Outside his office a couple of slap shots from the Merrimack River, temperatures would soon soar past 90 degrees.
Hockey season seemed light years away, but UMass Lowell head coach Norm Bazin was busy earlier this week assembling a roster he hopes will shine during the 2025-26 season.
The college hockey landscape is ever changing – and so are the rosters of every Division 1 team. UML will turn over about half its roster from a team that went 16-16-4 last season.
Bazin and his staff are excited about the 14 newcomers who will don River Hawk uniforms in the fall. (If they find the right forward, likely a center, a 15th player will finalize the incoming class.)
“We want to get faster. It’s more important than it’s ever been. It’s the key to the game. We want to get grittier. Time will tell whether we can improve on our toughness,” he said. “We’re excited. We think they’re good prospects. Every team is replacing half their team. It’s challenging and exciting all wrapped into one.”
Eleven of the 14 newcomers hail from Canada. One major change is for the first time NCAA programs can add players with Major Junior experience. UML is bringing in seven with Canadian Hockey League experience.
Three are National Hockey League draft picks.
Goaltenders
Austin Elliott: A 6-1, 185-pound native of Strathmore, Alb., Elliott was waived early in the season. Switching from the Western Hockey League to the Ontario Hockey League, Elliott caught fire for the London Knights.
He won 55 of 58 starts with the Knights and led them to the prestigious Memorial Cup championship, compiling a .943 save percentage in the pressure-filled tournament. Elliott went 32-1 during the regular season with a .924 save percentage and then continued his winning ways in the postseason.
Austin Elliott (Courtesy photo)
Bazin: “Austin had a very strong year. It’s exciting to win a Memorial Cup. He’s very calm. Very composed. He’s eager to play college hockey. He’s humble and he’s eager to win.”
Samuel Richard: Richard also has a winning background. A 6-foot, 170-pound native of Ste-Catherine, Que., Richard guided the University of New Brunswick to the University Cup title two seasons ago.
In this past season, he sported a 1.48 goals against average and .926 save percentage during the regular season for New Brunswick.
Samuel Richard (Courtesy photo)
Bazin: “He’s been to three NHL camps. He’s got a good attitude and knows what he needs to do. He’s a battler. He was a national champion two years ago. He’s won also. He’s no kid.”
Nikola Goich: Goich is a big goaltender with plenty of potential. He’s coming off a strong season with Shreveport of the North American Hockey League. A 6-5, 175-pound netminder, Goich was 24-11-3 last season with a 2.24 goals against average and .924 save percentage.
Nikola Goich (Courtesy photo)
Bazin: “He’s a big and he’s a southpaw. He had a strong season. It will be interesting to see him complement the other guys. I think he has a huge amount of upside.”
Forwards
Diego Buttazzoni: Buttazzoni figures to make an immediate impact. The 5-9, 183-pound native of Langley, B.C., enjoyed a productive season with Portland of the Western Hockey League, scoring 38 goals and 77 points during the regular season.
He elevated his play in 18 playoff games, netting 14 goals and 27 points. He’s the younger brother of UML forward Mirko Buttazzoni, who’s coming off a strong freshman season.
Diego Buttazzoni (Courtesy photo)
Bazin: “I would say his shot is his biggest asset. He likes to have the puck in big moments. He wants to be the guy to score a game-winning goal. He’s a goal scorer. There are few shoot-first guys.”
Jay Ahearn: A transfer from Niagara University, Ahearn is a player to watch. He scored 82 points in 87 games at Niagara and is coming off a 19-goal campaign which topped his team. His 39 points tied for the team high.
Jay Ahearn (Courtesy photo)
A 5-11, 170-pound native of Staten Island, N.Y., Ahearn is excited about the challenge of playing in Hockey East.
Bazin: “He had a good year last year. He was a two-time captain at Niagara. Most of his goals come from within 10 feet of the net. My former assistant (Jason Lammers) can’t say enough good things about him. He’s always where you can score goals.”
Cole Lonsdale: A 5-11, 170-pound speedster from Mississauga, Ont., Lonsdale was the captain and MVP of his junior team.
Lonsdale played for the Nanaimo Clippers of the British Columbia Hockey League and tied for the team lead in goals (27) and points (67). Over his final two seasons with the Clippers, Lonsdale racked up 103 points in 103 games.
Cole Lonsdale (Courtesy photo)
Bazin: “He’s a good skater. He moves well. He’ll play the middle for us and we need some centers. He scored more than a point a game. He’s a center and he’s good on the power play.”
Dalyn Wakely: UML coaches are excited to work with the 6-1, 198-pound center from Port Hope, Ont.
Wakely is a 2024 sixth-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers. He excelled last season for the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League, scoring 23 goals and 58 points in 55 regular-season games. His production rose in the playoffs when he collected 24 points over 16 games.
Dalyn Wakely (Courtesy photo)
Bazin: “He’s a very good two-way center. Responsible. Honest. Good citizen. A two-time humanitarian winner. Center is where you start your offense. He had 104 points two years ago. He was an assistant captain.”
Defensemen
Tnias Mathurin: Mathurin, a native of Ajax, Ont., has good size (6-3, 201 pounds) and skating ability.
He was a fifth-round pick (137th overall) of the Detroit Red Wings in 2022. Mathurin played this past season for the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. In 49 regular-season games, he posted a 7-16-23 line.
Tnias Mathurin (Courtesy photo)
Bazin: “He’s a 6-3 defenseman. We’re looking forward to see what he can do. He’s a two-way guy. He’s got a good presence about him. I think he’s going to be a good hockey player.”
Nate Misskey: Another big blueliner (6-4, 212 pounds), Misskey hails from Melford, Sask. Misskey was a two-time assistant captain for the Victoria Royals of the WHL.
In 2024 he was a fifth-round (143rd overall) selection of the San Jose Sharks. A right-shot defenseman, Misskey posted a 10-37-47 line in 63 regular-season games last season.
Nate Misskey (Courtesy photo)
Bazin: “He played three full years in the WHL. He was a two-year assistant captain. Defense is his strength. He’s not defunct of any (offensive) skill. He contributes. He’ll be very helpful on the special teams.”
Luke Shipley: A 6-foot, 187-pound native of Powell River, B.C., Shipley figures to see plenty of time on the power play.
He produced loads of points for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, netting 20 goals and 57 points in 60 regular-season games. That was a 21-point improvement in five fewer games from the previous season.
Luke Shipley (Courtesy photo)
Bazin: “He’s an intriguing guy. He really came into his own this year. He’s going to be a power play guy. He has a shot to help our special teams. Things seemed to click for him. He was a plus-37, which is impressive.”
Josh Mori: Mori will arrive in Lowell with plenty of experience after having skated in 230 WHL games. A 5-11, 174-pound native of Richmond, B.C., the smooth-skating Mori played this past season for the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Mori scored four goals and compiled 30 points in 68 regular-season games.
Josh Mori (Courtesy photo)
Bazin: “Josh is a good skater. I think that’s the most important part of the game. He played four years in the WHL. He’s a defender. He’s hard to play against. He was an assistant captain in Edmonton.”
Dominic Payne: A 6-2, 190-pound defenseman, Payne is transferring to UML from Canisius University after a promising freshman season.
The North Vancouver, B.C., native was the top-scoring defenseman at Canisius as he posted 6-8-14 totals in 37 games. Bazin said Payne has the ability to play professionally if he develops.
Dominic Payne (Courtesy photo)
Bazin: “I like his skating ability. I think he’s going to be one of the best skaters on the team. He knows what this level demands. He had 14 points as a freshman and I think he has a lot of upside.”
James Johnson: A giant on skates, the 6-6, 203-pound Johnson has the tools to be, in time, a shutdown defender. The Ajax, Ont., native played 50 games last season in the British Columbia Hockey League.
He compiled 12 points, splitting time between Blackfalds and Nanaimo.
James Johnson (Courtesy photo)
Bazin: “Big kid. He has to put some weight on. This kid is a true 6-foot-6. For his size his skating his good. He’s a wonderful kid and a competitive guy. I hope his best hockey is ahead of him.”
August Classon: A native of Stockholm, Sweden, the 6-foot, 185-pound Classon played in his native country before travelling to the U.S. and skating in the North American Hockey League last season.
In 45 regular-season games, he registered a 8-21-29 line and then added six points in 10 playoff games for the Lone Star Brahmas.
August Classon (Courtesy photo)
Bazin: “He had a good year. He’s a skater. He’s a contributor on both sides of the ice. His skating his strong, really strong. He almost had a point a game. That’s pretty good. He’ll be interesting to watch.”