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An end and a beginning: Alumni update of two UMass Lowell stars

Connor Hellebuyck played for the River Hawks from 2012-2014 and helped UMass Lowell earn back-to-back Hockey East titles and a trip to the Frozen Four. (Courtesy photo)

Hannah Manning
Connector Staff

As one former River Hawk’s career gains momentum, another has come to an end.

On Sept. 30, Connor Hellebuyck, who played for the River Hawks from 2012 to 2014, was sent to the Manitoba Moose, the Winnipeg Jets’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. This came after a 28-22-5 rookie season with the St. John’s IceCaps, the Jets’ former AHL affiliate, and a spot on the AHL Eastern Conference All-Star Team as the starting goaltender.

Hellebuyck played a crucial role in backstopping Team USA to a bronze medal in the 2015 IIHF World Championships. The seven wins he accumulated matched a Team USA record set in 1939 for most wins in a single tournament. His stellar goaltending earned him the honor of being named the top NHL goaltending prospect by InGoal magazine, ahead of Bruins prospects Malcolm Subban (Providence Bruins) and Zane McIntyre (University of North Dakota).

Hellebuyck may even outdo himself this season. During the NHL offseason there was much talk as to whether he would crack the Jets roster as backup goaltender to Ondrej Pavelec. His incredible 2014-2015 season certainly opened many eyes to UMass Lowell’s former superstar. It seems, however, that Jets management is content to continue his development.

Luckily for Hellebuyck, the Manitoba Moose are also based in Winnipeg, so if either Pavelec or Mike Hutchison are struggling, the NHL is only a short drive away; all Hellebuyck needs to do is capitalize on his visibility and continue the good work to get the call up. Only time will tell if he will see NHL ice this season.

Bobby Robins (2002-2006) announced his retirement from professional hockey over the summer. After many years of toiling in the minor leagues, a journey which took him through over 500 games from Providence to Northern Ireland, Robins finally realized his dream of playing in the NHL.

He made his debut on Oct. 8, 2014 in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. It was also in this game that he dropped the gloves for a bout against Luke Schenn. Unfortunately Robins sustained a concussion in the fight, and two games later he was sent back down to Providence, not before another fight with Michael Latta of the Washington Capitals, however.

Robins’ season in Providence was shorter than his season with the Bruins and he sat out the rest of the season until his contract with the Bruins ended on July 1. The post-concussion syndrome that he suffered changed his personality drastically, and he finally saw that something was wrong.

He decided to hang up his skates as a result of his season-ending injury, a sad end to a memoir-worthy career. Through all of it, however, Robins has remained grateful to all of his fans.

Robins is eager to go forward in his life and embark on his “new lease on life,” as he told Mark Divver of The Providence Journal. An English major   during his time at UMass Lowell and the owner of a blog at bobbyrobins.com, Robins may go forward and immortalize his career and experiences in prose. It will likely be worth picking up.

Hannah Manning

Hannah Manning is the Editor in Chief of the UMass Lowell Connector. A native of Haverhill, Mass., she is a senior working towards her bachelor's in English with a concentration in journalism and professional writing. She likes hockey, music and her fellow staff members at the Connector.

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