BOSTON – Bruce Crowder has jumped from one Hockey East program to another.

Crowder, a former University of Maine assistant coach, was introduced Thursday as the new head coach at Northeastern University after five seasons at Massachusetts-Lowell. He succeeds Ben Smith, who resigned after the Huskies went 10-21-5 in 1995-96.

During his five seasons in Lowell, the River Hawks were 99-75-19, including 26-10-4 last season. UMass-Lowell finished third in Hockey East and qualified for the Division 1 NCAA tournament. Crowder was named national coach of the year last season.

Crowder played five seasons in the NHL with with Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh after graduating from the University of New Hampshire.