(Photo courtesy of the UMass Lowell Athletics/Rich Gagnon) “UMass Lowell River Hawks taking off their helmets for the Pledge of Allegiance before a game last season.”
Jason Cooke
Connector Editor
After a long offseason, the UMass Lowell men’s hockey team is back on Tsongas Center ice on Oct. 3 to kick off what is set to be an exciting season for the River Hawks.
The River Hawks are primed to look a lot different this year, with 15 new players rostered on head coach Norm Bazin’s team when they battle Hockey East opponent Merrimack on opening night in just a few weeks.
In the recently announced Hockey East Preseason Poll, the River Hawks are predicted to finish tied for seventh in the competitive conference. Receiving 40 points in the poll, which is tied with Northeastern. In first place is Boston University (105 points).
UMass Lowell is rebounding from a 16-16-4 season that once had the River Hawks ranked highly in many college hockey polls. However, the team limped to the finish line of the season with a 3-2-11 record in its last 16 games ahead of the conference tournament, where UMass Lowell routed UNH in overtime before falling to Maine.
Nonetheless, the campaign was certainly a strong rebound from an eight-win season the year prior. Before the puck drops on a new campaign, here are some home games to watch on the 2025-26 slate:
Oct. 3 vs Merrimack
UMass Lowell jumps right into Hockey East play to start the season with a home-and-home series with Merrimack. After hosting the Warriors on Oct. 3, the River Hawks will travel to North Andover on Oct. 10 to battle Merrimack on the road.
Before dueling a pair of non-conference teams, it will be pivotal to pick up Hockey East points in the early goings of the season against a Warriors team that struggled last season, finishing with a 13-21-1 record.
Oct. 17-18 vs Western Michigan
After getting its feet wet against Merrimack, it gets real for UMass Lowell. In what should draw large crowds to the Tsongas Center, the River Hawks are set to host the defending national champions in Western Michigan for a two-game slate.
The Broncos downed familiar foe, Boston University, in the national championship game to hoist the trophy. The series will undoubtedly throw a big test at UMass Lowell early in the season.
Dec. 5 vs Boston College
The last time the Eagles visited the Tsongas Center for a Friday night clash in December, the River Hawks played spoiler, downing Ryan Leonard and co. in a shootout. While the decision went down as a tie, it was surely a big confidence boost for a Lowell squad looking to identify itself as a top national talent.
This year’s matchup will be no different. And it will also draw attention from Bruins fans, with first-round draft choices James Hagens and Dean Letourneau, among other Bruins prospects, hitting the ice in Lowell for the Eagles.
January 23-24, University of Maine
While the River Hawks don’t return a ton of players from last year’s season, the 7-1 defeat suffered at the hands of the Black Bears in the Hockey East tournament is very likely still fresh in their minds.
Maine, which is always a tough out, will bring its fast and structured style of hockey to Lowell at the end of January for a two-game set on home ice.
March 7 vs Boston University
The regular season finale will be one to keep an eye on. And it comes against a formidable opponent. UMass Lowell could very well be playing for its postseason position at this point in time, making the late-season clash with the Terriers one that should yield a lot of anticipation before the conference tournament.
In two games against Boston University last season, UMass Lowell went 1-1.
With a brutal slate of Hockey East on the way, the River Hawks will look to get a foothold on the league early. If they can stay healthy and play as a team throughout the season, playoff hockey will be their reward when the calendar flips to March.
