UMass Lowell 2020-2021: Down the long hallway

[UMLFan]

Restart the countdown clock for the season opener, as it (most likely) won't be this weekend. NU has shut down all winter sports till December 18th.

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/ne...Down-Until.php

[boblav1]

Lowell Sun article on Owen Savory.

Savory verbally commits to UML

Goalie will transfer from RPI

By Barry Scanlon

Correspondent

Goaltender U. has netted another top player.

UMass Lowell, long known for producing quality goaltenders, has landed a verbal commitment from Owen Savory, who decided to transfer from RPI after the Troy, N.Y., school announced, due to the pandemic, it would not play hockey during the 2020-21 season.

He’s considered a huge get for UML after he opted to join the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Savory will take classes at RPI until December. Unknown is when he will be eligible to play for UMass Lowell. In a best- case scenario, Savory will be eligible to play after Christmas. There’s a chance, though, he won’t become eligible until next September or December.

UML head coach Norm Bazin wasn’t able to comment on Savory because student hasn’t been officially accepted into the university.

Savory, 23, had two terrific seasons at RPI. The native

of Cambridge, Ont., was named an ECAC Second Team performer after an outstanding sophomore season which saw him rank in the top 10 in two categories.

Savory was tied for third in the nation with five shutouts and tied for seventh with a .932 save percentage. He went 13- 9-2 with a 2.06 goals against average as RPI made a nice turnaround. He allowed one goal or fewer in 11 games.

Savory did not play last season when UMass Lowell skated past RPI, 4- 0.

But he does have fond memories of playing at the Tsongas Center. He made his first collegiate start at UMass Lowell. He was superb, kicking aside 26 of 27 shots in RPI’s 2-1 victory.

Two days later, in Troy, N.Y., UML defeated Savory and RPI, 5-2. Savory made 30 saves that day.

Under Bazin, UML has featured outstanding goalies. Connor Hellebuyck is the gold standard. Hellethe buyck, who played two seasons at UML, has reached NHL stardom with the Winnipeg Jets. He recently was named the Vezina Trophy winner for being the NHL’s top goaltender.

Hellebuyck’s not the lone success story. Kevin Boyle transferred from UMass Amherst to UMass Lowell with little fanfare. Then he produced two solid seasons, his last one earning him co- Hockey East Player of the Year honors. His pro career has included five NHL games.

Then Tyler Wall took over. Wall graduated this past spring after winning more Division 1 games

than any goalie in UML’s history.

UML returns four of its top six scorers and all of its defensemen. Inexperience in net was expected to be the team’s major question mark. Sophomore Logan Neaton started only two games as a freshman. Current freshman Henry Welsch has no college games under his belt.

The arrival of Savory will give the River Hawks experience between the pipes, whenever he becomes eligible.

[boblav1]

According to the box score on CHN, SOG were 41-15, and attempts ended up at 95-29. LIU blocked 27 shots in the game.

Former River Hawk Derek Osik was also in the lineup for LIU.

[ScottK]

Former River Hawk Goalie Garrett Metcalf backstops LIU to an OT win in their first D1 game. Holy Cross out attempted LIU 93-26 per Mike McMahon. Insane.

According to the box score on CHN, SOG were 41-15, and attempts ended up at 95-29. LIU blocked 27 shots in the game.

[Patman]

ye gods.... that being said... holy cross... this LIU team is going to be... oof

[bottomdweller]

Former River Hawk Goalie Garrett Metcalf backstops LIU to an OT win in their first D1 game. Holy Cross out attempted LIU 93-26 per Mike McMahon. Insane.

[UMLFan]

Weird to see everything that's going on right now. Hockey East about to start play. On the other hand, ECHL's entire northeast group of teams is about to shut down.

[Middle Street]

According to Barry Scanlon, Owen will be eligible to play during the 2nd semester:
https://twitter.com/Scanlon65/status...18783539290116

His numbers are very impressive. He had a better statistical season than Tyler did last year, and Tyler played great.

[UMLFan]

A good friend of mine that lives in Troy and is a RPI season ticket holder has echoed the sentiments from the RPI fans here. Seems like we got a good kid, and a pretty good player as well.

[Patman]

Maine has postponed its scheduled home games with Massachusetts this weekend, due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
UMass will now play a home and home with UConn.

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/ne...ck-Season-.php

Greg Carvel @CoachCarvelUM
No worries #NewMass fans! The Minutemen and the UConn Huskies will be going at it this weekend!

sounds like opportunistic scheduling is going to be the name of the game

[boblav1]

Maine has postponed its scheduled home games with Massachusetts this weekend, due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
UMass will now play a home and home with UConn.

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/ne...ck-Season-.php

Greg Carvel @CoachCarvelUM
No worries #NewMass fans! The Minutemen and the UConn Huskies will be going at it this weekend!

[boblav1]

I wonder what that means for the two current guys on the roster?

CHN article. https://www.collegehockeynews.com/ne...ansfers-to.php

A source told College Hockey News that Savory was waiting it out, hoping that RPI would move forward with the hockey season. Monday's decision forced his hand. RPI players have not been able to use the facilities since returning the campus, and in some cases have been paying their own money to practice off campus.

Savory is looking for a waiver that would allow him to play for Lowell in the second semester. Even without that, however, he would still be able to practice and work out with the team, something he hasn't been able to do at RPI.

[sezenack]

Another RPI fan here: congrats to Lowell on getting a future Richter finalist. He was already a top goaltender in the country, and now he gets to work with Norm Bazin

[Wicked Slappaahs]

He had really good numbers for RPI last year - https://rpiathletics.com/sports/mens...n-savory/15540

He's a junior, so he should be back next year too.

Owen has a very high compete level --never gives up on a play or a puck --absolute gamer. He came in with little fanfare and earned the starting job pretty early in his freshman year. Great locker room guy and on ice presence. He's not a big kid but he is very sound positionally and is more than capable of stealing goals and some games for Lowell. RPI coach Smith said he had several calls about Savory. He'll be missed at RPI but hope he has success at Lowell.

[UMLFan]

I wonder what that means for the two current guys on the roster?

Also, here's the TV/streaming information for this season.