Trevor Cullen
Connector Editor
A good weekend for River Hawk athletics was capped off Saturday night when the UMass Lowell men’s hockey team won their second game in two nights against Merrimack, earning four vital Hockey East points.
“I thought we got contributions throughout our lineup tonight with several key goals and solid goaltending. We had a lot of things to be pleased with,” Head Coach Norm Bazin said to goriverhawks.com. “I thought our net front sticks were exceptional, that and the shot blocks were two things that stand out in my mind as far as team defense goes.”
Friday night, the River Hawks played host to the Merrimack Warriors, and enjoyed a balanced night of scoring which built them a lead they never relinquished. Derek Arnold and Joe Houk each registered a goal and an assist, while goaltender Connor Hellebuyk finished the evening with 23 saves.
Joe Gambardella and Evan Campbell rounded out the scoring effort for the River Hawks, who rallied from a 2-2 tie in the second period to win by a final score of 4-2.
Saturday night saw the teams switch venues, with the River Hawks making the short trip to Merrimack’s home ice in North Andover at the Lawler Arena. While their offense did not drop a beat, it was the River Hawks’ goaltending that highlighted the night.
Hellebuyck stopped 33 shots en route to his ninth career shutout in his second start in as many nights. He is just one shutout away from the UMass Lowell career record of 10, set by Carter Hutton, who now plays with the NHL’s Nashville Predators.
Adam Chapie, a familiar name on the scoring sheet, got the River Hawks offense started on a first period penalty shot, which he rang off the post and in. That is all the River Hawks would need, but they did not let up, which resulted in three more goals.
Shayne Thompson made it a 2-0 game just 40 seconds into the second period, and freshman Chris Maniccia tallied another goal later in the second frame. Campbell finished UMass Lowell’s scoring in the third period with his third goal in the last three games.
The River Hawks will visit the Agganis Arena on Friday to play Boston University.
