LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Hockey Head Coach
Norm Bazin announced the incoming class for the 2014-15 season on Friday afternoon.
The River Hawks' freshman class features forward Ryan Collins (Newton, Mass.), forward John Edwardh (Calgary, Alberta), defenseman Chris Forney (Thief River Falls, Minn.), forward Dylan Hollman (Red Deer, Alberta), forward Gage Hough (Omaha, Neb.), forward Jake Kamrass (Norcross, Ga.), defenseman Lukas Kohls (Forest Lake, Minn.), forward Michael Louria (Wyandotte, Mich.), defenseman Tyler Mueller (Regina, Sask.), defenseman Tommy Panico (Wall, N.J.), goaltender Jeff Smith (Maple Ridge, B.C.) and forward C.J. Smith (Des Moines, Iowa)
The River Hawks also welcome two transfers; junior goaltender Kevin Boyle (New Brunswick, N.J.) from the University of Massachusetts and junior forward Robert Francis (San Diego, Calif.) from Western Michigan University.
"I think competitiveness is number one. As far as being fast, or being big, I think competitiveness trumps all of those.," said Bazin. The assistant coaches have done an extremely good job identifying kids who possess the traits that we are looking for. The battle level and intensity are big ones, and I feel they've given us a class that is going to compete and continue to make us better in years to come."
"You never want to bring 14 kids in one class, but that's the status of what this year brought. Three guys signing NHL contracts, you don't anticipate that, you anticipate possibly one, but not three. At the same time this is the hand we're dealt so we're anxious to work with these guys and make them better and have another competitive season."
RIVER HAWK BIOGRAPHIESName: Kevin Boyle
Hometown/High School: New Brunswick, N.J./Manalapan High School
Class: Junior
Position: Goaltender
Height: 6'1"
Previous Team: UMass Minutemen (Hockey East)New Jersey Rockets: Played with the team from 2007-2010 – Participated in 2008 Toronto Prospects Tournament All-Star Game – Chosen for 2008-09 All-Star Game – 2008-09 MetJHL Goaltender of the year – Chosen for 2009-10 Atlantic JHL All-Star Game.
Westside Warriors: Played 2010-11 season with the team in the BCHL – Posted a .901 save percentage and 3.02 GAA in 39 games – Upheld an overall record of 20-16-1 – Named to 2010-11 BCHL All-Rookie Team – Westside Warriors Rookie of the Year (2010-11).
UMass Minutemen: Spent two seasons with the Minutemen from 2011-2013 – Posted a record of 16-17-6 with 41 games played with a 2.86 GAA and .896 save percentage. In 2012-13 he recorded a 8-10-2 record with a 2.73 GAA and a .897 save percentage.
Name: Ryan Collins
Hometown/High School: Newton, Mass./Tenaja Academy
Position: Forward
Height: 6'1"
Previous Team: Ottawa Jr. Senators (CCHL)Ottawa Jr. Senators: 2013-14 First Team All-League – 2014 Sportsman of the year (CCHL) – 2014 CCHL All-Star – 2014 Jr. Senators MVP – 2014 Offensive Player of the Year for Ottawa – 2013-14 team captain - Played two seasons with the team – Amassed 161 points (64g, 97a) in 122 career games played – Finished fourth in the CCHL in scoring for the 2013-14 season.
Name: John Edwardh
Hometown/High School: Calgary, Alberta/Holy Trinity Academy
Position: Forward
Height: 5'11"
Previous Team: Okotoks Oilers (AJHL)Okotoks Oilers: Played two seasons with the Oilers – Accumulated 99 points (50g,49a) in 112 career games – Added 19 points (13g,6a) in 16 playoff games during the 2012-13 postseason – CJHL Player of the Month in March 2013 – Set franchise record for playoff goals in career (14) – Leading scorer in 2014 with 62 points (32g,30a).
Name: Chris Forney
Hometown/High School: Thief River Falls, Minn./Lincoln High School
Position: Defense
Height: 6'2"
Previous Team: Langley Rivermen (BCHL)Lincoln High School: 2013 Finalist for the Reed Larson award (top senior defenseman in Minnesota) – 2012 and 2013 Section 8A All-Selection Team – 2012 and 2013 Marriuci All-Conference Team – 2012-2013 Section 8 All-Star Game – Voted Team Captain for 2013 Season – 2012 Minnesota AP All-State boys Hockey Team Honorable Mention – 2012 Minnesota State Class A All-Tournament Team.
Langley Rivermen: Appeared in 55 games for the Rivermen in the 2013-14 season – Accumulated 30 points (4g,26a) during the regular season along with two goals in the postseason.
Name: Robert Francis
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Class: Junior
Position: Forward
Height: 5'8"Previous Team: Western Michigan Broncos (CCHA)
Green Bay Gamblers (USHL): Appeared in 112 games through two seasons - Notched 82 career points (32g, 50a) - Won 2010 USHL Clark Cup Championship with the Gamblers.
Western Michigan Broncos: Appeared in 19 games over two seasons with the Broncos with one career assist - Was a member of 2012 CCHA Championship Team.
Name: Dylan Hollman
Hometown/High School: Edmonton, Alberta/Ecole Secondaire Notre Dame
Position: Forward
Height: 6'1"
Previous Team: Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)Spruce Grove Saints: Spent three seasons with the Saints – Registered 84 points (50g,34a) in 167 career games – Notched 23 postseason points (11g,12a) in 45 games – Lead team with 27 goals last season – Most improved player in 2011-12 season – Won 2013-14 AJHL regular season and Gas Drive Cup Championships.
Name: Gage Hough
Hometown/High School: Omaha, Neb./George Washington High School
Position: Forward
Height: 6'0"
Previous Team: Omaha Lancers (USHL)Omaha Lancers: Played 110 games in two seasons with the Lancers – Notched 72 points (35g,37a) in his career with the team – Named to USHL All-Star Team in 2013-14 season – Assistant captain for 2013-14 season – Won Leadership Award for 2013-14 season – Most Improved Player in 2012-13.
Name: Jake Kamrass
Hometown/High School: Norcross, Ga./Faith Academy
Position: Forward
Height: 6'0"
Previous Team: Topeka RoadRunners (NAHL)Topeka RoadRunners: Appeared in 129 games over three seasons with the RoadRunners – Amassed 67 points (25g,42a) during his regular season career – Added 12 points (4g,8a) in 10 postseason games during the 2013-14 playoffs – Won 2014 NAHL South Division Championship.
Name: Lucas Kohls
Hometown/High School: Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake
Position: Defenseman
Height: 6'3"
Previous Team: Austin Bruins (NAHL)Forest Lake High School: All-time leader in school history with 122 points (59g,63a) in 75 games – Three-time All-Conference – Three-time Offensive Player of the Year – Senior year captain.
Austin Bruins: Played 60 games with the Bruins during the 2013-14 season – Notched 34 points (16g,18a) during the regular season – Amassed seven points (2g,5a) during the 2014 playoffs.
Name: Michael Louria
Hometown/High School: Wyandotte, Mich./Gabriel Richard, Shattuck St. Mary's
Position: Forward
Height: 5'11"
Previous Teams: Janesville Jets/Minot Minotauros (NAHL)Janesville Jets: Played in 41 games during the 2013-14 regular season – Notched 40 points (19g,21a) on the season.
Minot Minotauros: Appeared in 12 games in for the Minotauros during the 2013-14 season – Amassed 12 points (7g,5a) during the regular season – Added two goals in the 2014 playoffs.
Name: Tyler Mueller
Hometown/High School: Regina, Sask./Winston Knoll Collegiate
Position: Defenseman
Height: 6'1"
Previous Team: Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)Sioux City Musketeers: Appeared in 58 games during the 2013-14 season – Added 30 points (6g,24a) with a +20 rating during the regular season – Named to the USHL All-Star Roster for the 2013-14 season.
Name: Tommy Panico
Hometown/High School: Wall, N.J./Wall High School
Position: Defenseman
Height: 6'1"
Previous Team: Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)Wall High School: Captain and MVP in 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons – First Team All-Shore in 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons – First Team All-Conference in 2011-12 and 2012-13 – First-Team All-State for 2012-13 season – Shore Conference Player of the Year 2012-13 – NAPHL All-Academic Team 2011-12.
Muskegon Lumberjacks: Played 52 games with the Lumberjacks during the 2013-14 season – Amassed 13 points (2g,11a) during the regular season – Team MVP for 2013-14 season.
Name: Jeff Smith
Hometown: Maple Ridge, B.C.
Position: Goaltender
Height: 6'2"
Previous Team: Powell River Kings (BCHL)Powell River Kings: Played in 35 games with the River Kings through two seasons – Held a 20-11-1 personal record in net – Posted a .921 save percentage along with a 2.29 GAA in his BCHL career.
2014 NHL Draft: Ranked 19th among North American goaltenders in NHL final Central Scouting rankings, which were released in early April.
Name: C.J. Smith
Hometown/High School: Des Moines, Iowa/Austin High School
Position: Forward
Height: 5'11"
Previous Teams: Muskegon Lumberjacks, Chicago Steel (USHL)Muskegon Lumberjacks: Appeared in 13 games with the Lumberjacks during the 2013-14 season – Registered five points (4g,1a) in that time.
Chicago Steel: Played in 46 games with the Steel during the regular season – Notched 40 points (23g,17a) with Chicago – Lead team in points (40) and goals (23) scored for the 2013-14 season.
