiters, he is also responsible for coaching the River Hawk defensemen and goaltenders.
Ellsworth has coached three UMass Lowell goaltenders to Hockey East All-Star status; including, two-time Hockey East Tournament MVP Connor Hellebuyck, Hockey East Player of the Year Kevin Boyle and Doug Carr. Hellebuyck's .946 career save percentage is a NCAA Div. I record. He is the current starting goalie for the NHL's Winnipeg Jets.
The River Hawks have been a very strong defensive team during Ellsworth's time, as the River Hawks led the nation in scoring defense in 2013-2014 (1.88 gapg) and finished in the top five in two other seasons (15-16: 1.88) and (12-13: 2.02).
In his first season (2011-12) overseeing the goaltenders, UMass Lowell increased its team save percentage from .896 to .917 and lowered its GAA from 3.95 to 2.43. His second season saw an even greater improvement, with an overall .938 save percentage and 1.85 GAA.
Ellsworth joined the River Hawks after three seasons (2008-2011) as an assistant coach with the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League. He also adds eight seasons of professional and collegiate experience as a goaltender for Michigan Technological University and several teams in the ECHL.
While coaching the Musketeers, Ellsworth assisted in all facets of recruiting, including scheduling the trips, player identification and calls. He also coordinated the team’s video analysis and travel itineraries.
Over the last three seasons, Ellsworth has recruited or coached 10 players drafted by the NHL and another 43 who committed to Division I hockey programs. Among the players he coached were former Merrimack College standout Stephane Da Costa and current UMass Lowell sophomore Joe Caveney (Fitchburg, Mass.), who both skated with Sioux City in 2008-09.
Prior to entering the realm of coaching, Ellsworth played for four teams over four seasons in the ECHL: Augusta Lynx, Greenville Grrrowl, Pensacola Ice Pilots and Stockton Thunder.
His best professional season came in 2006-07, backstopping the Thunder to its first playoff appearance in franchise history with 14-13-3 record, 2.62 goals against average and .907 save percentage.
Ellsworth graduated cum laude from Michigan Tech with a B.S. in Business Administration in 2005. A four-year letter winner with the Huskies from 2001-05, where he ranks as the program’s all-time leader in games played (117) and saves (3,510).
He graduated in May 2017 from UMass Lowel with a master's degree in Business with a concentration in managerial leadership.
A native of Leamington, Ont., Ellsworth has been married for 12 years to his wife Julie and reside in Bedford, N.H with their son Asher.
