However, the University of Massachusetts-Lowell is making its case for some recognition. It may be early, but the River Hawks have already defeated Northeastern and last weekend earned a split with BU, losing in overtime at home and winning on the road.

Heading into tomorrow night’s game at Vermont, UMass-Lowell is 4-2-0 overall and 2-1-0 in Hockey East. Not bad for a program that was nearly rendered extinct because of budgetary issues back in the summer of 2007. The senior-laden River Hawks have strong goaltenders in Carter Hutton and Nevin Hamilton, balanced scoring, and reliable defense.

In a league as challenging as Hockey East, coach Blaise MacDonald said one reason he is optimistic about how far his team can go is the influence his older players have had on the underclassmen.

“Your seniors need to play a bigger role than what you see on the ice,’’ said MacDonald, whose team is ranked No. 8 in the USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Division 1 poll. “They conduct themselves so professionally within this community, within the university, in the classroom, and kind of the way they go about their business on the ice reflects all of that.

“It’s allowed our younger players to really understand the culture and the accepted form of behavior very quickly.’’

Last weekend, MacDonald said, it could be argued that the team’s best players against the Terriers were the freshmen and sophomores. One was sophomore forward David Vallorani, who had three assists against BU and whose 6 points tie him for the team scoring lead with senior Kory Falite.

“He has a high compete level and he can be a game-breaker,’’ said MacDonald. “I like the fact he’s only a sophomore. He’s very skilled and very talented. He is a ‘wow’ player.’’

In terms of goaltending, MacDonald said the team has equal faith in Hutton and Hamilton despite their radically different styles.

“They played well and they’re both talented, so they both deserved to play,’’ said MacDonald. “They are both highly respected by their teammates so we need to play them.’’

Hutton said he and Hamilton compare notes on their statistics, which are startlingly similar over their careers. This season, Hutton is 2-2-0 with a 2.48 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage. Hamilton is 2-0-0 with a 2.50 GAA and .911 save percentage.

“It is kind of funny, we talk about that sometimes,’’ said Hutton. “We’re such a different brand of goaltender. I’m more the active guy, kind of athletic and moving around, and he’s more a really good first shot and technically sound. [Statistically] that’s definitely a team thing, too. Our core defense and our team defense has really benefited me and Nevin both.’’

As much as there is competition between the goalies, there is also friendship.

“Our relationship has been great,’’ said Hutton. “We’re both pretty competitive guys and we both want to play, which I think makes the goaltending situation even better because we push each other.

“Off the rink, we’re best buddies, we live together. I think we’ve learned to deal with having our time to sit out because we both want to play every game but we both realize we have two good goalies, which many teams wish they had.’’

Falite said a number of factors have made the River Hawks believe that this could be their best opportunity to shine.

“Every year we have a team-building [exercise] and we discuss it then as a group,’’ said Falite. “This year, it’s understood where we want to be and what our goals are. It goes without saying around here that we expect to win every night. We have the best goaltending tandem in the nation and it shows. This team can do something special this year.’’

As far as the program has come, MacDonald said he doesn’t often reflect on how close a call it was during that summer of 2007.

“If I didn’t have four kids and a lot of activities and some self time, I probably would,’’ said the coach with a laugh. “To have walked in our shoes as coaches a few years ago and been in the meetings and the dialogue about the program and then to look in the eyes of our young freshmen at the time, who are now seniors, it was difficult.

“With [chancellor] Marty Meehan coming on board to let us continue to [drive] toward our dreams . . . potentially to have the [kids’] dreams crushed in conference rooms as opposed to hockey rinks, it was a very difficult thing to go through. All things that are worthwhile are usually difficult. I’m very grateful to our administration and Marty for their faith.’’

And MacDonald and his staff have faith that this could be the year the River Hawks are a local representative at the Frozen Four.

“I think this is a good year for us,’’ he said. “We do have the physical and mental makeup to be a championship type of team. I think our work habits and talent are of that level. You need to mix in some consistency and some good fortune. BU had that last year, BC the year before. You need some good fortune and that is yet to be seen.’’

Nancy Marrapese-Burrell can be reached at marrapese@globe.com.