Jan. 26, 2012

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Pride and points are on the line this weekend as 11th-ranked UMass Lowell and in-state rival Massachusetts engage in a home-and-home Hockey East series. The sister schools are separated by four points in the conference standings: the River Hawks (14-7-0, 9-6-0 HE) slotted fifth, while the Minutemen (9-8-5, 5-6-4 HE) are seventh.

Friday night will take place in the Mullins Center before shifting play to the Tsongas Center on Saturday; puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. each night.

Saturday marks the annual Hockey East Skating Strides Against Breast Cancer event at UMass Lowell. The league-wide initiative has helped raise more than $125,000 in just five years. All proceeds from Saturday's 50/50 raffle will benefit the cause. The game will also feature a puck drop by breast cancer survivor Louise Driscoll of Dracut, MA.

The last time the clubs met, UMass Lowell walked away with a 4-0 shutout on Nov. 19. Defenseman Chad Ruhwedel (San Diego, Claif.)scored a goal and two assists to lead the offensive attack.

For the season Ruhwedel has 18 points on two goals and 16 assists. The second year blue-liner has scored nine of his 16 assists on the power play unit. Ruhwedel currently ranks second among Hockey East defensemen with 0.90 points per game.

Goaltender Doug Carr (Hanover, Mass.)also shined against Massachusetts, stopping all 16 shots he faced to record his first collegiate shutout. Carr currently carries a 13-4-0 record with 1.80 goals against average and .934 save percentage. He ranks third in the NCAA is goals against average, fifth in save percentage and tied for fifth in shutouts (3).

The Minutemen are powered by a trio of 20-point scorers: T.J. Syner (Springfield, Mass.), Conor Sheary (Melrose, Mass.) and Michael Pereira (West Haven, Conn.). Syner has a team-best 11 goals and 27 points, Sheary has recorded a club-high 17 assists and 25 points and Pereira has nine goals and 11 assists.

Tickets for Saturday are still available and can be purchased at the Tsongas Center Box Office, which is open on Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Saturday at 12 p.m. In addition, fans can purchase tickets online at TsongasCenter.com(.)