UMass Lowell Hosts and Beats Northeastern in Hockey East

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One of the hottest teams in Hockey East came to Tsongas Center on Friday night before a crowd of 5,426. The Northeastern Huskies (13-13-2, 6-13-0), winners of six in a row and seven of eight, were looking to keep the good times going. They had just successfully defended their Beanpot title last Monday night where they won in overtime over #3 Boston University. They were facing a UMass Lowell River Hawks (8-17-4, 4-11-3) team that was winless in their last seven games (0-5-2). They were coming off back-to-back overtime ties with Vermont last weekend.

The starting goalies for Friday night’s game were Cameron Whitehead (13-10-2, 2.69 GAA, 912%) for the Huskies and for the River Hawks, it was Henry Welsch (4-8-4, 2.39 GAA, 910%). The River Hawks were flying right off the opening faceoff. It would result in two goals for the home team in the first seven and a half minutes of the game. Nick Granowicz redirected a shot past Whitehead to give UMass Lowell a 1-0 lead. The goal was his 4th of the season. He tipped home a point shot from Jak Vaarwerk, and a second assist was given to Scout Truman.

Truman was just getting started himself. At 7:32, he scored his 6th of the season on a nifty rush. He took a short pass from Dillan Bentley off the left wing boards, cut to the middle, went in on goal, and beat Whitehead by going forehand to backhand to give the River Hawks a two-goal lead. Bentley picked up the lone assist. It has been quite a while since UMass Lowell played with a lead. Not since the Consolation game of the Desert Classic vs Harvard. UMass Lowell was playing with confidence in the period, and it showed. They outshot Northeastern by a 10-6 count.

The River Hawks had their scoring skates on for this one going on a power play that produced only two shots on goal early in the period. UMass Lowell made it 3-0 on the 2nd goal of the season by Jack Collins. who threw a wrist shot on goal from the right hash mark that beat Whitehead to the blocker side. The River Hawks were playing their best hockey in some time.

Northeastern got one back as Matt Choupani stuffed one past Welsch for his third of the year at 5:02. A cross-the-crease pass from right to left helped put the Huskies on the board. Alex Campbell also assisted on the goal. UMass Lowell made it a three-goal game again as Truman picked up his second of the night and seventh of the season at 14:03. He picked up the puck on the right side faceoff circle in the offensive zone and beat Whitehead to the blocker side again. Assists went to Granowicz and Jak Vaarwerk. That line to this point of the game had accounted for five points (2G, 3A). 4-1 UMass Lowell. They would take that lead with them to the locker room. When leading after two periods, the River Hawks are 4-3-0. The Huskies are 1-7-0 when trailing after two. Shots in the second were 12-8 in favor of the River Hawks For the game it was 23-13 UMass Lowell.

Northeastern looked to make things interesting in the third. Brett Edwards, off a pass from Billy Norcross, beat Welsch with a one-timer just inside the near side goal post. The goal was the fourth of the season for Edwards and it came at 3;02 of the period. UMass Lowell did an excellent job of playing the rest of the game with the lead. Northeastern would pull Whitehead with under two minutes remaining in the third period. It would do no good as the River Hawks defeated Northeastern 4-2. The win was just the second at home this season. The other win was back on December 16, 2023, when they beat Merrimack 3-2 in OT. The win was also the 300th in the career of head coach Norm Bazin

Coach Bazin called the 300th win “A great milestone.” He was “glad we had a good start.” The line of Truman, Vaarwerk, and Granowicz was on Friday night. They had a combined five-point night with seven shots on goal.

Northeastern head coach Jerry Keefe called it a “disappointing loss.” He thought his team was outplayed by the River Hawks for most of the night.” The Huskies will get a chance to redeem themselves on Saturday night when the two teams meet at Matthews Arena.