AMESBURY, Mass. - The Hockey East Association announced today that UMass Lowell’s Owen Cole (Dunnville, Ont.) has been honored as the 2024-25 Night Shift Academic Champion. The award was created in 2024 honoring outstanding accomplishments from one men’s and one women’s player both on the ice and in the classroom.

In 2024, Hockey East and Night Shift Brewing partnered to highlight both the academic and athletic success of student-athletes across the league. As a result, Cole will receive scholarship funds that include a portion of the proceeds of Hockey East Ale, the first-ever collaboration between the conference and a brewery for its own branded beverage.

“Hockey East is proud to honor Owen Cole as the 2024-25 Hockey East Academic Champion after a distinguished four years at UMass Lowell on the ice and in the classroom,” said Hockey East Commissioner Steve Metcalf. “We are happy to provide Owen with means to continue his education when he is ready thanks to our partners at Night Shift Brewing and look forward to honoring him at our championship.”

Cole, who served as captain of the River Hawks this season, has set a career high with 20 points on eight goals and 12 assists through 35 games.

Off the ice, Cole has maintained a 3.76 GPA while majoring in Exercise & Fitness Management, a course load that requires both lab and clinical hours in addition to UMass Lowell’s standard academic coursework. Throughout the 2024-25 season, Cole would lead his River Hawks in practice before commuting to Wilmington, Mass. for clinical rotations. He is scheduled to graduate this spring Magna Cum Laude.

Cole is also a visible presence on the UMass Lowell campus and throughout the community. The senior forward is active with the River Hawk’s Team Impact teammate, Owen, and founded a 5K charity race to raise awareness for the program and the work Team Impact does. He also participates in the UMass Lowell Pen Pal Program which pairs student-athletes with local elementary school children throughout the year.