LOWELL, MASS. -- The first half of the 50th anniversary season of UMass Lowell hockey has come to a close, save for the team's holiday tournament just prior to the New Year and with that, so to has the voting for the fifth and final All-Era team presented by Jeanne D'Arc Credit Union.

Over 1,000 votes were tallied and the All-Era team to be honored Saturday, February 11 when the River Hawks take on Massachusetts [Get Tickets] has been selected. Voting once again came down to the final day with three players changing positions until the final minutes of voting. In the end, the most successful era of Division I hockey at UMass Lowell will be celebrated with a team that includes three current River Hawks. 

In no surprise, leading the way in the voting by appearing on more than 68% of all ballots cast was goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (2012-2014). The two-time Hockey East Champion and tournament MVP, Hellebuyck back-stopped the River Hawks to their first Hockey East Championship, a Frozen Four appearance and back-to-back Hockey East Championships before turning pro. He posted a 38-12-2 record with a record 12 career shutouts, finishing ahead of second place finisher, Kevin Boyle, who set the single season record for shutouts. Hellebuyck currently mans the net for the Winnipeg Jets. 

In front of Hellebuyck, just as he was during their two seasons as teammates, is Christian Folin (2012-2014), who like Hellebuyck starred on the back-to-back Hockey East Champion River Hawk squads before turning pro. In 79 games in blue, Folin recorded 12 goals, including six game-winners, and 29 assists, gaining attention for both his rocket shot and his stout defensive prowess. Folin currently mans the blue line for the Minnesota Wild, while his younger brother, Niklas, does the same for the River Hawks. 

Paired with Folin is current River Hawk Dylan Zink, garnering 31 percent of the vote. A four-year player for the River Hawks, Zink currently ranks third in scoring on this year's squad with 17 points (5 goals, 12 assists) and has a career total of 68 points (26 goals, 42 assists). As a junior, Zink was named to the NCAA East Regional All-Tournament Team and to the Hockey East All-Tournament Team, while also potting the game winner to give the River Hawks the first ever Belpot Championship in Belfast. Zink narrowly edged out his teammate and defensive partner Michael Kapla (28%), as well as Zack Kamrass (28%) and Chad Ruhwedel (27%) in a last day voting push.

Up front, the forwards are led by two-thirds of the River Hawks current top line. Senior forward Joe Gambardella led the way in the voting, earning a spot on 46 percent of ballots cast for the top spot. The forward, who recently collected his 100th career point (Dec. 9 vs. Merrimack), has collected 101 points (37 goals, 64 assists) in his four-year career as a River Hawk. A 2016 NCAA East Regional All-Tournament Team honoree, Gambardella potted the over-time game winner against Yale sent the River Hawks forward in the NCAA regional. 

Joining Gambardella up front is his line-mate, junior forward C.J. Smith (42%). Over the first 18 games of this season, Smith has produced at over a point-per-game output, putting up 19 points (10 goals, 9 assists). In three seasons, Smith has posted 43 goals and 50 assists in 97 games. He earned a spot on the Hockey East All-Tournament Team with five points (3g,2a) in four tournament games as a sophomore and is on pace to join Gambardella in the 100 point club in the season's second half. 

Joining the current River Hawks is Riley Wetmore (2009-2013) with 38.44 percent of the vote. A two-time captain, Wetmore never missed a game over his four years in Lowell, appearing in all 152 games played during his time in blue. Wetmore posted 50 goals and 61 assists, tallying five game winners, earning the Chancellor's Medal following his senior season. A two-time David Boutin Award winner for Male Student-Athlete of the Year, Wetmore played four seasons professionally following his career as a River Hawk. 

Wetmore earned the third spot in the final hour of voting, narrowly edging out Scott Wilson (37.3%) and Joseph Pendenza (34%).

This team will be celebrated Saturday, February 11 when the River Hawks take on Massachusetts [Get Tickets], with the first 1,000 fans receiving the commemorative glass courtesy of Jeanne D'Arc Credit Union. The fourth installment, featuring the 1997-2007 team (Cam McCormick, Darryl Green, Mike Nicholishen, Chris Bell, Ed McGrane, Ben Walter) will be celebrated Friday, January 27 during the NESN/ASN televised game against Northeastern. To date, 14-of-18 honorees have returned to the Tsongas Center ice as part of the 50th anniversary celebration.

To purchase individual tickets or Mini Plans for any of the River Hawks second half schedule, visit www.TsongasCenter.com. To save with a group of 10-or-more, contact Jonathan Healy at Jonathan_Healy@uml.edu or by phone at (978) 934-6280.