Mcdonald, Kaiser sign professional contracts

LOWELL >> Umass Lowell hockey players Jon Mcdonald and Zach Kaiser have inked professional contracts.

Mcdonald, a graduate student defenseman from Livonia, Mich., signed a one-year contract with the Toledo Walleye of the ECH.

A leader on the River Hawks’ blueline, Mcdonald was named a co-captain of the 2022-23 squad after announcing his return to the Mill City for a fifth season. With 145 appearances to his credit, Mcdonald capped his prolific career with an impressive graduate campaign. Mcdonald net three goals this season and dished out a career-best 17 assists to round out his fifth season with a singleseason-high 20 points

Meanwhile, Kaiser, a senior forward from Orangeville, Ontario, joins the list of River Hawks in the pros after signing a one-year contract with the ECHL’S Troisrivières Lions.

An alternate captain for the 2022-23 squad, Kaiser kicked his offensive production into high gear in his final season in the Mill City. Setting career-best numbers across all three-scoring categories, Kaiser scored eight goals and dished out eight assists to put up a careerhigh 16 points in 30 games. A standout on special teams, the forward finished his four seasons with 113 games to his credit and 39 points off 21 goals and 18 assists.

Senior co-captain Carl

Berglund signed a deal with the Edmonton Oilers earlier in the week.

College softball

UMASS LOWELL 3, UMASS 0 >> UML (9-12-1) earned a Kennedy Cup shutout victory in its 2023 home opener Wednesday.

Two River Hawk home runs were the difference, as junior Morgan Fisher (Glassboro, N.J.) smashed a two-run shot over the left field wall in the first inning, and graduate student Mya

Case (Syracuse, N.Y.) added a solo homer in the sixth.

Freshman pitcher Giana Lacedra (Tyngsboro) shut down the Minutewomen lineup, throwing a complete-game shutout with seven strikeouts.

High school swimming

LOWELL >> Twenty area athletes were named as Commonwealth Athletic Conference swimming all-stars.

Named from Lowell Catholic were Luke Williams, Maeve Lyttle, Andrew Lelievre,

Elyse Nardone, Maxine Donahue and Gwynn Sagure.

Greater Lowell Tech representatives were Jaereyn Javier and Liliana Locapo.

Making the team from the Shawsheen Tech girls were Maura Krueger, Sarah Simonds, Leah Casey and Makayla Nolan. On the boys side from Shawsheen Tech, being chosen as all-stars were Matt Kilfoyle, Dan Penney, Eliot Hong, Jared Krueger, Anthony Bastienelli, Nate Barnes, Evan Pinto and Harrison Kinsella.