LOWELL, Mass. (Sept. 13, 2013) – The UMass Lowell River Hawks today announced its finalized roster for the 2013-14 season. The defending Hockey East Champions will return nearly all of the components of the team that went 28-11-1 in 2012-13, including thirteen upperclassmen, its three top scorers and its goaltending tandem.

The River Hawks have high expectations to live up to as they come off a stellar season that saw the team capture both the regular season and playoff Hockey East titles en route to the first-ever appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four. While UMass Lowell returns a majority of their team from last season, the team will have significant losses to overcome including graduating two-year team captain and career 100 pt. scorer Riley Wetmore and All American defenseman Chad Ruhwedel, who signed with the Buffalo Sabres.

The River Hawks will add five freshman and one transfer to the roster this season: Michael Kapla (Eau Claire, Wis.); Joe Gambardella (Staten Island, N.Y.); Evan Campbell (Port Coquitlam, BC); Chris Maniccia (St. Catharines, Ont.); Dylan Zink (Monona, Wis.); and Nick Gordon (Export, Pa.) The team will be captained by senior forward Josh Holmstrom (Colorado Springs, CO).

Kapla, a 5-11, 194 lb. defenseman out of Eau Claire, Wis. spent the 2012-13 season with the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) where he had nine goals and 16 assists in 51 games. Gambardella, a 5-9, 182 lb. forward out of Staten Island, N.Y., joins the team from the Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) where he posted 15 goals and 36 points in 48 games last season. Campbell is a 6-1, 189 lb. forward from Port Coquitlam, BC. A 2013 5^th round draft selection (128th overall) of the Edmonton Oilers, Campbell last played for the Langley Rivermen (BCHL) in 2012-13, netting 20 goals and 66 points in 51 games. Maniccia put up what River Hawks Head Coach Norm Bazin referred to as "silly numbers" in the CCHL; the 5-9. 170 lb. forward from St. Catharines, Ont. racked up 53 goals and 126 points in two years with the Smiths Falls Bears, including 34 goals and 44 assists in 54 games in 2012-13. Zink, a 5-10, 170 lb. defenseman out of Monona, Wis. tallied 15 goals and 32 points in 52 games for the Jamestown Ironmen (NAHL) during the 2012-13 season. Rounding out the newcomers, redshirt sophomore Nick Gordon joins the squad after transferring from the Rochester Institute of Technology (AHA). The hardworking forward, who practiced with the squad last season, will see his first game action since an injury-shortened 2011-12 season at RIT.

The River Hawks will face McGill University in a 3 PM preseason contest on October 5 at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell before opening the 2013-14 regular season Friday, Oct. 11 at home against Sacred Heart University at 7 PM.