Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff
Don't look now, but the surprising UMass-Lowell River Hawks have climbed all the way to #14 in the latest college hockey poll.
Blaise MacDonald’s squad moves up six spots from #20 after beating Cornell and Maine to capture the Florida College Classic tournament before the New Year. The tournament title is UML’s first since taking home the Minnesota Duluth Silverado Shootout back in January of 1999.
The River Hawks have now won five games in a row, seven of eight, and sit just one point out of first place in Hockey East with a 4-4-4 record (12 points). The Hawks are 9-4-4 overall, their fifth best start through 17 games since becoming a Division I program (1983-84). The hot streak can be traced back to the end of last season when Lowell finished 5-2-2 over the last nine games.
UML is also 6-1-1 at the Tsongas Arena this season, a record that bodes well for the season’s second half. Eleven of Lowell’s final 17 regular season games…11 of the next 13…are at home.
What do you think gang...the River Hawks for real?
Comments (1)
Good, young team that just keeps playing better as the year goes on. As long as they can do okay vs Boston College (3 games left with the Eagles), Maine (3 games left and always used to have trouble with them- although HUGE win over them in Florida it's not the same as beating them in Orono), Northeastern (2 games left and always play UML tough), and Providence (2 games left and also always play UML tough) I think they'll be okay and perhaps secure home ice for the Hockey East playoffs.
Great to see guys like Maniff, Holmstrom, et al up front keep improving and that young defense is very good both in their own end and they have a great power play QB in Maury Edwards.
Goaltending has been more than solid from both Hutton and Hamilton which is huge as the year goes on to be able to alternate goalies during the home-and-home weekends and feel like you have essentially 2 #1 goalies.
Looking forward to the game vs Providence on the 12th (note that UML changed the start time to 4PM!)
Posted by Dana Boisvert | January 3, 2008 9:56 AM
Posted on January 3, 2008 09:56