UMass Lowell Freshman Diego Buttazzoni Emerging as Scoring Threat

Buttazzoni's heavy shot and unusual jersey number 90 stand out for River Hawks

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

UMass Lowell freshman forward Diego Buttazzoni is starting to make a name for himself with his ability to score goals, especially on the power play. Buttazzoni, who wears the unusual jersey number 90, has five goals and 11 points in 24 games so far this season as he transitions from junior hockey to the college game.

Why it matters

Buttazzoni's emergence as a scoring threat is an important development for the UMass Lowell hockey team, which is looking to make a push for the Hockey East playoffs. The River Hawks have struggled at times this season, but Buttazzoni's production on the power play has helped them pick up some key wins.

The details

Buttazzoni, a 5-foot-9, 183-pound forward from Langley, B.C., has scored goals in three of his last five games and has recorded six points in his last six games overall. All five of his goals have come on the power play, including a pair of goals last weekend in a sweep of Vermont. Buttazzoni's heavy shot has proven to be a weapon, with one of his goals coming after his initial shot was blocked but he was able to collect the rebound and score.

  • Buttazzoni started wearing the number 90 about five years ago, inspired by NHL player Ryan O'Reilly.
  • Buttazzoni missed six games earlier this season due to mononucleosis.
  • Buttazzoni was paired with sophomore forwards Libor Nemec and Lee Parks last weekend against Vermont.

The players

Diego Buttazzoni

A freshman forward for the UMass Lowell River Hawks who is emerging as a scoring threat, especially on the power play, with five goals and 11 points in 24 games so far this season.

Mirko Buttazzoni

Diego's older brother, who is a sophomore forward for the River Hawks and has 13 points in 21 games this season.

Norm Bazin

The head coach of the UMass Lowell hockey team, who has praised Buttazzoni's recent play and development.

Philip Tornqvist

A Vermont player who was on the receiving end of Buttazzoni's heavy shot, getting knocked to the ice twice by blocked shots before Buttazzoni scored the game-winning goal.

Chris Delaney

A UMass Lowell forward who assisted on one of Buttazzoni's power play goals against Vermont.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Coach always says, 'Shoot to hurt.' The coaches here do a great job. They give me confidence to keep shooting.”

— Diego Buttazzoni, Freshman Forward (lowellsun.com)

“I liked the way his game is trending even before last weekend. I'm glad he shot the third time. Everyone wants to score. But it's hard scoring in the NCAA. There's not a single goal-a-game scorer in the NCAA. He's working away from the puck.”

— Norm Bazin, Head Coach (lowellsun.com)

What’s next

The River Hawks will host Northeastern for a pair of Hockey East games this weekend, with the first game on Friday at 7:15 p.m. and the second on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. Northeastern is currently tied for sixth in Hockey East, one point ahead of UMass Lowell, so these games will be important for the River Hawks' playoff positioning.

The takeaway

Diego Buttazzoni's emergence as a scoring threat with his heavy shot and unusual jersey number 90 is an encouraging sign for the UMass Lowell hockey team as they look to make a push for the Hockey East playoffs. The River Hawks will need continued production from Buttazzoni and others if they want to secure a postseason berth.