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Champions again!

River Hawks claim second consecutive Hockey East title with win over UNH

The UMass Lowell hockey team took home their second Hockey East tournament championship in as many years over the weekend after making easy work of Notre Dame in the semis and New Hampshire in the final at the TD Garden in Boston.

Both games ended 4-0 in favor of the River Hawks. “It’s huge for the program,” said senior Joseph Pendenza. “It’s tough to explain how it’s been, and how it feels right now.”
Sophomore goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was perfect in both games, turning away all 65 shots (35 from the Fighting Irish, 30 from the Wildcats) sent his way over the weekend. In four career Hockey East tournament games, the Commerce, Michigan native has allowed just a single goal and has been untouchable in two finals.“It’s more of the guys in front of me,” Hellebuyck said. “It’s playoff hockey, and we only play at the Garden for playoff hockey. That brings out the best in the guys in front of me. As you saw tonight, they blocked shots, they did everything, so it’s really on them.”

A.J. White led the way offensively for Lowell, picking up four points (one goal, three assists) between the two contests, including the game winner in the championship game. “We’ve had a lot of chances the last few weekends. Our game style is to get [the puck] low and grind it out, and try to score some ugly goals.” Blueliner Christian Folin also shined through at the Garden, notching a goal and two assists – including a game winning goal in the semi-final – while Pendenza tallied four assists. On the outside looking in in the national rankings, the University of New Hampshire needed a conference tournament victory to keep their season alive. The River Hawks have now ended the Wilcats’ year two seasons in a row after downing them at the 2013 Northeast Regional in Manchester. Lowell now heads to the NCAA tournament for the third consecutive year and will take on the Minnesota State Mavericks at the Northeast Regional in Worcester. The River Hawks swept the Mavericks in Mankato two seasons ago, returning the favor from the previous year in Lowell. That contest is slated for Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Also in UMass Lowell’s bracket will be the University of Denver as well as Hockey East foe Boston College. Three other Hockey East clubs will join Lowell and BC in the NCAAs, including Providence and conference tournament foes Notre Dame and Vermont. Lowell upended the Catamounts two times in a best of three series en route to the Garden.