Nov. 16, 2009

UMass Lowell hockey, in the midst of one of its brightest starts in program history, can now be heard on the AM radio dial.

Lowell’s premier talk radio station, 980 WCAP, has signed on to broadcast the remainder of UMass Lowell hockey games for the 2009-10 season beginning with the Saturday, Nov. 21 home clash against Merrimack.

WCAP will simultaneously broadcast UMass Lowell Hockey alongside WUML FM 91.5, the University station. Bob Ellis, in his 26th year as the voice of the River Hawks, calls the action alongside Chaz Scoggins, in his fourth decade as the UMass Lowell hockey beat writer for The Sun.

“WCAP draws a strong local audience, and local interest in River Hawks hockey games has been increasing steadily for the past few years, so it's a relationship that will benefit both parties,” said UML Director of Athletics Dana Skinner. “We look forward to expanding the relationship with WCAP as we move into the future with the Tsongas Arena."

Locally owned and operated, 980 WCAP has been broadcasting in the Merrimack Valley since 1951. The 5,000 watt AM station is heard from Boston to Concord, NH, and streams all programming at www.980wcap.com.

Along with being home to the Merrimack Valley's highest rated morning drive time show, 980 WCAP also broadcasts Lowell Spinners baseball, local high school football, basketball and baseball.

"980 WCAP is pleased to partner with UMass Lowell in broadcasting the nationally-ranked River Hawks to the Merrimack Valley,” said sports director Teddy Panos. “We believe in local programming and local sports. UMass Lowell is a key component of that mission. Together, River Hawk hockey and 980 WCAP are an unbeatable team."

UMass Lowell, currently ranked No. 5 in the latest U.S. College Hockey Online (USCHO) and USA Today Division I polls, is off to a 7-2-1 start and sits on top of Hockey East with a 3-1-1 clip (seven points) entering this weekend’s home clash against Merrimack College (7:00).