UMass Lowell River Hawks -- 2000/2001 Recruiting Class

The UMass Lowell 2000/2001 recruiting class was finalized over the last couple of weeks, and includes a couple of potential big name players.  The Hawks losses from last year include the four seniors, forwards Chris Bell (9-21-30), John Campbell (7-11-18) and Craig Brown (4-5-9) along with defender Kevin Bertram (10-8-18).  Two players that would have been sophomores this year, defenseman Andy Wozniewski and goalkeeper Dan Weinrieb will return to junior hockey for the 2000-2001 year.

So with six spots to fill, the Hawks recruited well to restock each of the positions that were lost.  The big name of this years incoming class is forward Laurent Meunier, a freshman from Echirolles, France and former teammate of River Hawk junior forward Yorick Treille.  Meunier, 5'11", 180 pounds, is described by Coach Tim Whitehead as a "very well-rounded forward."  Meunier, born 1/16/79, spent the last year as a member of the Leon Lions in the French Elite League.  He might have made a name for himself though at the 2000 World Hockey Championship in St. Petersburg, Russia this past year.  Meunier was the 11th leading scorer in the Tournament, with a 4-3-7 line in 6 games, even though he was one of the younger players participating.  "Laurent is a top-notch player," Whitehead said.  "He skates well and is very smart with the puck. I can see him doing a lot of things for us."

Forward Peter Hay (Weyburn, SJHL) was the first player signed by Lowell for the upcoming year.  Hay, at 6'5", 200 pounds, will add some weight to the Lowell front lines.  In 50 games, Hay showed his scoring touch with 36 goals and 42 assists.  According to Whitehead, Hay, a 21 year old from Abbotsford, BC, "skates real well for a big guy and he has great hands and an excellent scoring touch. He put up real good numbers in a real good league."  Hay was presented the Weyburn Security Award for outstanding ability as well as the Weyburn Co-op Award, presented to the top scorer, this past year.

The third forward added onto the roster this year, is 18 year old Anders Strome, from Winnipeg, Manitoba.  Strome last played for the Winnipeg South Blues of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), the same club that produced former River Hawk Craig Brown.  At 6'2, 190, Strome will also add some girth up front, as well as a shot that netted him 24 goals in 63 games last year, along with 47 assists.  Strome showed his worth in the playoffs for the Blues though, putting up 14-9-23 in just 16 games.  "Anders has improved at every level which he has played," Whitehead noted.  "He is very athletic, has a good scoring touch and he'll keep getting better and better."

Lowell's two incoming defensemen, Darryl Green and Jerremie Domish, both signed prior to the 1999 season but had to sit out last year.  Green, a LD at Chatham (WOJHL) was not eligible for the 99/00 season because he played five games for the S.S. Marie Greyhounds in the 1995-96 season. He almost became a River Hawk one year earlier, but according to reports it was decided he would be better off going to the juniors for one more year. Green is the oldest of Lowell's incoming class (born 4/9/78), and at 6'0", 188, will be able to handle himself well in Hockey East. Green, was the captain of the Maroons, and is a high scoring defenseman (52 games, 15 goals, 38 assists) averaging over a point per game and also averaging just under 4 PIM a game with 179 total penalty minutes. His 53 points made him the sixth highest scorer on his Maroons' team. Green is also a force on the power play, with eight of his fifteen goals coming on the man advantage.  Green was voted the top defensive player in the Western Ontario Junior Hockey League (WOJHL) during the 1997-98 season. He helped the Chatham Maroons advance to the Ontario Junior B championship in 1998 and 1999.  "Darryl has great hands and makes very good decisions with the puck," Whitehead said.  "He plays smart defensively."

Domish, 5-10, 200 pounds, is a tough, physical player who adds bulk to the River Hawk blue line. Domish played for the Tecumseh Bulldogs of the WOJHL in 1998-99.  "Jerremie is a very mobile, physical defenseman who has real potential," said Whitehead.  Domish, from Pottstown, PA, was born in 1979, and in his last year with the Bulldogs put up 9-32-41 line in 47 games, with 104 penalty minutes.

The final recruit is goaltender Chris Davidson (Hudson, QUE), who was signed following a great season with the Cambridge Winter Hawks of the Mid-Western Junior Hockey League (MWJHL).   This was the same team that produced former River Hawk great and Hockey East Rookie of the Year Greg Bullock.  Davidson led the Winter Hawks to the Sutherland Cup (Championship of Ontario), while leading the league with a 2.29 goals against average over 1,491 minutes and compiled an 18-6-1 record. "Chris has consistently improved at every level, and he played his best hockey in the playoffs last season with Cambridge," Whitehead noted.  "He moves well, controls his rebounds, and he is a real competitor."

This class has some potential for the Hawks.  Both defensemen will be expected to contribute immediately, and with the offense sputtering through the majority of last season, the forwards will have a great shot to step in and play often.  With two junior goaltenders in front of him, Davidson might have a hard time getting between the pipes, but if one of the returning netminders gets injured, Coach Whitehead will not worry about throwing Davidson on the ice, especially with a talented and deep defensive core in front of him.

Of course ... this is all just conjecture ... we'll find out the truth beginning on October 13, when the regular season starts for Lowell at home against the UConn Huskies.