Norm Bazin ('94), the 2011-12 Hockey East Coach of the Year, signed a contract extension through the 2015-16 season, announced Director of Athletics Dana Skinner.

UMass Lowell posted a 24-13-1 overall record last season, including a 17-9-1 clip in Hockey East (good for a share of second place), a remarkable improvement from a 5-25-4/4-21-2 showing in 2010-11.

"I'd like to thank Chancellor (Marty) Meehan and Athletic Director Dana Skinner for the confidence they have in our coaching staff by presenting us with this contract extension,” said Bazin. “We are proud to be part of the growth and progress going on at UMass Lowell. Along with the campus community, my staff and I are excited for the future of UMass Lowell hockey."

Seeded No. 3 in the East Regional, the River Hawks advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1995-96 and defeated No. 2 Miami (Ohio), 4-3 in overtime before falling 4-2 to Union College in the quarterfinal.

“We are pleased that Norm Bazin has agreed to continue leading our hockey program through 2016,” said Meehan. “As a graduate of UMass Lowell, it's clear his passion and commitment to advancing his alma mater will be keys to future success.”

UMass Lowell's success carried off the ice as well, as the team captured UMass Lowell's 2012 Bob Griffin Award, presented to the men's and women's teams with the highest combined grade point average (2.97), for the fifth straight year. Nine River Hawks were recently named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team.

Additionally, Bazin spearheaded a fundraising effort which generated $250,000 for the addition of a hockey performance center, currently being constructed off the Tsongas Center.

The players and coaches were also very active in the Lowell and University communities. Among several outreach efforts this year, the team joined with Team Impact, a non-profit chartered to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening illnesses, and visited the North Street Elementary School in Tewksbury, Mass., where it read to and talked with some 400 third- and fourth-graders and dispersed ticket vouchers to River Hawk home games.

UMass Lowell hockey faithful attended in record numbers this season to an average attendance of 5,110.

"As we look ahead, we're excited about the hockey program,” Skinner said.  “The Tsongas Center is now one the finest hockey venues in the country; attendance last year exceeded 5,000 fans for the first time in school history; and home games are now a centerpiece of campus life. Norm has become the face of UMass Lowell hockey, both on and off the ice. We're looking forward to the next four years under Norm's leadership.”

UMass Lowell opens the season in a home exhibition Saturday, Oct. 6 (4:00) against the University of Toronto. The River Hawks then host the University of Vermont on Oct. 12 and Bentley Oct. 13 to kick off the regular season.

Season tickets are available with packages starting at $95 at www.goriverhawks.com.