River Hawks reach 10th Anniversary of Tsongas Arena

When the River Hawks host Minnesota Duluth this weekend (Jan. 25 & 26), it will mark not only a break from Hockey East action but is also the 10th anniversary of the Tsongas Arena.

Since playing in their first game at the Tsongas Arena on January 28, 1998 – a 2-1 loss to Dartmouth – the River Hawks have posted a 74-73-15 all-time record in the building. This season UML is 8-2-1, its best start ever through 11 home games.

In addition to celebrating the 10th anniversary of the building, the River Hawks are approaching 500,000 in total attendance at the Tsongas Arena. UML is 10,237 fans away from reaching the 500,000 mark. Through 11 games this season the River Hawks have drawn 36,157 fans this season for an average of 3,287 per game.

Ed McGrane (1999-03) is the River Hawks’ all-time leader in points (66) and goals (33) in games played at the Tsongas Arena. Elias Godoy (2002-06) is UML’s all-time leader in assists (38) at Tsongas.

Jason Tejchma (2003-07), a captain of the 2006-07 squad, is fifth with 52 career points (23 goals, 29 assists). Tejchma has played more games (63) than any other River Hawk at the Tsongas Arena.

Mark Roebothan is the active leader for River Hawks with 22 points in 40 career games at Tsongas. Roebothan became the sixth River Hawk to record a hat trick at the Tsongas Arena on November 24, 2007 when he tallied three goals in a 6-2 win over Merrimack.

Kory Falite leads the 2007-08 River Hawks with nine goals and 12 points at home in 11 games. Ben Holmstrom paces this year’s squad with eight assists at home.

Between the pipes, Nevin Hamilton and Carter Hutton have the top two goals-against averages (minimum 10 appearances). Hamilton is first with a 2.22 GAA, and Hutton is second with a 2.42 GAA. Hamilton is also tops on the list with a .913 save-percentage.

Peter Vetri (2004-06) is the all-time leader in both games played (30) and wins (18). Cam McCormick (1999-02) is the leader with four shutouts.

The two-game home series with Minnesota Duluth continues the River Hawks six game home stand. UML plays eight of the next 10 games at the Tsongas Arena.

River Hawks showing Resiliency in ’07-08

They’ve trailed in 16 of their 21 games this season; they’ve given up the first goal nine times. For many teams those numbers would equal a losing record. But not for the 2007-08 River Hawks, who have shown their resiliency by going unbeaten in 10 of those 16 games (6-6-4). UML has trailed in each of the last four games, but has won two of those games.

The River Hawks are unbeaten in seven of the nine contests when surrendering the game’s first goal. UML allowed the first goal of the game Saturday night against Massachusetts, but rallied for three unanswered goals to earn a 3-1 victory. Last season the River Hawks were 1-15-3 when allowing the game’s first goal.

Kory Falite Named Hockey East Player of the Week

Sophomore left wing Kory Falite was named the CCM/RBK Player of the Week by Hockey East Monday (1/21) afternoon. Falite recorded four points on two goals and two assists as the River Hawks went 1-1-0 on the weekend. Falite tied a career-high with three points (1 goal, 2 assists) Friday night against Boston College. Both assists against the Eagles came on the power play. The Billerica, Mass. native scored UML’s first goal in a 3-1 victory Saturday night against Massachusetts.

Falite is the third River Hawk in the last four weeks to receive a weekly award from Hockey East. Scott Campbell was named the league’s Rookie of the Week on December 31 after scoring twice in UML’s Florida College Classic victory over Maine (12/29). Nevin Hamilton posted a career-best 45 saves in an overtime victory over Providence (1/12) and was named the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week on January 14.

Ben Holmstrom and Maury Edwards were named to the Hockey East Honor Roll. Holmstrom won a team-high 29 face offs and earned three assists. The sophomore center had two assists in the Saturday win over Massachusetts. Edwards tallied two power play goals on the week. The freshman defenseman had a power play goal in each game, including the game-winning goal against the Minutemen Saturday.

Miscellaneous Notes
The River Hawks are 7-3-0 over their last 10 games overall and has garnered points in six of their last nine Hockey East games ... The River Hawks are 13-4-2 over their last 18 games when scoring three goals or more, and 15-1-3 over the last 19 games when allowing two goals or less ... UML’s penalty kill, ranked first in Hockey East and seventh in the nation, has killed 40 of 43 (88.7%) over the last 12 games ... The PK hasn’t allowed more than one power play goal in a game this season ... The River Hawks scored two power play goals in each game over the weekend, the first back-to-back multiple power play goal games for UML since a home-and-home series with Merrimack on February 17-18, 2006 ... Maury Edwards (Rocky Rapids, Alb.) had a goal in each game over the weekend, and is the first River Hawks defenseman to score five goals in a season since Cleve Kinley netted eight in the 2004-05 season.