UMass Lowell goalie Kevin Boyle has lowered his goals-against average by more than a goal this season.  2014 FILE/WINSLOW TOWNSON FOR THE GLOBE
UMass Lowell goalie Kevin Boyle has lowered his goals-against average by more than a goal this season.

11/20/2015
Boston Globe
By Eric Russo

Many of the headlines early in the college hockey season have belonged to Boston College’s Thatcher Demko, but another Hockey East goalie hasn’t been far behind.

UMass-Lowell senior Kevin Boyle has backstopped the fifth-ranked River Hawks to an 8-1-2 (4-0-2) record and a spot atop the conference standings.

Last weekend, Boyle made 66 saves on 67 shots in two victories over Maine — including a career-high 38 saves in a shutout Saturday — to earn Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week honors.

The New Jersey native has lowered his goals-against average (1.25) by more than a goal from last season, and his save percentage (.957) is .42 higher. He places in the top five in the nation in both categories and is third with three shutouts.

Boyle took the modest approach when describing the reasons for his success.

“When you’re playing well you definitely know, but I think it’s more the team playing really well at this point,” Boyle told the River Hawks’ website. “We’re really meshing, we’re really jelling together. The defense is playing great and even the offense is doing a great job of coming back and blocking shots for me. I think the team as a whole is in a groove right now.”

Boyle, who transferred from UMass-Amherst after the 2012-13 season, has been the main reason the River Hawks have been dominant in their own end.

Lowell is allowing 1.27 goals per game, second in the nation behind BC.

“He’s been our most consistent player so far this year,” River Hawks coach Norm Bazin said after his team’s win over Maine Saturday. “He’s been spectacular at times. He’s been a rock for us and we hope we can keep that trend.”

Boyle said things finally began to click for him this fall, and he credited Bazin and the rest of the coaching staff, as well as his teammates, for guiding him through his transition from Amherst over the past two years.

“They’ve done a great job of getting me ready. My first year here, my redshirt year, the coaching staff and my teammates did a great job of acclimating me with everything,” said Boyle. “Last year was good for my maturity, and this year [the coaches] have done a great job from the preseason up until today of just really looking after us. They really care about us as people. That definitely helps your confidence and growing not only as a hockey player but a person as well.”

The River Hawks host No. 16 Notre Dame Friday and Saturday.