2022–23 UMass Lowell River Hawks men's ice hockey season
The 2022–23 UMass Lowell River Hawks Men's ice hockey season was the 56th season of play for the program, the 40th competing at the Division I level and 39th in Hockey East . The River Hawks represented the University of Massachusetts Lowell in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season , were coached by Norm Bazin in his 12th season and played their home games at Tsongas Center .
Season
Despite a great deal of roster turnover, the River Hawks were expected to compete for the NCAA tournament. While the loss of starter Owen Savory would be difficult to overcome, the addition of grad transfer Gustavs Dāvis Grigals was expected to soften the blow. Grigals did perform well for Lowell while understudy Henry Welsch also shone when given the chance. Unfortunately, the Hawk's offense, which had only been average last year, worsened when the scoring of Andre Lee and Lucas Condotta could not be fully replaced.
Lowell hovered around the .500 mark for most of the season but stayed on the positive side the entire time. Early on, that served the team well as Hockey East sat high in the rankings. Even with just an okay record of 10–6–1, Lowell was above the cutoff line for the NCAA tournament when they stopped for the winter break. The team's chances was dealt a heavy blow upon their return to the ice when they were swept at home by Alaska Anchorage , a team that was playing its first hockey in nearly three years. Lowell dropped 13 places in the rankings, settling in the high-20s and needed a strong second half to recover. They started out well, going 5–1 in their next six games but the River Hawks slumped in the later portion of the season, winning just 2 out of their final 9 matches. To make matters worse, seemingly the entire conference fell apart in the second half of the year and Lowell received less credit for their wins as time went on.
By the end of the regular season, Lowell was sitting well outside of the NCAA bubble and would likely need to win the Hockey East championship to make an appearance. While the team was fortunate enough to receive a bye into the conference quarterfinals, they still had to travel for their match. The River Hawks met Connecticut , who were also fighting for their postseason lives, and the team had a tall task to reach the semifinals. Luckily, Lowell got off to a good start and scored twice in the first period. Carrying a 2–0 lead into the second, the Hawks played defense the rest of the game, only getting 5 shots on goal, but the maneuver worked and UMass Lowell escaped with a 2–1 win. In the next round, Merrimack too had to win to keep their season alive and Warriors showed great desperation early in the game. Merrimack outshot Lowell 22–7 in the first 40 minutes but, thanks to a stellar effort from Grigals, neither team was able to score. The Warriors finally broke through with about 10 minutes to play and caused Lowell to throw caution to the wind and begin their own attack. The River Hawk offense finally showed some life and were able to get the tying goal with just 31 second left in regulation. Lowell continued to get their chances once overtime began but could not beat Zachary Borgiel. In third minutes of extra hockey, UML outshot Merrimack 19–12 but it was the Warriors who managed to nab the game-winner and Lowell would have to wait for another year.[ 1]
Departures
Recruiting
Player
Position
Nationality
Age
Notes
Mitchell Becker
Defenseman
United States 21
Rogers, MN
Dillan Bentley
Forward
United States 21
Peoria, IL
Jack Collins
Forward
United States 20
Canton, NY
Mark Cooper
Defenseman
Canada 21
Dunnville, ON
Filip Fornåå Svensson
Forward
Sweden 23
Linköping, SWE ; transfer from Alaska
Owen Fowler
Forward
United States 20
Tewksbury, MA
Gustavs Dāvis Grigals
Goaltender
Latvia 24
Riga, LAT ; graduate transfer from Alaska
Nick Rhéaume
Forward
Canada 20
Sherbrooke, QC
T. J. Schweighardt
Defenseman
United States 21
Wayne, NJ
Jake Stella
Forward
Sweden 23
Karlstad, SWE ; transfer from American International
Roc Truman
Forward
Canada 21
Lethbridge, AB
Scout Truman
Forward
Canada 19
Lethbridge, AB
Roster
As of September 14, 2022.[ 2]
No. S/P/C
Player
Class
Pos
Height
Weight
DoB
Hometown
Previous team
NHL rights
1
Edvard Nordlund Sophomore
G 6' 2" (1.88 m)
176 lb (80 kg)
2001-07-12
Nacka, Sweden Danbury (NAHL —
2
Mitchell Becker Freshman
D 6' 3" (1.91 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
2001-05-24
Rogers, Minnesota New Mexico (NAHL —
4
T. J. Schweighardt Freshman
D 5' 10" (1.78 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
2001-03-15
Wayne, New Jersey Youngstown (USHL —
5
Owen Cole Sophomore
F 5' 10" (1.78 m)
173 lb (78 kg)
2000-01-29
Dunnville, Ontario Brooks (AJHL —
6
Isac Jonsson Sophomore
D 5' 10" (1.78 m)
173 lb (78 kg)
2000-10-08
Ängelholm, Sweden Tri-City (USHL —
7
Mark Cooper Freshman
D 5' 10" (1.78 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
2001-03-01
Cambridge, Ontario Hawkesbury (CCHL —
8
Nik Armstrong-Kingkade Junior
F 5' 9" (1.75 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1999-05-01
Mannheim, Germany Minot (NAHL —
9
Jack Collins Freshman
F 6' 4" (1.93 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
2001-11-13
Canton, New York Lone Star (NAHL —
10
Brehdan Engum Junior
D 6' 2" (1.88 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
2000-08-10
Burnsville, Minnesota Waterloo (USHL —
11
Jon McDonald C Graduate
D 6' 0" (1.83 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1998-06-15
Livonia, Michigan Fargo (USHL —
12
Roc Truman Freshman
F 6' 0" (1.83 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
2001-04-25
Lethbridge, Alberta Camrose (AJHL —
13
Filip Fornåå Svensson Graduate
F 6' 4" (1.93 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1999-01-05
Linköping, Sweden Alaska (NCAA )—
14
Ben Meehan Junior
D 6' 0" (1.83 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
2001-04-20
Walpole, Massachusetts Cedar Rapids (USHL LAK 2020
16
Owen Fowler Freshman
F 5' 9" (1.75 m)
182 lb (83 kg)
2002-06-04
Tewksbury, Massachusetts Sioux City (USHL —
17
Marek Korenčík Senior
D 6' 3" (1.91 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1999-07-19
Žilina, Slovakia Luleå J20 (J20 SuperElit —
18
Carl Berglund C Junior
F 6' 2" (1.88 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
2000-01-16
Hammarö, Sweden Sioux Falls (USHL —
19
Dillan Bentley Freshman
F 6' 4" (1.93 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
2001-03-31
Peoria, Illinois New Mexico (NAHL —
21
Brian Chambers Senior
F 6' 1" (1.85 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1998-07-24
Weymouth, Massachusetts Sioux Falls (USHL —
22
Blake Wells A Senior
F 6' 2" (1.88 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1999-08-02
Blackie, Alberta Okotoks (AJHL —
23
Zach Kaiser A Senior
F 6' 1" (1.85 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1998-09-06
Orangeville, Ontario Sherwood Park (AJHL —
24
Scout Truman Freshman
F 5' 10" (1.78 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
2002-10-15
Lethbridge, Alberta Des Moines (USHL —
25
Matt Crasa Sophomore
F 5' 11" (1.8 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
2001-03-04
South Setauket, New York Fargo (USHL —
26
Nick Rhéaume Freshman
F 6' 2" (1.88 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
2002-05-02
Trois-Rivières, Quebec Prince George (BCHL —
27
Stefan Owens Sophomore
F 5' 10" (1.78 m)
169 lb (77 kg)
2000-04-24
Midlothian, Virginia Maine (NAHL —
28
Jake Stella Junior
F 5' 11" (1.8 m)
187 lb (85 kg)
1998-11-14
Karlstad, Sweden American International (AHA —
29
Ryan Brushett Senior
F 6' 0" (1.83 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1998-06-14
Montreal, Quebec Omaha (NCHC —
30
Gustavs Dāvis Grigals Graduate
G 6' 1" (1.85 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1998-07-22
Riga, Latvia Alaska (NCAA )—
33
Henry Welsch Junior
G 6' 2" (1.88 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
2000-11-17
Lakeville, Minnesota Aberdeen (NAHL —
77
Gabe Blanchard Sophomore
D 6' 0" (1.83 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
2000-09-15
East Aurora, New York Sioux City (USHL —
Standings
Schedule and results
Date
Time
Opponent#
Rank#
Site
TV
Decision
Result
Attendance
Record
Regular Season
October 1
6:05 PM
St. Lawrence *
#17
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts ESPN+
Grigals
W 4–0 5,580
1–0–0
October 7
7:15 PM
Miami *
#15
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts ESPN+
Welsch
L 1–3 4,225
1–1–0
October 8
6:05 PM
Miami *
#15
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts ESPN+
Grigals
W 4–2 3,593
2–1–0
October 13
7:00 PM
at Michigan State *
#16
Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, Michigan BTN+
Grigals
L 3–4 4,419
2–2–0
October 14
7:30 PM
at Michigan State *
#16
Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, Michigan BTN+
Welsch
W 3–2 5,133
3–2–0
October 22
7:00 PM
at #12 Northeastern
#19
Matthews Arena • Boston , Massachusetts NESN , ESPN+
Welsch
W 3–2 2,387
4–2–0 (1–0–0)
October 28
7:15 PM
#9 Boston University
#18
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts ESPN+
Welsch
W 2–1 5,040
5–2–0 (2–0–0)
October 29
7:00 PM
at #9 Boston University
#18
Agganis Arena • Boston , Massachusetts ESPN+
Grigals
L 1–2 OT
3,119
5–3–0 (2–1–0)
November 4
7:15 PM
Vermont
#17
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts ESPN+
Welsch
W 4–0 4,152
6–3–0 (3–1–0)
November 5
6:05 PM
Vermont
#17
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts ESPN+
Welsch
W 2–0 4,390
7–3–0 (4–1–0)
November 15
7:00 PM
at Boston College
#13
Conte Forum • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts ESPN+
Welsch
L 2–3 3,002
7–4–0 (4–2–0)
November 18
7:15 PM
#7 Connecticut
#13
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts ESPN+
Grigals
W 3–2 OT
4,806
8–4–0 (5–2–0)
November 19
3:35 PM
at #7 Connecticut
#13
XL Center • Hartford, Connecticut ESPN+
Welsch
L 2–4 3,665
8–5–0 (5–3–0)
Friendship Four
November 25
2:00 PM
vs. #17 Massachusetts *
#14
SSE Arena Belfast • Belfast , Northern Ireland (Friendship Four Semifinal)
Grigals
L 1–2 5,487
8–6–0
November 26
10:00 AM
vs. Dartmouth *
#14
SSE Arena Belfast • Belfast , Northern Ireland (Friendship Four Consolation Game)
Grigals
W 4–3 5,513
9–6–0
Regular Season
December 3
7:00 PM
at #15 Massachusetts
#16
Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts ESPN+
Grigals
T 1–1 SOW
5,579
9–6–1 (5–3–1)
December 9
7:00 PM
at Dartmouth *
#14
Thompson Arena • Hanover, New Hampshire ESPN+
Grigals
W 3–2 1,511
10–6–1
December 30
6:05 PM
Alaska Anchorage *
#13
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts ESPN+
Welsch
L 2–4 4,483
10–7–1
December 31
4:05 PM
Alaska Anchorage *
#13
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts ESPN+
Grigals
L 2–3 3,543
10–8–1
January 7
1:05 PM
at American International *
#17
MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts FloHockey
Grigals
W 4–2 449
11–8–1
January 13
7:00 PM
at Maine
#16
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine ESPN+
Grigals
W 2–1 3,150
12–8–1 (6–3–1)
January 14
7:00 PM
at Maine
#16
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine ESPN+
Grigals
L 3–5 4,039
12–9–1 (6–4–1)
January 20
7:15 PM
New Hampshire
#19
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts ESPN+
Grigals
W 6–2 6,016
13–9–1 (7–4–1)
January 21
7:00 PM
at New Hampshire
#19
Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire ESPN+
Welsch
W 3–2 4,237
14–9–1 (8–4–1)
January 27
7:15 PM
Massachusetts
#18
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts ESPN+
Grigals
W 1–0 6,339
15–9–1 (9–4–1)
February 3
7:15 PM
Boston College
#16
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts ESPN+
Grigals
T 2–2 SOW
-
15–9–2 (9–4–2)
February 4
6:05 PM
New Hampshire
#16
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts ESPN+
Grigals
L 4–5 5,252
15–10–2 (9–5–2)
February 12
2:05 PM
Maine
#17
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts ESPN+
Welsch
T 1–1 SOW
4,019
15–10–3 (9–5–3)
February 17
7:00 PM
at Providence
#18
Schneider Arena • Providence, Rhode Island ESPN+
Welsch
L 2–3 OT
2,626
15–11–3 (9–6–3)
February 18
6:05 PM
Providence
#18
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts ESPN+
Grigals
W 2–1 4,675
16–11–3 (10–6–3)
February 24
7:15 PM
#17 Merrimack
#19
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts NESN , ESPN+
Grigals
L 3–5 5,025
16–12–3 (10–7–3)
February 25
7:00 PM
at #17 Merrimack
#19
J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts ESPN+
Welsch
L 0–2 5,025
16–13–3 (10–8–3)
March 3
7:15 PM
#15 Northeastern
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts ESPN+
Grigals
W 3–1 5,394
17–13–3 (11–8–3)
March 4
7:00 PM
at #15 Northeastern
Matthews Arena • Boston , Massachusetts NESN , ESPN+
Grigals
L 3–7 2,539
17–14–3 (11–9–3)
Hockey East Tournament
March 11
4:00 PM
at #19 Connecticut *
Toscano Family Ice Forum • Storrs, Connecticut (Quarterfinal)NESN+ , ESPN+
Grigals
W 2–1 2,691
18–14–3
March 11
7:30 PM
vs. #14 Merrimack *
#20
TD Garden • Boston, Massachusetts (Semifinal)NESN , ESPN+
Grigals
L 1–2 2OT
13,187
18–15–3
*Non-conference game. # Rankings from USCHO.com Poll . All times are in Eastern Time . [ 3]
Scoring statistics
Name
Position
Games
Goals
Assists
Points
PIM
Carl Berglund C 36
12
15
27 12
Jonathan McDonald D 35
3
17
20 14
Brian Chambers RW 28
8
11
19 12
Isac Jonsson D 34
5
12
17 6
Ben Meehan D 34
4
13
17 43
Zach Kaiser C /LW 30
8
8
16 10
Scout Truman LW 34
8
6
14 10
Owen Cole C 33
6
8
14 6
Jake Stella LW 36
4
9
13 4
Filip Fornåå Svensson C /RW 28
6
6
12 12
Owen Fowler LW 33
5
7
12 18
Matthew Crasa C /RW 31
2
8
10 16
Ryan Brushett C 24
1
9
10 12
Marek Korenčík D 36
3
5
8 32
Dillan Bentley F 22
2
3
5 4
Gabriel Blanchard D 34
2
3
5 29
Brehdan Engum D 36
1
4
5 14
Nick Rhéaume C /LW 27
3
1
4 2
Blake Wells F 22
2
1
3 6
Mitchell Becker D 21
1
2
3 8
Stefan Owens F 26
2
0
2 2
T. J. Schweighardt D 18
1
1
2 2
Jack Collins F 12
0
1
1 19
Edvard Nordlund G 1
0
0
0 0
Mark Cooper D 2
0
0
0 0
Nik Armstrong-Kingkade F 0
0
0 0
Henry Welsch G 16
0
0
0 0
Gustavs Dāvis Grigals G 24
0
0
0 0
Total
89
150
239
281
[ 4]
Goaltending statistics
Name
Games
Minutes
Wins
Losses
Ties
Goals Against
Saves
Shut Outs
SV % GAA
Gustavs Dāvis Grigals 24
1406:28
12
9
2
48
586
2
.924
2.05
Henry Welsch 16
774:07
6
6
1
29
318
2
.916
2.25
Edvard Nordlund 1
20:00
0
0
0
2
4
0
.667
6.00
Empty Net
-
20:14
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
Total
36
2220:49
18
15
3
82
908
4
.917
2.22
Rankings
Poll
Week
Pre
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27 (Final)
USCHO.com
17
-
15
16
19
18
17
16
13
14
16
14
13
-
17
16
19
18
16
17
18
19
NR
NR
20
NR
-
NR
USA Today
16
16
15
16
20
18
17
16
14
13
16
15
13
13
19
20
20
19
15
20
19
20
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in weeks 1, 13, or 26. [ 5]
Awards and honors
References
^ "FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2023" . College Hockey Inc . March 17, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023 .^ "2022–23 Men's Ice Hockey Roster" . UMass Lowell River Hawks. Retrieved August 17, 2017 .^ "2022-23 Men's Ice Hockey Schedule" . UMass Lowell River Hawks . Retrieved August 28, 2022 .^ "UMass-Lowell 2022-2023 Skater Stats" . Elite Prospects . Retrieved July 2, 2020 .^ "USCHO Division I Men's Poll" . USCHO.com . Retrieved November 26, 2019 .^ "HOCKEY EAST NAMES 2022-23 MEN'S ALL-STAR TEAMS" . Hockey East . March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023 .
