A Good First Month of Hockey for UMass Lowell

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The first month of the college hockey season was a good one for the UMass Lowell River Hawks. Granted, we are talking about a five-game sample size. But the team is already showing signs of improvement from a year ago. The 4-1, 1-0 record is a start, and so is the national ranking of #19 in the country. The four wins put them halfway toward their win total for all of last year. The overall skill level of this team is better than last year and so is the on-ice decision-making. Again, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, but there are signs that this could be a solid year for the River Hawks.

A look at some of the early season numbers also shows some promise. Special teams have been a major part of the first month’s success. The River Hawks’ power play has been a bright spot scoring seven goals on 16 chances for a percentage rate of 43.8. That mark is the best in all of college hockey. Their penalty-killing has also been sharp allowing only two goals on 15 attempts (86.7%). They have one short-handed goal to their credit. On even strength, the team has 10 goals in five games while allowing eight. Senior centerman Owen Cole has 3G, and 4A for 7 points. Last Saturday night in the conference opener, Cole had a four-point night with a goal and three assists. That performance earned him Co-Player of the Week in Hockey East. Two of his three goals have come on the power play. Through the first five games, Cole is a +4.

UMass Lowell is getting a big contribution from freshman Chris Delaney. The winger from Hopkinton, MA. already has four goals and two assists for six points, and a +3. One of those goals came on the power play. His speed on the outside has been a welcome addition to the River Hawks attack. Saturday night at Lawler Arena vs Merrimack, Delaney had a two-point night with a goal and an assist.

On the blue line, the River Hawks are getting solid play from grad senior Ben Meeham. The defenesmen from Walpole, MA. spent most of last year rehabbing from an injury. He did return late in the year but had little effect on the team. Fully healthy, Meeham has shown flashes of why he was chosen in the fifth round (#140 overall) by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2020 NHL Draft. He is at a +2 with a goal and five assists so far. He is part of a defensive core that has blocked 51 shots through five games.

If this team is doing anything this season, then Henry Welsch will have to be good between the pipes. He has played the last four games in a row, all wins, and has posted a 1.75 GAA and a .918 save percentage. He too suffered through an injury-plagued season a year ago. But he is back and has reclaimed the #1 goalie status. In the four wins, Welsch has allowed seven goals.

The schedule for the month of November is a bit more challenging than October. They will start with a road game at Holy Cross on Friday night. From there, a home and home with the #3 team in the country the Boston University Terriers. They then head to Burlington, Vt. for a weekend with the Catamounts. UMass Lowell comes home to face UConn on the 22nd and 23rd of November before they finish the month at the Adirondack Winter Invitational facing St. Lawrence and Clarkson University on Thanksgiving weekend in Lake Placid, NY.

While it is still early in the season, there are plenty of good signs for the UMass Lowell River Hawks.