Providence Blanks UMass Lowell 3-0 Behind Parsons’ Shutout in Hockey East Opener

The UMass Lowell River Hawks began Hockey East play on Friday night vs. the Providence College Friars at the Tsongas Center. For the third straight season, the River Hawks have begun play with an under-.500 record. UML is 15-23-1 vs. the Friars; the 23 losses are the most in the Norm Bazin era. The Friars have swept the series 11 times, while the River Hawks have done it once. With this being the home opener for the River Hawks, their record in such games is 17-20-5, including 6-6-3 with Norm Bazin behind the bench. These two teams enjoy playing close games: fourteen of the last 23 games have been decided by one goal, with UML going 6-7-1 in those games.

Starting goalies for Friday night were Jack Parsons for Providence (2-0-0, 1.90 GAA, .966 SV%, one shutout) and Austin Elliott for the River Hawks (1-2-0, 3.37 GAA, .897 SV%). The Friars struck first off an offensive zone faceoff, with Thomas Machu scoring his first of the season at 3:08 on a blast off the left point following a faceoff win by Aleksi Kivioja. The other assist went to Tanner Adams for a 1-0 Providence lead. Through the first 12 minutes, the River Hawks offense had a hard time generating shots on goal—with only one up to that point. Each team had a power play in the period, but neither scored. The River Hawks got a second power play that carried over into the second period. Shots in the first period were 12-5 in favor of Providence.

The Friars took care of the carryover penalty to start the second period, leaving the River Hawks 0-for-2. The River Hawks, for the most part, controlled play in the second period. Providence also had a power play in the second, but failed to score, moving to 0-for-2. Toward the end of the period, the River Hawks got another PP chance; once again, they failed to convert and fell to 0-for-3. The period ended with the Friars up 1-0. Shots in the second period were 22-12 in favor of UML, bringing the total through two periods to 24-23 Providence.

When trailing after two, the River Hawks were 0-2-0, while the Friars were 2-0-0 when leading after two. Providence added to their total off a broken play when Jonathan Fauchon scored his third of the year. He collected a loose puck inside the UML blue line, walked in, and fired a wrist shot past Elliott (36 saves on 39 shots). Assists on the goal went to Julius Sumpf and Thomas Machu (a 2-point night: 1G, 1A) at 4:20 to make it 2-0 Friars.

The UMass Lowell River Hawks began Hockey East play on Friday night vs. the Providence College Friars at the Tsongas Center. For the third straight season, the River Hawks have begun play with an under-.500 record. UML is 15-23-1 vs. the Friars; the 23 losses are the most in the Norm Bazin era. The Friars have swept the series 11 times, while the River Hawks have done it once. With this being the home opener for the River Hawks, their record in such games is 17-20-5, including 6-6-3 with Norm Bazin behind the bench. These two teams enjoy playing close games: fourteen of the last 23 games have been decided by one goal, with UML going 6-7-1 in those games.

Starting goalies for Friday night were Jack Parsons for Providence (2-0-0, 1.90 GAA, .966 SV%, one shutout) and Austin Elliott for the River Hawks (1-2-0, 3.37 GAA, .897 SV%). The Friars struck first off an offensive zone faceoff, with Thomas Machu scoring his first of the season at 3:08 on a blast off the left point following a faceoff win by Aleksi Kivioja. The other assist went to Tanner Adams for a 1-0 Providence lead. Through the first 12 minutes, the River Hawks offense had a hard time generating shots on goal—with only one up to that point. Each team had a power play in the period, but neither scored. The River Hawks got a second power play that carried over into the second period. Shots in the first period were 12-5 in favor of Providence.

The Friars took care of the carryover penalty to start the second period, leaving the River Hawks 0-for-2. The River Hawks, for the most part, controlled play in the second period. Providence also had a power play in the second, but failed to score, moving to 0-for-2. Toward the end of the period, the River Hawks got another PP chance; once again, they failed to convert and fell to 0-for-3. The period ended with the Friars up 1-0. Shots in the second period were 22-12 in favor of UML, bringing the total through two periods to 24-23 Providence.

When trailing after two, the River Hawks were 0-2-0, while the Friars were 2-0-0 when leading after two. Providence added to their total off a broken play when Jonathan Fauchon scored his third of the year. He collected a loose puck inside the UML blue line, walked in, and fired a wrist shot past Elliott (36 saves on 39 shots). Assists on the goal went to Julius Sumpf and Thomas Machu (a 2-point night: 1G, 1A) at 4:20 to make it 2-0 Friars.
The best chance for UML came right after that during a 4-on-4. Off a 2-on-1, Kuzma Voronin took a pass from left to right, only to be stopped on the forehand by Jack Parsons (30 saves on 30 shots, his second shutout of the year). The Friars then made it 3-0 off a scramble in front of the UML net, where Aleksi Kivioja scored PC’s third goal of the night—his first of the season—assisted by Cade Christenson and Jonathan Fauchon (2-point night: 1G, 1A) at 10:43.

Not our night. Game two on the road tomorrow ⏩

🔗: https://t.co/y8Pct4bPwb

#UnitedInBlue | #HockeyEast https://t.co/jvMID9JOq3

— UMass Lowell Hockey (@RiverHawkHockey) October 24, 2026

With 7:04 left in the game (12:56 mark of the period), River Hawks defenseman Josh Mori was assessed a 5-minute major and a game misconduct. While the Friars did not score on the power play, plenty of time ticked off the clock. Tsongas won 3-0. Third-period shots were 11-6 for the Friars, making it 39-30 for Providence for the game.

After the game, Friars head coach Nate Leaman called it a “good, solid road win.” With his team now 3-0-0 when leading after two, the coach liked that his team did two things: got pucks to the net and finished what they started. River Hawks coach Bazin thought his team played one good period (the second) and two periods (the first and third) that could have been better. He stated that his team has a lot of things to correct heading into Saturday night’s game, which will be played in Providence.

The best chance for UML came right after that during a 4-on-4. Off a 2-on-1, Kuzma Voronin took a pass from left to right, only to be stopped on the forehand by Jack Parsons (30 saves on 30 shots, his second shutout of the year). The Friars then made it 3-0 off a scramble in front of the UML net, where Aleksi Kivioja scored PC’s third goal of the night—his first of the season—assisted by Cade Christenson and Jonathan Fauchon (2-point night: 1G, 1A) at 10:43.

With 7:04 left in the game (12:56 mark of the period), River Hawks defenseman Josh Mori was assessed a 5-minute major and a game misconduct. While the Friars did not score on the power play, plenty of time ticked off the clock. Tsongas won 3-0. Third-period shots were 11-6 for the Friars, making it 39-30 for Providence in the game.

After the game, Friars head coach Nate Leaman called it a “good, solid road win.” With his team now 3-0-0 when leading after two, the coach liked that his team did two things: got pucks to the net and finished what they started. River Hawks coach Bazin thought his team played one good period (the second) and two periods (the first and third) that could have been better. He stated that his team has a lot of things to correct heading into Saturday night’s game, which will be played in Providence.