Shane Foley
Connector Editor
A large incoming class of freshman. The loss of several players to the NHL, including a Mike Richter award winner. Strong Hockey East competition. Three goalies battling for the starting position. A new source of leadership.
Apparently none of these things are fazing the UMass Lowell River Hawks hockey team.
“Every team can compete [in Hockey East],” said Kevin Boyle, our only returning goalie.
Boyle is currently in contention for the starting goalie job with two freshmen, Jeff Smith from Canada and Olli Kalkaja from Finland. To these guys, though, winning hockey games as a team is much more important than being one of the starting six on the ice.
“We push each other,” said Smith. “Everybody on this team should play like they want to get the starting position.”
Smith came to Lowell from a town called Maple Ridge in British Colombia. He cited Carey Price as his favorite goalie: “I think everyone in the league is trying to emulate [Price].”
One big reason why he came to the university was because he “heard it was a good business school;” the other reason was winning hockey championships. “I came here because it is a winning school,” said Smith.
With him and Kalkaja being freshmen, the only experience inside the net comes from Boyle, who played for two seasons at UMass Amherst. Boyle referred to Hellebuyck’s playing as “amazing.”
“I’m trying to embrace [the leadership position],” said Boyle.
Not only are the River Hawks unsure of whom they are starting on the ice, but they also aren’t sure of whom they’ll be facing. Hockey East perennially is one of the toughest, if not the toughest, division in NCAA hockey. However, with former Boston College players Johnny Gaudreau and Kevin Hayes leaving for the NHL, UMass Lowell doesn’t have one particular opponent they are worried about.
“We are just trying to take it team by team,” said Boyle.
This year is also an interesting new year with the large incoming class of freshmen. Jake Kamrass, brother of veteran Zach Kamrass, says they’ll be all right.
“They have a go-get-it mentality,” said Jake Kamrass.
Kamrass got a good deal this year being able to play with his brother. Other than that though, he came to UMass Lowell for the student presence on campus. “They sell out just about every game,” said Jake Kamrass.
His brother Zach is excited about this opportunity as well. “It’s kinda surreal,” said Zach Kamrass. Zach is really concentrating on playing hard on both sides of the ice. “I really am trying to emulate good two-way players,” said Kamrass. He cited Ryan McDonagh as his favorite player.
The Kamrass brothers were asked which one was the better player. They bother pointed at each other and said “him.” Clearly that’s the attitude of the entire team: next man up.