The UMass Lowell River Hawks are the

NCAA Division I NCAA Division I (D-I) is the highest level of College athletics, intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States, which accepts players globally. D-I schools include the major ...

intercollegiate athletics teams representing the

University of Massachusetts Lowell The University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell and UML) is a public research university in Lowell, Massachusetts, with a satellite campus in Haverhill, Massachusetts. It is the northernmost member of the University of Massachusetts public u ...

Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell () is a city in Massachusetts, in the United States. Alongside Cambridge, It is one of two traditional seats of Middlesex County. With an estimated population of 115,554 in 2020, it was the fifth most populous city in Massachusetts as of ...

, United States. Members of the

America East Conference The America East Conference is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with NCAA Division I founded in 1979, whose members are located in the Northeastern United States. The conference has nine core members including eight public research u ...

for all sports (except the men's ice hockey team, which competes in

Hockey East The Hockey East Association, also known as Hockey East, is a college ice hockey conference which operates entirely in New England. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. Hockey East came into existence in 1984 for ...

). UMass Lowell sponsors teams in eight men's and nine women's NCAA sanctioned sports. Prior to transitioning to Division I in 2013, the River Hawks competed in the

Northeast-10 Conference The Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level. Member institutions are located in the northeastern United States in the states of ...

in Division II.

Teams

The University of Massachusetts Lowell participates in 16 sports at the Division I level. On July 1, 2013, 14 of UMass Lowell's Division II teams moved up to Division I, joining the

. The River Hawks formerly competed in the

at the Division II level. Past champions include the 1988 men's basketball team, the 1991 men's cross country team, the ice hockey team (three times) and the field hockey team twice (2005, 2010). The 2010 field hockey team finished its season with a perfect 24-0 record. The university added men's and women's lacrosse for the 2014-2015 academic year. The university's men's

hockey Hockey is a term used to denote a family of various types of both summer and winter team sports which originated on either an outdoor field, sheet of ice, or dry floor such as in a gymnasium. While these sports vary in specific rules, numbers o ...

team plays in the

Association and plays its home games at the

Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell The Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell (formerly the Tsongas Arena) is a multi-purpose facility owned by the University of Massachusetts Lowell and located in Lowell, Massachusetts. The arena was opened on January 27, 1998, and dedicated to the memory ...

. In 2013, the men's hockey team won the Hockey East regular-season and tournament championships and advanced to the NCAA Division I Championship "Frozen Four," all for the first time in the university's history. The men's hockey team repeated as Hockey East champions in 2014 while advancing to the

NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship The annual NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament is a college ice hockey, college ice hockey tournament held in the United States by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to determine the top men's team in NCAA Division I, Di ...

for the third straight year and sixth time overall. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck is the only Hockey East player to receive the league tournament's Most Valuable Player Award in two consecutive years, earning the honor in 2013 and 2014. The nickname "River Hawks" came about during the school's transition from the University of Lowell to UMass Lowell and was inspired by the campus's location along the

Merrimack River The Merrimack River (or Merrimac River, an occasional earlier spelling) is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Mas ...

. The University of Lowell's nickname was the Chiefs, which was abandoned in favor of the current name. A campus-wide poll was conducted for student input and final candidates included the Ospreys and the Raging Rapids, according to the Connector student newspaper. Tsongas Center

Discontinued sports

Football

ULowell started playing division III collegiate football in 1980. Under coach Dennis Scannell UMass Lowell enjoyed a 35-4 run from 1988–91, making the 1991 NCAA Division III Football Championship playoffs, losing to Union in the first round. UMass Lowell made the move to division II as a member of the

in 2000. Due to budget cuts and lack of competitiveness on the field, the administration cut the sport in 2003.

Facilities

Notable athletes

Craig Charron Craig Charron (November 15, 1967 – October 19, 2010) was an American professional ice hockey center from North Easton, Massachusetts. He attended the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he played for four seasons and served as captain ...

, former professional ice hockey player *

Jeff Daw Jeffrey R. Daw (born February 28, 1972) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in one National Hockey League game for the Colorado Avalanche during the 2001–02 NHL season. As a youth, he played in the 1986 Quebec Interna ...

, Former NHL player with the Colorado Avalanche * Shelagh Donohoe, Olympic Silver Medalist in Women's Rowing *

Christian Folin Carl Christian Folin (born 9 February 1991) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman for Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He previously played for the Minnesota Wild, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Ca ...

, NHL player with the

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and was founded on June 5, 1967, after Jack Kent ...

Scott Fankhouser Scott A. Fankhouser (born July 1, 1975) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played 23 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Atlanta Thrashers between 1999 and 2001. The rest of his career, which lasted from ...

, Former NHL player with the Atlanta Thrashers *

Ron Hainsey Ronald Martin Hainsey (born March 24, 1981) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played seventeen years in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets, Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets, Carolina Hurricanes, ...

, NHL player with the

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Div ...

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...

Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets (often simply referred to as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference, ...

Atlanta Thrashers The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) on June 25, 1997, and became the League's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 seaso ...

Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference, and is owned by True North Sports & Entertainment, pl ...

Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference, ...

, and

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, and have playe ...

. *

Connor Hellebuyck Connor Charles Hellebuyck ( ; born May 19, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Jets in the fifth round, 130th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Dra ...

, NHL player with the

Carter Hutton Carter John Hutton (born December 19, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres and the Arizona ...

, NHL player with the

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team was established in 1970, along w ...

Ben Holmstrom Benjamin Scott Holmstrom (born April 9, 1987) is an American professional ice hockey center who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played with the Rochester Americans in the American Hockey League (AHL). He previously capta ...

, NHL hockey player with the Philadelphia Flyers * Dean Jenkins, Former NHL hockey player with the Los Angeles Kings *

Greg Koehler Greg Koehler (born February 27, 1975) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played one game in the National Hockey League (NHL), with the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2000–01 season. The rest of his career, which lasted fro ...

, Former NHL hockey player with the Carolina Hurricanes * Mark Kumpel, Member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Hockey team and former NHL player with the Quebec Nordiques and the Winnipeg Jets *

Mike LaValliere Michael Eugene LaValliere (born August 18, 1960) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago White Sox. Amateu ...

, Former Major League Baseball catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago White Sox. Recipient of the 1987 NL Gold Glove Award at catcher. *

Craig MacTavish Craig MacTavish (born August 15, 1958) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player, currently in an assistant coaching position with the St. Louis Blues. He played centre for 17 seasons in the National Hockey League with th ...

, Former NHL player with Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers and former coach of the Edmonton Oilers, where he serves as senior vice president. *

Bill Morrell Willard Blackmer Morrell (April 9, 1893 – August 5, 1975) was a professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of three seasons (1926, 1930–31) with the Washington Senators and New York Giants. For his career, he com ...

, Former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Washington Senators and NY Giants. *

Jon Morris Jon Morris (born April 5, 1942) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive lineman for fifteen seasons in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played for the Boston/New Englan ...

, Former NHL player with the New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks and Boston Bruins *

Dwayne Roloson Albert Dwayne Roloson (born October 12, 1969) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender and former goaltending coach of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is currently the Goaltending Coach and Director of Pla ...

, NHL player with the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Islanders, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild and Edmonton Oilers, two-time all-star *

Chad Ruhwedel Chad James Ruhwedel (born May 7, 1990) is an Americans, American professional ice hockey Defenceman, defenseman under contract for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Playing career Ruhwedel started playing youth ice hoc ...

, NHL player with the

Ben Walter Ben James Walter (born May 11, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He most recently played with EC VSV in the Austrian Hockey League (EBEL). He has previously played in the National Hockey League and is the son of former NHL ...

, Former NHL player with the Boston Bruins, New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils * Scott Waugh, Physical therapist with the Boston Bruins, Boston Red Sox and director at the Massachusetts General Hospital Sports Physical Therapy Service * Scott Wilson, NHL player with the

File:Dwayne Roloson.jpg, Dwayne Roloson File:Mike LaValliere 1995.jpg, Mike LaValliere

Athletic directors

*Dana Skinner (1987-2018) *Peter Casey (2018–present)

National championships

The University of Massachusetts Lowell has won seven team NCAA Championships.

Team

References

External links

* {{Massachusetts Sports