MacDonald Named Coach at UMass-Lowell

Blaise McDonald, a native of nearby Billerica, Mass., was named head coach at UMass-Lowell late Thursday. With the move, MacDonald leaves Niagara, a program he helped start from scratch in 1995.

Mancini Denies Interest in Lowell Coaching Job

Bob Mancini, recently mentioned as a candidate for the UMass-Lowell coaching position vacated by Tim Whitehead, denied interest in the job Thursday. “I was asked to call the [athletic director] … and I did,” said Mancini. “We talked about it. He asked me if I was interested to send a resume. I didn’t. “I’m not … Read more

MacDonald Interviews with Lowell

Niagara’s Blaise MacDonald visited UMass-Lowell on Monday to interview for the head coaching position opened by the departure last month of Tim Whitehead. MacDonald Speaking to reporters Monday evening at Buffalo Niagara International Airport upon his return, MacDonald said his interest in the Lowell job is heightened by Niagara’s status as a member of College … Read more

Lowell’s Hainsey Signs with Canadiens

UMass-Lowell defenseman Ron Hainsey, who just completed his sophomore season, has signed a three-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens and will be assigned to their AHL affiliate in Quebec. Hainsey Hainsey, who was taken by Montreal as the 13th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, was second on the River Hawks with 36 … Read more

Whitehead, Lowell Part Ways

Tim Whitehead, head coach at UMass-Lowell for the past five years, has resigned his position effective April 30, 2001. Whitehead was the runner-up for Hockey East Coach of the Year and is a finalist for the Spencer T. Penrose Award as National Coach of the Year.

Sudden Death at the Whitt

The formula is simple — two teams enter, one team leaves. That’s how a game three works, and that’s how it went down Saturday night in Durham, N.H., between UMass-Lowell and New Hampshire. Dave Hendrickson reports.

Season Preview: UMass-Lowell River Hawks

Even though UMass-Lowell finished in the cellar last year, it was only by a single point. It won’t take much to make a significant move in the standings. “We recognize Hockey East is the strongest league in the country right now,” says coach Tim Whitehead. “For anyone that finished in the bottom half last year, … Read more

Taylor Leaves Lowell for Hobart Top Spot

Mark Taylor, a long-time Division I assistant at Mass.-Lowell and Cornell, has been named the new head coach at Division-III Hobart. Taylor moves to Division III Hobart after spending the last four seasons as the top assistant at Lowell. “It is a tough time to leave UMass-Lowell,” Taylor said. “I was really looking forward to … Read more

Little Big Men

They’re the little waterbugs that drive an opposing defenseman nuts, darting elusively this way and that, always staying out of arm’s reach, posing the ultimate threat to his dignity. You let that midget beat you? Put a puck on their sticks and you can hear the extra buzz of anticipation in the crowd. Something exciting … Read more

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Tully Forum

A live turkey tied to a goalpost … the famous “zip code” speech and the infamous money on the table … a geyser in the visitors’ locker room during a national championship game … If you look at the nondescript exterior of UMass-Lowell’s Tully Forum, you’d never guess the oft-bizarre history that lurks within. On … Read more

UMass-Lowell Announces 30-Year Team

UMass-Lowell announced their 30th Year Anniversary Team to commemorate three decades of varsity hockey. The team will be honored during the final regular season home game on Saturday against Providence. The program marked its beginning in 1967 when it formed a Division II team, became a powerhouse in the late seventies and moved into Division … Read more

No Dumb Jocks

The dumb jock. Chiseled physique meets bovine stupidity. Few stereotypes appear more consistently in our culture. Four Hockey East players — Maine’s Dan Shermerhorn, UMass-Lowell’s Craig Lindsay, and Merrimack’s Rob Beck and Tom Johnson — are the league’s prime examples that athletes need not be morons and top students don’t all wear pocket protectors. Those … Read more

From Video Star To Top Rookie

Hockey East can recognize a star when it sees one. Greg Koehler starred in Ken Dryden’s Home Game documentary eight years ago. Earlier this month Hockey East named Koehler the season’s first Rookie of the Week. The road from video fame to collegiate success, however, proved a rocky one for the UMass-Lowell freshman. At 13, … Read more

Fillion Reportedly Suspended for Six Games

Martin Fillion, UMass-Lowell’s pre-season All-Hockey East goaltender, has been suspended for six games for undisclosed disciplinary reasons, according to an article in The Lowell Sun. Lowell coach Tim Whitehead confirmed after his team’s exhibition win over Concordia that he had banished Fillion to the stands for disciplinary reasons, but declined to elaborate. When asked if … Read more

Whitehead Hired at UML

As first indicated here last Friday, Tim Whitehead has officially been hired as head coach at UMass-Lowell. Whitehead was strongly endorsed by outgoing coach Bruce Crowder, and also received support of many fans and media personalities. Whitehead, 35, was an assistant for five years at UMass-Lowell, and will fill the position vacated when Crowder jumped … Read more

UML Names Coaching Finalists

UMass-Lowell has selected Tim Whitehead and Blaise MacDonalad as finalists for the vacant head coaching position, according to the Lowell Sun. Both Whitehead and MacDonald have ties to the program and to other Hockey East schools. Whitehead, 35, has been an assistant coach at UMass-Lowell for the past five seasons. He was also an assistant … Read more

UML’s Campbell Turns Pro

UMass-Lowell defenseman Ed Campbell has signed with the New York Rangers. The 6-foot-2, 202-pound Campbell, a native of Westboro, Mass., will thus give up his senior year at Lowell. He joins fellow Hockey East juniors Mike Grier of Boston University and Steve McKenna of Merrimack as seniors-to-be who have chosen to turn pro. Campbell’s 326 … Read more