UMass-Lowell: A Brief Scouting Report.

It's been three years since St. Lawrence and UMass-Lowell last met. That ends Friday as the Saints travel to Omaha, NE, to play in the Icebreaker Tournament against the River Hawks in the first round.

Alex Petizian will start in goal for the Saints, and they'll have all of their seniors for the season opener. That means Mike McKenzie (79 career points) will be on the ice. Jeff Caister and Derek Keller will also be out there, defensively.

SLU coach Joe Marsh expects a tight contest and a great test for the Saints. The River Hawks are ranked No. 11 in the USCHO.com poll.

Scouting the River Hawks

A fifth place Hockey East finish last season and one-goal loss to eventual NCAA Champion Boston University in the HE tournament propelled them from near extinction to one of the more respected programs in the country.

Three-year captains Ben Holmstrom, Barry Goers and Jeremy Dehner all return this season. SLU forward Mike McKenzie compared the River Hawks to the Saints of last year – dominating seniors with game-changing abilities.

The River Hawks lost only three of the 16 forwards. The offense improved on power-play goals (up 11), and overall goals (up 12) from the year before.

It also shed its third-period scoring woes. UMass-Lowell was starting to be known as a bit of a choker. Not anymore. The River Hawks scored 13 more goals in the final period and didn't give up an overtime score.

Scott Campbell and David Vallorani lead the attack. Campbell had 30 points on 14 goals and 16 assists last season. Vallorani supplied 27 points with nine goals and 18 assists.

In goal, it's the tag-team pair of Carter Hutton and Nevin Hamilton. In three seasons, the tandem lowered team goals against averages, opponents' power-play and shooting percentages. Both have also raised their save percentage each season.

UMass-Lowell defeated Acadia, 3-0, in an exhibition game Oct. 4.

-

The puck drops between UMass-Lowell and St. Lawrence at 5 p.m. Friday at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. WGIX-FM 95.2 will have the live broadcast.

I'll provide notes and commentary after the game here on the blog. Look for the game preview in Friday's Watertown Daily Times.

I almost forgot: The River Hawks have a decent pump-up video. Where's your's, Saints?