LOWELL — Unfortunately for Dillan Bentley, college hockey doesn’t present a Lady Byng Memorial Trophy like the National Hockey League.
The trophy goes to “a player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.”
Bentley, a UMass Lowell forward, is producing a terrific senior season and he would be a strong candidate for a Byng-like award if one existed for college players. His 10 goals and 17 points lead the River Hawks in both categories. As for “gentlemanly conduct,” Bentley has yet to be called for a penalty in 19 games.
“You have to know the line,” said the 6-foot-4, 192-pound native of Peoria, Ill. “You don’t want to put your team at a disadvantage.”
Bentley is playing the best hockey of his career. He’s netted five goals and dished out three assists in his last five games. He credited linemates Jay Ahearn and Chris Delaney for much of his recent success.
“Jay is so strong down low. He’s always making the right play,” Bentley said. “Delaney has a high motor. He never stops. He creates a lot with his feet.”
Bentley said he became aware of his zero-penalty season a couple of days ago, joking that he’ll have to “play with more of an edge” in the future.
Bentley is a rare college hockey player who’s remained with the same program for four years.
“It’s the most satisfying part of my job,” said Bazin of watching a player commit to a school and develop within that program over four years. “It’s nice to see a Lowell man develop over four years. It’s very gratifying.”
Bazin said Bentley’s always had offensive skill. The difference now is he’s playing a true 200-foot game, making plays all over the ice and being as responsible in his defensive zone as he can. He may have zero penalty minutes, but Bentley is not afraid to put his body in harm’s way, as evidenced by his team-high 19 blocked shots among forwards.
Bentley has posted four two-goal games this season.
His hot streak began in the final game before Christmas break when he scored twice against Maine in Portland.
UMass Lowell senior forward Dillan Bentley rips a shot on goal during recent action at the Tsongas Center. (UML Athletics photo)
He’s excelled since the break with a two-goal effort against Minnesota State at the Cactus Cup in Palm Springs, Calif., and he tallied a goal the next night at the tournament against St. Cloud. He then dished out two assists during UML’s 5-3 victory last Friday at UConn.
With 13 regular-season games left prior to the Hockey East playoffs, Bentley is on pace to produce one of UML’s top goal scoring seasons of the past 10 years.
Andre Lee led UML with 16 goals in 2021-22, the top output of the previous eight seasons.
During the 2016-17 season, which saw the River Hawks fall one goal short of advancing to the Frozen Four for the second time in program history, six players, remarkably, reached double digits in goals: C.J. Smith (23), John Edwardh (19), Joe Gambardella (18), Jake Kamrass (13), Ryan Lohin (12) and defenseman Dylan Zink (10).
UMass Lowell senior forward Dillan Bentley steps into a slap shot. He’s scored five goals and added three assists in his last five games. (UML Athletics photo)
Scouting BU: Several Hockey East teams haven’t hit their strides yet. Boston University is one of them.
UML and BU will battle twice this weekend. BU will host the first meeting Friday (7 p.m.) at Agganis Arena, with UML hosting the rematch Saturday (6:05 p.m.) at the Tsongas Center.
A season after advancing to the national title game, the Terriers (11-9-1, 7-6-0) have not been dominant. But they still have elite talent led by defenseman Cole Hutson (7-14-21) and forward Cole Eiserman (8-5-13), a Newburyport native whose father Bill and brother Billy both played at UMass Lowell.
“Very good special teams,” Bazin said of the Hutson-led BU. “They have some very, very talented offensive players. They’ve got good goaltending.”
Since Christmas break, UML has upset 10th-ranked UConn and 14th-ranked Minnesota State, but the River Hawks are coming off a 5-1 loss vs. UConn when they allowed three late goals on home ice.
“Hockey East is an absolute bear,” Bazin said. “We’re playing decent hockey.”
But the River Hawks, like several Hockey East teams, are searching for a way to play consistently for 60 minutes.