Connector 10/7

The Hockey Issue 2014 -Player and coach interviews -Tsongas Center expansion -Behind-the-scenes of UMass Lowell’s new fight song -Alumni report -Roster and schedule

THE UMASS LOWELL

Serving the Student Body Since 1976

October 7, 2014

Chasing Hockey East championships Shane Foley Connector Editor

A large incoming class of freshman. The loss of several players to the NHL, including a Mike Richter award winner. Strong Hockey East competition. Three goalies battling for the starting position. A new source of leadership.

Apparently none of these things are fazing the UMass Lowell River Hawks hockey team. “Every team can compete [in Hockey East],� said Kevin Boyle, our only returning goalie.

Boyle is currently in contention for the starting goalie job with two freshmen, Jeff Smith from Canada and Olli Kalkaja from Finland. To these guys, though, winning hockey games as a team is much more important than being one of the starting six on the ice. “We push each other,� said Smith. “Everybody on this team should play like they want to get the starting position.�

Smith came to Lowell from a town called Maple Ridge in British Colombia.

He cited Carey Price as his favorite goalie: “I think everyone in the league is trying to emulate [Price].� One big reason why he came

to the university was because he “heard it was a good business school;� the other reason was winning hockey championships. “I came here because it is a winning school,� said Smith.

With him and Kalkaja being freshmen, the only experience inside the net comes from Derek Boyle, who played behind now-Winnipeg Jet Connor Hellebuyck for the past two Hockey East Championships. Boyle referred to Hellebuyck’s playing as “amazing.� “I’m trying to embrace [the leadership position],� said Boyle.

Not only are the River Hawks unsure of whom they are starting on the ice, but they also aren’t sure of whom they’ll be facing. Hockey East perennially is one of the toughest, if not the toughest, division in NCAA hockey. However, with former Boston College players Johnny Gaudreau and Kevin Hayes leaving for the NHL, UMass Lowell doesn’t have one particular opponent they are worried about. “We are just trying to take it team by team,� said Boyle.

This year is also an interesting new year with the large incoming class of freshmen. Jake Kamrass, brother of veteran Zack Kamrass, says they’ll be all right. “They have a go-get-it mentality,� said Jake Kamrass.

Kamrass got a good deal this year being able to play with his brother. Other than that though, he came to UMass Lowell for the student presence on campus. “They sell out just about every game,� said Jake Kamrass.

His brother Zack is excited about this opportunity as well. “It’s kinda surreal,� said Zack Kamrass.

Returning senior Zack Kamrass will lead the team this season as captain.

In This Issue Students favor new

dining hall menu Interview with AD Welcome Fall!

Dana Skinner

â–şPage Family Day to be held Sept.

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Home opener vs. BC “Suite� Addition preview Take a tour of the new dorms before they open this fall

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Top hockey movies Soaring5Higher Division I program excells in the â–şPage classroom

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The school’s new source of ‘River Hawk Pride’ Regina Alongi Connector Editor

“GO! BLUE! UML!�

If this chant isn’t familiar to you yet, it will be soon. After decades of going without one, UMass Lowell finally has its very own fight song, “River Hawk Pride�!

Where some universities adopt a previously composed song and add their own lyrics or commission a composer to create a song, UML is very fortunate to have an incredible music department with talented and accomplished professors. Professors Dan Lutz, director of university bands, and Deb Huber, director of instrumental music outreach and associate director of university bands, joined forces this past summer to compose “River Hawk Pride.�

Lutz is anything but a stranger to composing and arranging for various types of ensembles: he has hundreds of works to his credit, including a piece titled “Dichotomy: Impressions of Kerouac,â€? inspired by the works and life of Jack Kerouac. â–şSee Fight Song, Page 3

UMass Lowell plans to expand Tsongas Center Marlon Pitter Connector Editor

UMass Lowell has announced plans to add an athletic practice facility adjacent to the Tsongas Center. The proposed 50,000-square-foot structure will be an addition to the current arena, dedicated primarily to host ice hockey practices, as well as both men’s and women’s basketball practices.

Along with the addition of practice space and locker rooms for both hockey and basketball, UMass Lowell aims to host a majority of its men’s and women’s basketball games in the Tsongas Center by the end of its four-year Division I transition period, which is in effect through the 2016-2017 academic year.

Adding basketball practice space and playing full-

time in the Tsongas Center are simply a requirement of having a Division I athletic program and being part of the America East conference, according to Director of Athletics Dana Skinner. Costello Athletic Center, which currently hosts UMass Lowell’s men’s and women’s basketball competitions, as well as volleyball, is unfit to host a growing Division I basketball program, he added. “When America East accepted us, their expectation was that we would take this four-year transition period and eventually move all of the basketball games out of Costello and into the Tsongas Center,� said Skinner. “The advantage here is that the Tsongas Center is probably one of the best mid-major facilities anywhere, so adding a practice component allows us full use of what the facility was intended to do.�

UMass Lowell isn’t the only America East conference member with plans to renovate their basketball

arenas and facilities, according to Skinner. Stony Brook University, University of Vermont and University of Maryland-Baltimore County are among America East schools that will move into or construct new basketball facilities either this season or in the near future. “Staying in Costello isn’t going to be an option if we want to field a competitive basketball program,� said Skinner.

In addition to complying with Division I and America East standards, men’s basketball Head Coach Patrick Duquette said the Tsongas Center is very important, not only to his recruiting efforts but to the all of the athletic programs. As Duquette prepares for his second season at UMass Lowell, he said bringing in top recruits is a focal point in building a successful program as the team moves further into Division I competition. ►See Expansion, Page 3

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September 30, 2014

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS #UnitedInBlue UML Waldo/Andrew Tuminelli Blue Fan Group

The past few years as a UMass Lowell fan have been absolutely amazing. I along with hundreds of others have been able to watch the best teams in UMass Lowell hockey history. I have seen them win the Hockey East regular season title, win the Hockey East Tournament two years in a row, and have even gotten the opportunity to see them play in the coveted Frozen Four tournament and chase a national title. Many people take moments for these for granted, a lot will not get to witness moments like this again. The River Hawks of the past few years are on the break of a dynasty, chasing history. One thing that this group of River Hawks have done that will be definitely be permanent is change the way there fan base is forever.

It was my freshmen year and I remember being all excited to go to my first collegiate hockey game. The school had hyped it up so much

Follow @umlwaldo on Twitter!

Phil Geoffroy Student Trustee

Serving the Student Body Since 1976

UMASS LOWELL CONNECTOR

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â–şSee Waldo, Page 11

Letter to the Editor

THE UMASS LOWELL

SARAH PACHT KACI MCLAUGHLIN Copy Editors

and I remember come game day everyone was talking about going to the game. I vaguely remember the game but I believe it resulted in a loss which eventually started a very poor season for the River Hawks that year.

The next season the only game that was someone near capacity was the home opener and after that it was not the same. That season similar to the previous one consisted of crowds at half capacity during the regular season and seemed as there were crickets in the stands at times. What those who did go to the games realized were that the Riverhawks were incredibly talented this year. This marked the beginning of the Norm Bazin era, and this year the Riverhawks made a playoff run which sparked a lot of attention in the hockey club, and the fans took notice. The stands gradually became more full as the season came to a close and this was also the year I decided to become more involved and began dressing up as Waldo for the games.

The September 23rd edition of the Connector featured an article that discredited the new campus bookstore and dubbed it a “flop.� The article unfairly presented the implication that style was placed before student convenience in the construction of the new, state-of-the-art shop.

I do not believe that the bookstore deserves to be exempt from all criticism, but I do believe that it deserves to be reported on in an accurate manner. As a consistently satisfied customer of the bookstore, I am compelled to write in its defense.

Follet took over management of our bookstores in July 2011, and they have been on the side of students ever since.

In the fall of 2011, Follet’s first semester of operation on our campus, more than 25% of courses had no orders for course materials placed with the bookstore by the start of the semester, a huge obstacle for acquiring textbooks and a tremendous academic detriment to students. The bookstore’s management team quickly identified this as an issue that impacted students and began engaging in measures to alleviate it.

Their efforts were thorough and multi-faceted, and as a member of the University’s bookstore advisory committee, I saw firsthand the commitment they demonstrated toward addressing this problem and better serving students. They attended multiple meetings of the faculty senate in order to generate awareness of the importance of submitting book orders on time. Further, they formed new partnerships with University administrators including the Vice Provost Charlotte Mandel who worked

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with deans to contact faculty members who had not submitted book orders, and eventually contacted those faculty members directly. A full scale awareness campaign was waged for the purpose of ensuring the students could receive their books in a timely manner.

The result? A year later 100% of courses had orders for course materials placed before the start of the semester, and that rate has remained fairly consistent in subsequent semesters. This semester, 97% of courses had orders submitted by the beginning of class. Also, importantly, a higher percentage of faculty members have been submitting orders well in advance of the semester’s start which allows the bookstore to acquire more used and rental options - another testament to the bookstore’s commitment to serving students.

I am not denying that there may remain students on campus who encounter difficulty in acquiring their text books, but I would suggest that there are factors involved other than the bookstore, and that the bookstore cannot be held solely to blame.

There are no statistics to reflect the experience of shopping at the new River Hawk Shop, but I believe I speak for a lot of students in saying that the staff is extremely helpful and that it is indeed more convenient to have all textbooks available in a well-organized central location.

The new bookstore is aesthetically stunning, a focal point for University pride, and is managed by a team that genuinely cares about students and that works tirelessly to make purchasing textbooks as simple as possible. be submitted separately; do NOT include graphics in Word file.

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October 7, 2014

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SPORTS

River Hawk alumni report Tyler Cote Connector Staff

Success over the years has become a norm for UMass Lowell, for the River Hawks have won two consecutive Hockey East titles. With a successful team comes a band of players that unite to strive toward a common goal, championships.

While the team strives for excellence, some River Hawks take the next step in their hockey careers, either to the NHL, playing professionally overseas or continuing to improve their talents in development leagues with the hope of having a professional career.

There are currently 29 River Hawk alumni in total playing in such leagues; a few are worth noting as they continue to carry the UML winning tradition to the pro ranks.

Currently under contract with the Carolina Hurricanes through the 20162017 season, Ron Hainsey was drafted 13th overall by the Montreal Canadians. A highly coveted defenseman, Hainsey posted an impressive 36 points in his final season in Lowell before moving on the play for Montreal’s AHL team.

He made it to the NHL the next season and stayed with Montreal till the 2005 season when he took his talents to Columbus.

Since Columbus, Hainsey has played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets, and his current team, the Carolina Hurricanes. Coming off a strong season, he continues to man the Carolina defense and will for years to come, making River Hawk nation proud.

The River Hawk goalie from 2006-2010, Carter Hutton, had an impressive career at the Tsongas, however went undrafted following his senior season.

With the ambition of becoming a professional, he was signed by four different organizations over the course of four years before making it into NHL with the Blackhawks for one game in the 2012-2013 season.

The following season brought good fortune to the goalie, for the Nashville Predators signed Hutton through the 2015-2016 season. Starting 40 games last season, he posted a .910 save percentage, and a 20-11-4 record in net. Hutton will be between the posts for the Predators this coming NHL season.

In this coming season, there are a number of former River Hawks that could find their way onto the NHL stage for the first time. Christian Folin made an appearance with the Minnesota Wild last year and is currently under contract with the team. The defenseman is in a battle to make the opening day roster.

Most notably is the former UMass Lowell goaltender who decided to forgo his sfinalw and sign a three year deal with the Winnipeg Jets, Connor Hellebuyck. Although he seems far down on the depth chart, Hellebuyck’s raw talent and comfort in net is very promising for Winnipeg’s future and the Jets’ front office is ecstatic to have him in the organization.

River Hawk nation is slowly taking over the NHL and leagues oversees, as the talent continues to exceed itself each year. This coming season will be a test to the River Hawks, for three consecutive titles in the toughest conference is always a daunting task.

Although the players in the NHL today are wearing their respected team sweaters, we will always be United in Blue.

Game of revenge: UMass Lowell vs. Boston College Benjamin St. Pierre Connector Staff

On Oct. 10, UMass Lowell hockey renews one of their most storied rivalries with the Boston College Eagles. The last time these two foes met, Boston College, with a better overall record, came out on top; this time around, the River Hawks contend the Eagles in the first matchup of what will hopefully prove to be a fruitful season, despite losing some stars to graduation.

This River Hawk team placed seventh out of twelve on a recent Hockey East coaches’ poll, with Providence College in the top spot and Boston Col-

lege second. However, in a national poll cast by USCHO (United States College Hockey Online), UMass Lowell placed in the top 20, coming in at number 17. Likewise, Boston College dropped in the Hockey East polls, but only to the fourth spot.

Clearly, UMass Lowell’s team has its detractors this season.

But, with Coach Norm Bazin still at the helm, this team cannot be counted out before the puck even hits the ice. The team may lack the star power it has had in the past, especially recently, touted by its Hockey East and playoff (or lack thereof) experience, but the players of UMass Lowell year in

and year out form a cohesive and powerful unit on the ice. There is an abundance of freshmen, but an abundance of spirit.

The Eagles may have lost their star forward and prolific scorer, Johnny Gaudreau, to the NHL (Calgary Flames), but UML, conversely, lost their top goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets.

Though this year’s River Hawk team consists heavily of new players, Norm Bazin seeks to lead the River Hawks to NCAA Tournament appearance, and the team’s quest starts with a match against the team that ended theirs.

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October 7, 2014

SPORTS Norm Bazin: A coach of all-stars Shane Foley

AP photo/Gene J. Puskar

Connector Editor

Regardless of the litany of questions surrounding the UMass Lowell hockey team, including who is going to play in goal, and who is going to replace graduated seniors, Head Coach Norm Bazin has his eyes set on another Hockey East Championship.

“Last year, we won with depth and grit,” said Bazin. This year, we can do it again, we just have younger depth, and younger grit.”

Coach Bazin has in his three previous years established a winning culture. However, this year, it is uncertain with whom he will win with, considering all the new players on the team.

“Right now, with only two hours of practice every day, it’s hard to evaluate [the team],” said Bazin. “In a couple of weeks I can tell you who can play.” However, he has several players who he thinks will put up numbers for the River Hawks, including Zach Kamrass, all of the seniors and Ryan McGrath.

While there is much speculation regarding the future of the team, Coach Bazin has proved he can take young talent and win. His previous job was at Hamilton College, where he took their hockey program from a 9-15-1 season to an almost reversed 15-9-2 season the next year.

Bazin moved to UMass Lowell in the 2011-2012 season, during which he won 24 games. In the past

Coach Norm Bazin is looking for his third Hockey East Championship.

championships under his belt.

Coach Bazin bleeds UMass Lowell blue and white. He played for the River Hawks from 19901994. He also was assistant coach for them from 1996-2000.

“His work ethic is beyond anybody’s expectations as a person, as a player and as a coach,” said Dwayne Roloson, former NHL All Star and UMass Lowell graduate. “He’ll do whatever it takes to win. For us, as an alumni to the University, I’m so happy and honored that he is there.”

To his credit, Coach Bazin has done the majority of his winning in Hockey East, often cited as the toughest division in NCAA Hockey. Even with powerhouses like Boston College and Notre Dame though, Bazin does not believe that there is a distinguished front runner in the conference. “Right now, I think all 12 teams can give us a run for our money.”

However, while there may be dire competition, the hockey players do not doubt Bazin’s ability to win hockey games. “I came here to play for a winning coach,” said Jeff Smith, freshman goalie for UML.

two seasons, he has only suffered 11 losses in each.

He also is a two-time Hockey East Coach of the Year award recipient and he has two Hockey East

The basics of college hockey Henry St. Pierre Connector Staff

a center, right wing and left wing (forwards), right and left defensemen and a goaltender. The center and forwards usually lead offense, and the center is also usually the anchor of both sides of the ice. The defensemen, well, play defense. It’s not uncommon for one defender to be more offense-focused while the other is more of a physical player. The goaltender’s job is to stop the puck from going in their team’s net. Easier said than done, for sure.

There are three main rules to keep in mind while watching hockey: icing, offsides and the offside (two-line) pass.

Icing is when the opposing team passes the puck past the other team’s goal line, and this is called without the defense having to touch it.

A player is offside when they are past the defending team’s blue line without the puck. An offside, or two-line pass, occurs when a player passes the puck from behind their team’s blue line (out of their defensive zone) and past

It’s finally hockey season at UMass Lowell! You can already hear skates slashing up the ice. You can smell the cold… and you can feel the cold, too.

Everybody should be able to be a part of the River Hawks hockey experience, but what if you have no clue what’s going on? What if you want to shout and go nuts when we score, but you don’t even know what a goal is?

Well, hopefully you know how goals are scored, but maybe you’re not familiar with college hockey rules. There ARE differences between the NHL and NCAA hockey, even if college hockey serves as a gateway to professional hockey.

First of all, many people get a kick out of watching fighting in the NHL. There’s no fighting in college hockey.

If there is, there’s a five-minute major penalty and the player is disqualified for the next game.

Also, there’s no headhunting (direct contact to the head), as that results in a misconduct and major penalty at the minimum. There also shouldn’t be any post-whistle altercations. To continue with safety, all players must wear a shield or facemask.

The “trapezoid” refers to the area in NHL hockey in which the goaltender must not leave. There’s no trapezoid in college hockey.

Overtimes are played five-on-five, and ties do happen because there are no shootouts (for every conference except the NCHC and Big Ten).

There are no hand passes in the defensive zone (behind the team’s blue line) and deflections off a player’s skate resulting in a goal are treated as a goal courtesy AP photo unless it’s proven to have been intenUnion College won the NCAA Frozen Four last year. tional.

College hockey plays in a hockey arena that is exactly like an NHL arena - the center red line, thus crossing the two lines.

Like any sport, hockey’s rules might take a while to nail down, but hockey the same dimensions, lines, goals, etc.

In hockey, there are six players on the ice for each team: normally there is is a fast-paced, exciting and hard-hitting sport that is frosty fun to watch.

October Page 37, 2014

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September 5, 20145 Page

SPORTS

Dana Skinner: 18 years of excellence Shane Foley and Nick Giannino Connector Editors

“When you have a good ice hockey team, it lights up the entire campus,” said Dana Skinner, UMass Lowell athletic director. After winning back to back Hockey East championships, the River Hawks look to light up this particular campus again.

Skinner has been with the university for 18 years. Prior to that, he coached basketball at the Women’s Professional Basketball Association (now the WNBA). After that, Skinner took his knowledge and experience to Bishop Fenwick high school and Salem State basketball programs. He changed his path to administration though, because he wanted to expand his expertise to more than just basketball. “Part of the reason I got into administration was to have a broader impact than just basketball,” said Skinner.

In his 18 years tenure, Skinner has witnessed the university transform from a local state school with one Division I team to a nationally recognized powerhouse. UMass Lowell has enjoyed ascendance in enrollment and popularity, and athletics played a big role in that. “Athletics isn’t the most important thing a college does, but it may be the most visible,” said Skinner.

Skinner believes the River Hawks previous Hockey East Championships played a role in the other 13 of the university’s athletic teams’ elevation to Division I. “I don’t think I’ve seen anything like the Hockey East Championships,” said Skinner.

Skinner commented on the invaluable benefits our profile received from our hockey championships. “When you’re trying to use athletics as a rallying point for your campus,” said Skinner, “you have to identify where your opportunities are, and clearly here, the opportunity was ice hockey.”

Skinner explained the connection between UMass Lowell’s athletic success and the improvement of all our other aspects of the university, from our classes, to our residence halls, to our bookstore. “When you hear all of that good news and positive visibility, it just makes everybody stand a little bit taller,” said Skinner.

This year’s hockey team is looking forward to a new season, but with the loss of players like Scott Wilson, Joseph Pendenza, and Mike Richter award-winner Connor Hellybuck, the River Hawks have their work cut out for them.

Skinner however, echoes the team’s confidence in their chances of winning many games this season. “Our coaching staff has demonstrated that they know how to do this,” said Skinner. He remembered when the River Hawks were in a similar situation years ago, when they brought in head coach Norm Bazin halfway through the season. “When we brought in Norm Bazin as head coach, he took over a team that was 5-24…and in his first year, they won 24 games.”

If there is anything more impressive than what our athletes are doing on the field, it is what they are doing in the classroom. Not only are our recruits more skilled, they are better students. “This past year, our first year in Division I, was the first time that this student-athlete population as a whole finished with a grade point average of over 3.0,” said Skinner. He identified this as his favorite moment in 18 years of affiliation with UMass Lowell athletics. “That was a moment that added an extra bounce to everyone in athletics.”

Skinner shares the excitement with the campus over watching the hockey

team grow with our institutions. “What happened in the last three years to the hockey program,” said Skinner, it’s hard to put a price tag on it.”

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October 7, 2014

Roster Number Name

Oct. 7, 2014

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

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UMass Lowell Men’s Ice Hockey Home Games

Year Position Height Weight Hometown/Last Team

1

Jeff Smith

Fr.

Goaltender

6’2”

207

Maple Ridge, B.C./Powell River Kings

2 3

Tommy Panico

Fr.

Defenseman

6’1”

200

Wall, N.J./Muskegon Lumberjacks

Michael Kapla

So.

Defenseman

6’0”

201

Eau Claire, Wis./Sioux City Musketeers

4 5

Chris Forney

Fr.

Defenseman

6’2”

192

Thief River Falls, Minn./Langley Rivermen

Joe Gambardella

So.

Forward

5’9”

195

Staten Island, N.Y./ Des Moines Buccanneers

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Tyler Mayea Tyler Mueller Evan Campbell Terrence Wallin Ryan McGrath Dylan Hollman Gage Hough Adam Chapie Lucas Kohls Michael Louria Robert Francis Chris Maniccia A.J. White C.J. Smith Jake Suter Jake Kamrass Ryan Collins Michael Fallon Michael Colantone

Fr. Fr. So. Sr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Jr. So. Jr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Jr.

Defenseman Defenseman Forward Forward Forward Forward Forward Forward Defenseman Forward Forward Forward Forward Forward Defenseman Forward Forward Forward Forward

6’3” 6’1” 6’1” 6’0” 5’7’’ 6’1’’ 6’0’’ 6’1’’ 6’3’’ 5’11’’ 5’8’’ 5’9’’ 6’2’’ 5’11’’ 6’0’’ 6’1’’ 6’1’’ 5’11’’ 5’11’’

205 187 195 204 174 187 201 184 203 182 170 177 200 183 212 176 197 177 205

Burlington, Ont./ Trenton Golden Hawks Regina, Sask./Sioux City Musketeers Port Coquitlam, B.C./Langley Rivermen Yardley, Pa./ The Gunnery O’Fallon, Mo./Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Edmonton, Alberta/Spruce Grove Saints Omaha, Neb./Omaha Lancers Oxford, Mich./New Mexico Mustangs Forest Lake, Minn./Austin Bruins Wexford, Pa./Minot Minotauros San Diego, Calif./Western Michigan St. Catharines, Ont./Smiths Falls Bears Dearborn, Mich./Michigan Warriors Des Moines, Iowa/Chicago Steel Lac du Flabeau, Wisc./Sioux City Musketeers Atlanta, Ga./Topeka RoadRunners Newton, Mass./Ottawa Jr. Senators Glenview, Ill./Chicago Steel Cave Creek, Az./Prince George Spruce Kings

25

Dylan Zink

So.

Defenseman

5’10’’

175

Madison, Wis./Jamestown Ironmen

27 29 31 33

Zack Kamrass John Edwardh Olli Kälkäjä

Sr. Fr. Fr.

Defenseman Forward Goaltender

5’11’’ 5’11’’ 6’4’’

189 182 207

Atlanta, Ga./Sioux Falls Stampede Calgary, Alberta/Okotoks Oilers Oulu, Finland/Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

Kevin Boyle

Jr.

Goaltender

6’1’’

197

Manalapan, N.J/Massachusetts (Hockey East)

Date and Time

Friday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 17, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 7, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 14, 7:15 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 29, 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m.

Opponent

v. Boston College v. Quinnipiac University v. University of Michigan v. Michigan State University v. University of New Hampshire v. Northeastern University v. Penn State University v. Penn State University v. Harvard University v. University of Connecticut v. University of Maine

River Hawks dominate St. Thomas, 7-3, in exhibition play

ATTENTION STUDENTS SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS AVAILABLE The Independent University Alumni Association at Lowell (IUAAL) is offering many scholarships to deserving students.

Students who wish to apply for the Independent University Alumni Association Scholarships (formerly known as the University of Massachusetts Lowell Alumni Association) should stop by the Alumni Association Office in the Alumni Memorial Library, North Campus, Financial Aid Office, or Deans office to pick up an application.

Scholarships will be awarded in January for the second semester.

Applications must be returned to the Alumni Association Office in the Alumni Memorial Library building second floor the DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING. If you need more information, please contact the Alumni Office at 978 454-6335.

GRANTS The Alumni Association has set aside money to fund a Development grant Program. Application forms and criteria for applying for a grant are available at the IUAAL office in the Alumni Memorial Library building on North Campus.

Briefly, any Academic Department, Instructor, or Student Group at the University of Massachusetts Lowell may apply. Grants will generally not exceed $2500. per application. For more information please contact the Alumni Office at 978 454-6335.

Christopher Tran/Connector

UMass Lowell Athletics

LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell hockey team defeated the St. Thomas University Tommies 7-3, in an exhibition game at the Tsongas Center on Sunday afternoon.

The River Hawks took the 1-0 lead at 6:04 of the first period on a goal from senior forward Terrence Wallin (Yardley, Pa.), who put home the rebound off of a shot by sophomore forward Evan Campbell (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia). The Tommies tied the score 26 seconds later on a goal from JC Campagna.

Sophomore forward Joe Gambardella (Staten Island, N.Y.) scored on a wraparound making it a 2-1 game at 8:41 on the first period. Senior defenseman Zack Kamrass (Atlanta, Ga.) fired a shot in from the point for a 3-1 lead on the power play at 14:35. UMass Lowell entered the second intermission with a 3-1 lead.

Robert Francis (San Diego, Calif.) scored off his own rebound in front to make it 4-1, and Michael Fallon (Glenview, Ill.) sent a rocket in from the slot to extend the lead to 5-1 at 7:33 and 16:43 of the second period, respectively.

Both goals came on the power play, as the River Hawks ended the second period going 3-for-5 with an extra man.

At 3:54 of the third period, Wallin scored his second goal of the game off of a Jake Suter assist for a 6-1 lead. Ryan McGrath made it 7-1 on the power play just under a minute later, with assists coming from Dylan Zink and Michael Kapla.

The Tommies cut the lead to 7-3 with goals from Campagna and Marc-Andre Levesque at 9:53 and 12:30 of the third period.

Junior goaltender Kevin Boyle (Manalapan, N.J.) started the night in net and made two saves in 20 minutes of action. Freshman Jeff Smith (Maple Ridge, British Columbia) played the second period and recorded four saves. Freshman Olli Kalkaja (Oulu, Finland) played the final 20 minutes and recorded a team-high five saves. Tyson Teichmann made 32 saves in net for the visitors.

The River Hawks outshot St. Thomas 39-14, UMass Lowell finished the night going 4-for-6 on the power play, and the Tommies went 1-for-6.

The River Hawks will open their season with a Hockey East battle against Boston College on October 10 at 7 p.m.

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October 7, 2014

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The school’s new source of ‘River Hawk Pride’ A look into the creation of UML’s new fight song

October 7, 2014

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Top five hockey movies of all time Jen Desrosiers

5. Youngblood

Connector Editor

1. Miracle

Regina Alongi

Release date: Feb. 6, 2004 (USA) Director: Gavin O’Connor Runtime: 135 min.

Starring: Kurt Russell, Nathan West, Noah Emmerich and Patricia Clarkson Synopsis: Miracle tells the true story of Herb Brooks, the coach who led an underdog hockey team of college students to a victory against the previously undefeated Soviet Union during the 1980 Lake Placid US Olympics.

Genres: Drama, Sports, Family, Historical MPAA Rating: PG Grade: A-

Release date: Jan. 31, 1986 (USA) Director: Peter Markle Runtime: 111 min.

Starring: Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze and Cynthia Gibb Synopsis: This movie set in Ontario during the 1980s, stars Rob Lowe as Dean Youngblood, a seventeen year old farm-hand and hockey prodigy, who dreams of someday playing for the NHL which leads him to try out for the Canadian Hamilton Mustangs.

Genres: Sports, Drama, Romance MPAA Rating: R Grade: C

2. Slapshot

Honorable Mentions:

Release date: Feb. 25, 1977 (USA) Director: George Roy Holl Runtime: 123 min.

Starring: Paul Newman, Michael Ontkean and Strother Martin Synopsis: Set in the US Rust Belt in Charlestown, this lighthearted comdy tells the story of a minor league hockey team that resorts to violence and fighting in order to gain popularity.

Genres: Comedy, Sports MPAA Rating: R Grade: B-

MVP: Most Valuable Primate

Connector Editor

The music was composed by Lutz while the lyrics were written by Huber, who, unbeknownst to many, is a published poet. The two have been working with each other for over 20 years, having formed the UML Pep Band (Jazz-Rock Big Band, or “The Band That Plays At The Hockey Games”) together in 1995.

A big question surrounding the conception of the fight song is, of course, why we didn’t have one before.

To his surprise, Lutz had an answer more interesting and in depth than expected.

“The marching band was actually not formed tended to athletics,” Lutz said, “but it was formed by the music ed. area to teach prospective music teachers who may have to work with a marching band.” He explained that since the marching was formed alongside the creation of the music education department, there was not a request or demand for a fight song. What the school adopted for their “fight song” was a generic tune called (Lutz and Huber said simultaneously) “University March.”

“The opportunity to have something that’s unique to the university is fantastic,” said Huber in regards to having a song created specifically for the school.

Lutz informed the athletic department that the song they had been using was a generic tune; this peaked their interest and motivated them somewhat to have a fight song created. There were attempts at contests throughout the years, but to no avail.

“Recently, with the advent of Division 1, it became more critical,” said Lutz. “We needed to do something about this.”

He noted that Athletic Director Dana Skinner had been the driving force behind the creation of a fight song for years, but Associate Vice Chancellor Larry Siegel is the one who asked Lutz how to make it happen. Siegel asked if Lutz knew any composers that could write a piece like this, to which Lutz replied, “Yes. Me.” Lutz called upon Huber, who had already taken a stab at writing the lyrics. Huber explained that writing for something specific (as in genre or audience, for example) requires care and research. They, for lack of more clear terms, took the basic guidelines for a fight song and modernized it to fit with the UML community. The students need to be comfortable singing it.

“It’s not an old-fashioned fight song,” Huber said.

“It has contemporary leanings to it, but it still has to act and react in that idiom. It has to feel like what it’s supposed to be and what it’s supposed to do.”

For the musical populace: “A traditional fight song is actually a tune from the ‘30s,” said Lutz.

“If you look at the structure and harmonic content of all fight songs, there is about seventy-five percent that have almost identical changes - a certain sequence of changes.”

They both note the University of Notre Dame’s fight song, “Victory March,” as their personal favorite fight song (aside from UML’s, of course), but claimed they took no influence from other fight songs in their composition; instead, they used their knowledge of how fight songs work musically. He restated that there are sequences of changes that matter; there are “certain places where it should go

to a IV chord.”

“I wouldn’t tell you that there isn’t an influence of more contemporary composers,” said Lutz.

“There’s a little John Williams flavor there, and that’s not unpurposeful.”

“We all want this to be a long-standing tradition,” said Huber. “That’s pretty weighty to think about.”

They explain that the move of UML athletics to Division 1 brought forth a need for proper branding and traditions, which the school had lacked in the past.

“There wasn’t a purposeful branding that [existed],” said Lutz. “I think that part of the chancellor’s mission is to make there be certain identifiable characteristics of UMass Lowell that makes it unique… I think [this is] the first time there’s been a concentrated effort to focus on traditions.”

“Beyond wearing the colors, [a fight song] is the next other identifiable thing that everybody has,” said Huber. “It’s an enormous unifying factor.”

This effort has not gone unnoticed to the UMass Lowell community. The reception has been great – it has been embraced by both students and staff, along with the musicians on campus.

Chancellor Marty Meehan is also very happy with the song. “I was very impressed with it,” said Meehan. “I like that our own faculty wrote it. It’s a high-quality song, and I hear it’s gotten good reactions from students.”

“River Hawk Pride” UMass Lowell Fight Song Music by Dan Lutz Lyrics by Deb Huber

UML! UML! UML! UML! Go! Blue! UML!

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3. Goon

Release date: Aug. 11, 2000 (Canada) Director: Robert Vince Runtime: 91 min.

Starring: Kevin Zegers, Jamie Renee Smith and Philip Granger Synopsis: Jack is a chimpanzee who, after being accidentally sent to Canada, is discovered to have a natural ability to play hockey.

Genres: Childrens, Family, Sports MPAA Rating: PG Grade: CHappy Gilmore

Release date: Mar. 30, 2012 (USA- limited release) Director: Michael Dowse Runtime: 90 min.

Starring: Alison Pill, Eugene Levy, Jay Baruchel and Seann William Scott Synopsis: This sports comedy stars Seann William Scott as Doug Glatt, a man with no goals and aspirations in life who becomes the enforcer of a mi nor league hockey team.

Genres: Sports, Comedy MPAA Rating: R Grade: B

Release date: Feb. 16, 1996 (USA) Director: Dennis Dugan Runtime: 92 min.

Starring: Adam Sandler, Christopher McDonald and Julie Bowen Synopsis: In Happy Gilmore, Adam Sandler plays the title character, a deter mined but untalented hockey player who tries and fails repeatedly to join the pro leagues.

Genres: Slapstick comedy, Sports MPAA Rating: PG-13 Grade: A

4. The Mighty Ducks Release date: Oct. 2, 1992 (USA) Director: Stephen Herek Runtime: 114 min.

Starring: Emilio Estevez, Joss Ackland and Lane Smith Synopsis: Gordon Bombay, a lawyer who was charged for drunk driving, is ordered by the court to do community service by coaching a minor league hockey team.

Genres: Family, Sports, Comedy MPAA Rating: PG Grade: C+

Courtesy of Disney Pictures

NHL 15 hits hard with hockey fans, gamers alike Derek McLeod

Connector Contributor

UMass Lowell we’ll always be, a team of strength in unity.

With River Hawk pride, we stand side by side; fight for victory!

Wings unfurled and talons curled, swoop and strike then we score!

Blue set sail! In flight we won’t fail! Let’s go UMass Lowell and soar!

Bruins fans rejoice! Our own Saint Patrice graces the cover of this year’s installment of the perennially stellar “NHL” series, bringing pride to black and gold as he beat out Public Enemy Number One PK Subban of the Montreal Canadiens for the spot.

And it’s no surprise that “NHL”: Bergy Edition continues the tradition of improvement that has set “NHL” apart from EA Sports’ other series in the past two decades.

If you’ve played the series recently, you’ll likely acknowledge that it’s often worth buying, even for the little improvements that add to the big attractions of Live The Life, ’94 Anniversary Mode, NHL Moments Live and a bevy of online-based

features such as EA Sports Hockey League and, of course, Hockey Ultimate Team. So the big question is, of course: what’s new?

Well, anyone who watches the nationally televised broadcasts throughout the season will recognize the new voices of the game: none other than Mike “Doc” Emrick and Eddie Olcyzk (also joined

by Ray Ferraro with ice-level updates; Pierre McGuire, mercifully, is nowhere in sight). While many loved Gary Thorne and Bill Clement’s commentary the past few years, this year we’ve been treated with possibly the best voiceover crew possible, at least until the release of the long-awaited Jack Edwards DLC package (THIS IS A JOKE). While

no game can ever match the off-the-cuff comments and excitement that these announcers would be able to give in real life, I am rather fond of Doc’s style and it is easy to get that in the game. He’s a bit like if Dennis Miller actually knew what he was talking about on Monday Night Football. He’ll use a couple words that sound like they have too many syllables, but he’s a smart guy both in life and in hockey and you have to respect that.

The other most talked-about feature in this year’s game is an all-new physics engine to give players the possibility of 12-player collisions at all times. ►See NHL 15, Page 5

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October 7, 2014

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT NHL 15, continued from page 5

key aspects that of the game that game developers struggle to translate realistically, but now that we’re at a point where technology allows the fine-tuning of size, speed, and agility, EA has done well with their easy-but-realistic collisions. Take Zdeno Chara against, well, anybody else, and you’ll understand what this kind of hitting is all about.

Basically, what I’m saying here is: avoid the new-gen versions at all costs if you can. If you’re absolutely craving hockey and you sold one of those to pay for one, don’t get your hopes too high without doing your research first. However, if you’re the kind that only buys a sports game every few installments, you owe it to yourself to get back in the swing of “NHL”; you’ll at least have a nice piece to display in your collection next to your sealed copy of “Mutant League Courtesy of Electronic Arts (EA) Hockey” for the Sega Genesis or your signed Tuukka jersey. a blast with my copy, while all over Facebook were Final Grade: A- (current-gen. version only) the laments of PS4-owning hockey fans that don’t even have “NHL 14” to go back to.

If they hadn’t brought this up as a key improvement, I probably wouldn’t have noticed (I’m usually too focused on the puck and who’s carrying it), but I can definitely say that I’ve noticed the hitting constantly improve as the flow of the game has become easier to tap into with this series. Hitting can seem like one of those From what I understand, we’re actually looking at a very stripped-down version of the game when it comes to PS4 and Xbox One versions. I have based my review on the PS3 version so I’m not 100% on every omission, but there are some serious, 10-game-misconduct-and-a-meeting-with-Shanahan-level fouls on those systems, such as no GM Connected, Anniversary, Winter Classic, Be A Legend or Live The Life game modes. There are also a host of customization features that are absent from the next-gen versions of the game. EA has promised to fix a handful of these with patching, but it’s looking too little too late. When the game launched, I was actually shocked to be having such

Must-play hockey video games Derek McLeod

Connector Contributor

Anybody who knows their hockey is going tell you that it’s “NHL ’94” every day of the week, but let’s start with the basics, shall we?

ly over-the-top, brimming with quotable gems like “Northbound on a southbound freeway, look out!” and “Welcome to the Roadkill Café!!” Solid NHL gameplay and plenty of gameplay options make this a cartridge still worth popping in.

Blades of Steel (NES, Konami, 1988) “BLADDDAES OFF STEELLEE!” shouts the primitive voice sample as you fire up the first true classic of hockey gaming, complete with fights, penalties, a tournament mode and jerseys that kiiiiiind of look like the real teams, I guess?

Ice Hockey (NES, Nintendo, 1988) Um, hey, Nintendo? We’re missing a guy. We need one m--- ah, whatever. Just give me two fast guys, an average and a big dude and let’s play.

for good reason. One timers, season mode, dekes, physics engines and, oh, the music. Everything but fighting, really, but it’s still one of the best sports games ever made, and it’s still getting roster updates online. If you haven’t tried it, you’re missing out.

Mutant League Hockey (Genesis, EA, 1994) How do you make the world’s best sports game even better? Add death, violence, gore, monsters of all kinds and, while you’re at it, make it hilarious. Following up the success of “Mutant League Football,” EA held nothing back and gave non-sports fans a reason to love hockey.

Courtesy of Konami

NHL Stanley Cup (SNES, Nintendo, 1993) Holy Mode 7, Batman! I’ve never seen graphics like this in a hockey game! The Super Nintendo’s Mode 7 graphics made for a rather funky-looking hockey game that featured every NHL team, but not an NHLPA license, leaving fans to piece together just who that Kings’ #99 was and why he was so good.

NHL ’94 (Genesis/SCD/SNES, EA Sports, 1993) The gold standard. People are still paying over $10 for a copy of this game, 20 years later, and

NHL Rock The Rink (PS1, EA, 2001) Before there was “Hitz,” we were blessed with this beautiful game to send off the PS1. High flying, hard hitting and turned up to 11 on every level, you can expect some real attitude when the intro song to a hockey title is Hole’s “Make Me Over.” Good gameplay, challenge and an absolutely beautiful sense of humor and style, “RTR” is a hidden gem.

NHL Hitz 2003 (PS2/GCN/Xbox, Midway, 2002) The “Hitz” series was special, but unfortunately it only lasted three games. The second game was the peak, though, having more features than in the first installment of four-on-four hockey madness, and being before the “Pro” moniker left both “Hitz” and “Blitz” to die in buttoned-down mediocrity. Launch a team of pros, pirates, aliens, babies and more across the globe in the surprisingly deep franchise mode or just beat up on your friends in all sorts of venues and mini games.

Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey (Arcade/N64/PS1, Midway/Atari, 1996) The N64 may not have seen much support from EA on the rink, but they did have a great hockey game to appeal to both simulationand arcade-style hockey fans in “Gretzky’s 3D Hockey.” Arcade style is always noteworthy, of course, with power saves, shots, and checks, and some crazy fighting (no fatalities, though).

NHL 99 (N64/PS1/PC, EA Sports, 1998) Play this on N64. Do it. Bill Clement is all alone in the commentary booth and it’s almost entire-

Courtesy of Atari/Midway

October 7, 2014

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Tsongas expansion means more than practice

► Continued from front page

“I think the Tsongas Center is one of the nicest athletic facilities I’ve been in, and this is only going to make it better,” said Duquette. “It’s a huge recruiting tool for us. Facilities are one of the most important factors in recruits’ decisions, and every recruit we’ve had on campus, that’s the first place we show them. It’s been a great way to sell our program.”

While the Tsongas Center is closer to East Campus than Costello Athletic Center, both Skinner and Duquette said they agree that replicating the student atmosphere of Costello and multiplying it to the capacity of the Tsongas Center will be a vital task during the transition period.

“I’ve been a basketball coach myself and I’ve played. You want the people right on top of you, as close as they can possibly get,” said Skinner. “While it’s critically important that we move basketball to the Tsongas Center, it’s equally important that we create the kind of environment that’s going to enable our teams to enjoy a home-court advantage.”

The potential benefits of the Tsongas Center expansion, according to the university and UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan, go beyond the ice hockey and basketball programs. With a dedicated practice space outside of the main Tsongas Center area, the larger portion of the 6,500-seat area can host more ticketed events, making it a more profitable venue.

“This expansion will provide more opportunities for students,” Meehan said. “We can attract bigger shows, have more space and have bigger conventions. It certainly provides us with more flexibility.”

These increased opportunities for concerts and other events at the Tsongas Center, Skinner said,

are important to generating the revenue to needed to make the addition of a practice facility worthwhile.

“It’s going to be critically important, with everything that we do, that we maximize revenue as best we can,” Skinner said. “The new hockey practice Courtesy Photo

The Tsongas Center will eventually become the home of UMass Lowell men’s and women’s basketball.

rink will enable us to generate revenues we’re not currently generating today.”

According to Meehan, the expansion of the arena will also create 20 to 30 full-time positions at the Tsongas Center through Global Spectrum, the company that operates the venue.

Along with providing more event and job opportunities, Meehan said the expanded area could provide possibilities for student usage. “There’s definitely some potential for student rallies before or after games at the arena,” he said.

In recent years, the university has constructed a number of new buildings, including the Health and Social Sciences Building, University Suites, Riverview Suites and University

Crossing. Plans to expand the Tsongas Center continue what Skinner called “an aggressive building period,” which he said is essential to improving all students’ experiences on campus.

“Keeping the students is important, not just for student-athletes but for the campus in general,” said Skinner. “If you look at the growth across the campus – the recreation center, University Crossing, improved residence halls, parking garages – all of those are important components to retaining students at UMass Lowell, to make sure they’re having the best possible experience that they can have. This is another piece to that strategy.”

Outside development near the Tsongas Center is a possibility that could come as a result of the addition, according to Meehan, and he said a hotel would be an ideal construction project.

“I think the expansion increases the need for a hotel next to the arena, which would ideally connect to it as well. This kind of development would certainly aid the city,” said Meehan.

Though the projected cost of the expansion hovers near $35 million, according to Meehan, the state approved UMass Lowell for a $30 million bond to fund the expansion. Additionally, there is no official timetable for the completion of the project, but Meehan said he estimates construction to take two years.

In the meantime, Skinner said the university is already working hard to find outside financial support for the project to minimize any financial burden.

Skinner said the expansion of the Tsongas Center is another sign of the university’s “upward trajectory” over the last few years.

“Our primary challenge is to make this a better school to be at for the students and a better school to be from for our alums,” said Skinner. “I think everybody feels the energy, and this is just a continuation of that.”

► Continued from Waldo

for the games. The forthcoming seasons created some of the most exciting moments for the players and especially the fans.

After the late success of the 2011 season I think we all senses, players and fans, that something big was going to happen soon. The team had restored hope in the fan base and I wanted to do something big with my new role in helping lead the UML faithful. I collaborated with one of my good friends Dan Grealish and suggested that we try to incorporate the roller coaster chant into the routine. I went to Woburn High and we used to do this chant and there are multiple Youtube videos of other high schools and colleges doing it and I thought that it was just what we needed. At first it was a rocky start but eventually it caught on and the entire fan section was doing it by the end of the season! This season the fans came together more than ever before and the team took notice and with the help of their renewed fan spirit they went on to win the hockey east regular season title, the hockey east tournament title, made an appearance in the national tournament, and reached the prestigious Frozen Four.

The roller coaster chant gained even more popularity the next year along with the hockey team. The Tsongas center was constantly having capacity of over 4,000 fans a game and the hockey team resumed their winning ways of last season and became back to back champions of the Hockey East Tournament for the first time in school history. More people started coming to the games, which meant a larger fan base, more people getting involved, and an even louder Tsongas arena. That year the roller coaster became one of the more looked forward to parts of the hockey game and the university took notice putting prompts on the jumbotron and adding sound effects over the arena speakers.

It’s definitely one of my favorite chants not just because I helped start this new tradition but because it doesn’t work without everyone participating. This chant calls for the entire student fan section to come together and that’s what makes it more than a chant, it is one of the rare moments when you see an entire student body come together, and that’s something special.

In the recent years the school has made shirts to give out at the home opener which have had different sayings on the back of them. They have ranged from “Let’s Get Rowdy”, “Blue Fan Group”, “#CodeBlue”, and there have been others.

This year at the home opener vs Boston College our shirts will read United In Blue, and the River Hawks will have their strongest fan base they have arguably ever had in history as they look the complete their dynasty run and 3peat. Like the Seattle Seahawks have the 12th man, this year The UMass Lowell River Hawks will have the 7th man as we look to be known as the best fans in the league. No team will look forward to playing at UMass Lowell ever again.

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October 7, 2014

The bar exam A review of Lowell’s hotspots for before and after the game David Rudderham and Alex Gentile Connector Editors

After the game’s out, who’s ready to go to bed? Nobody. Exactly what we were thinking.

Therefore, students should take advantage of downtown Lowell. It is in close proximity to the Tsongas Center, situating it perfectly in line with the thirsty/hungry students that will be heading their way.

These are some of the most popular places to go and what we think of them. Remember, shuttles run until two, so have fun and be safe.

Ward Eight

This bar is a familiar best friend to those who know it. Unlike other bars in Lowell they know to keep the lighting low. Ward 8’s food is impressive, especially the nachos, and the staff is friendly enough that people order another just to have an excuse to stick around.

The beers on tap change from season to season and they always have craft beer and domestics in bottles.

However, they currently they have Pabst Blue Ribbon on draft for two dollars. For college students and hockey fans, this is a godsend.

We all know what it’s like to be drinking and wanting more, because overtime isn’t just for hockey. But then you look in your wallet and see that money is getting a little tight.

On the opposite end of the spectrum if you have the money you can order their top shelf scotch and feel like you own the place. This is a good place to go to before and after the hockey game and I also come here to watch the Bruins.

“We’re definitely a hockey bar.

During the season it can get packed in here,” says Megan Lopez, a bartender at Ward Eight.

Dudley’s

This bar used to be called Hookslide Kelly’s, and many people refuse to stop calling it that. Hookslide’s ran into some legal trouble awhile back and now it’s called Dudley’s.

The place has been fixed up, repainted and re-branded, and now it’s an entirely different place.

Offering both craft beers and cheaper fare (Budweiser, Bud Lite etc.), the big open spaces will be a great attraction for the high-volume stops. There’s a lot of room to dance and two separate bars for when even more people want to dance.

Blue Shamrock

The youth treat this bar like a

club and the old treat it like an old fashioned Irish pub. Upstairs is “Gemstones,” a place I only go to for seeing musicians perform.

Drinks at the Blue Shamrock are pricier than what I would expect.

Over priced shots in tiny plastic cups doesn’t exactly make me feel like an adult. It makes me feel like I’m 12 and I’m about to rinse my mouth with fluoride at a dental office. And with the liquor I drink, the fluoride would probably taste better.

But that’s my fault.

Quite simply, I’ve never had a good time here unless I was with really good friends so if you do decide to go here, go in a group and stay safe. If you want to dance we recommend going to Smokehouse. If you want an Irish pub, go to Finn’s.

Combining the two makes this bar the jack of trades, master of none.

El Potro

Some bars are bar first, restaurant second. El Potro is a Mexican restaurant first and that’s why I recommend this place before the game.

You’re going to need dinner before hockey and a night of drinking, and it’s also fun to take family here.

As for drinks they have inexpensive domestic beers as well as awesome nine dollar margaritas that really pack a punch. Most bars have drinks in this price range but none make a nine dollar drink this large.

The house margarita tastes good and it goes even better with their appetizer platter. They have an appetizer dish that I eat as a dinner because it has a little bit of everything. I also really enjoy their quesadillas.

Just make sure to not overdo it on the drinks before the hockey game. It’s easy to do because the staff is friendly and the live music that they have on weekends can really put you in a drinking mood.

Remember, if the night is young, pace yourself. You still have a whole hockey game to watch and a whole bunch of parties and bars to go to.

Finn’s

When the party’s ended, Finn’s is the party-bus of drunk youth that show up ready to begin. This place has inexpensive drinks and beer, right down to three dollar Pabst Blue Ribbons and six-dollar well drinks.

All well drinks. Let that soak in for a moment.

There are big T.V.’s all around the bar, cheap food and delicious burgers. There is ample space to spread out either along the sidelines or at

tables, which makes Finn’s an inviting environment.

All-in-all a solid spot for some sports viewing and cheap drinking; a perfect spot for the after-game restless. as bartender Rhiannon Peredino says, “Come here for the beautiful bartenders, cheap drinks and great food!”

dance and to party and I typically run into a few UMass Lowell students on a Friday or Saturday night if I decide to go. Also, this place is large with a large dance floor. Every time I am at Smokehouse, which is usually late on a weekend, it is packed.

Smokehouse

This bar/restaurant is the closest to Tsongas out of all the bars reviewed here. Although Beer Works brews their beer I mainly would go here for the food.

Anything can be ordered in terms of beer and food and it’s not disappointing. Don’t expect the inexpensive domestic beers here though.

Everything they have for alcohol is their own craft beer and mixed drinks.

Also this is a very large place meant to serve families, students, and people both young and old. I would recommend Beer Works for more of a dining experience before the hockey game.

Different bars have different atmospheres at what you intend to do after the game is a major deciding factor in choosing where to go.

When students intend to dance to loud electronic dance music, this is where they go.

The drinks that are affordable are the domestic beers, just like any other bar in the U.S. and their mixed drinks are more expensive and come in a plastic cup. And just like The Blue Shamrock the shots come in a tiny plastic cup that ketchup would normally come in when ordering Burger King.

However, the atmosphere here makes sense. People come here to

Beer Works