LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - Senior Stefan Owens (Midlothian, Va.) netted a goal in the eighth round of a shootout, to help the No. 16 UMass Lowell ice hockey team (10-3-1, 5-2-0 Hockey East) win the 2024 Adirondack Winter Invitational against No. 20 Clarkson (9-5-2, 3-1-0 ECAC) at 1980 Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, N.Y. The game ended in a 4-4 draw, but the shootout victory gave the River Hawks the points they needed to clinch the tournament victory.
Junior Connor Eddy (Victoria, B.C.), freshman Mirko Buttazzoni (Langley, B.C.), senior Matt Crasa (South Setauket, N.Y.) and senior Owen Cole (Dunnville, Ontario) were the goal scorer for the River Hawks in regulation. Buttazzoni finished with a helper as well to finish with a team-leading two points, as seven different skaters also tallied assists. Those players include junior TJ Schweighardt (Manahawkin, N.J.), graduate student Ben Meehan (Walpole, Mass.), junior Dillan Bentley (Peoria, Ill.), freshman Libor Nemec (Bratislava, Slovakia), junior Scout Truman (Lethbridge, Alberta), graduate student Ian Carpentier (Worcester, Mass.) and sophomore Jak Vaarwerk (Clarence, N.Y.).
Defensively, Vaarwerk led the way with two blocks, while five different skaters added one apiece. Graduate student Henry Welsch (Lakeville, Minn.) got the nod between the pipes for the River Hawks, making 20 saves and coming up with crucial saves in the shootout.
"I am proud of our players today," said Head Coach Norm Bazin. "Winning in-season tournaments is difficult and the guys were very resilient throughout the game. We battled throughout multiple momentum swings against a good opponent. We'll enjoy this tonight and turn our attention to our next opponent tomorrow. Boston College will be next weekend."
The River Hawks came out hot in the first, collecting nine shots on goal in the first period and limiting Clarkson to just five. Both teams had scoring chances throughout the period, and it was not until the end that the puck found the back of the net. Eddy opened up the scoring with 18 seconds remaining taking a Vaarwerk pass in the slot and burying it for the lead. Immediately after, the River Hawks were called for a penalty and the Golden Knights capitalized with a power play with eight seconds remaining to bring the game to the first intermission with a 1-1 tie.
The second period was eventful, with each team potting two goals apiece to leave it tied up again after two. Clarkson got one first at the 8:32 mark, before Buttazzoni immediately responded just 17 seconds later on a breakaway with helpers from Carpentier and Schweighardt. Crasa used the momentum to score his third goal of the year less than two minutes later to give the River Hawks the 3-2 lead. After Bentley and Nemec each controlled the puck in front of the net, the puck found itself behind the goaltender and Crasa swooped in to finish it for the goal. With 4:09 remaining, the Golden Knights scored their third of the day to tie it up once again, bringing the game to the third period.
Cole broke the tie at the 10:25 mark of the third, taking a nice pass from Buttazzoni and blowing it by Clarkson goaltender, Ethan Langenegger, to make it 4-3. Clarkson then responded with a goal with just over five minutes remaining to knot it up once again. Both teams fought to the end of regulation, but neither could find the game-winner and the game went to an overtime period.
Each team was methodical about creating chances throughout the 3-on-3 overtime period, with just three combined shots on goal, but both goaltenders were able make their respective stops and send the game to a shootout.
UMass Lowell and Clarkson in the three-player shootout, with UMass Lowell's coming from Bentley, sending it to a sudden death shootout. It was a lengthy battle, going eight rounds with cutch saves from Welsch and a goal from Cole, before the game and tournament-winner Owens.
The River Hawks will now shift their focus to Boston College for two games on Friday, December 6 and Monday, December 9. Friday's game is set for 7:15 p.m., while Monday's will have a 7:00 p.m. puck drop.
