The University of Massachusetts Lowell added another recruit to its impressive week of commitments, officially signing Joey McGraw, a right-shot forward from the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL. McGraw first announced the decision on his Instagram on April 8, but the program made it public a month later.
Born in New York, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound McGraw grew up in Sugar Land, Texas, after his family moved there for his father’s job at Shell. He began his hockey journey with the Dallas Stars Elite program before spending the 2020-21 season with Little Caesars in Michigan.
At just 15 years old, McGraw was tendered by the Northeast Generals of the NAHL. He spent four seasons with the team, evolving from the youngest player on the roster into a solid contributor. “Joey McGraw is an amazing young man,” said Generals GM and Head Coach Bryan Erikson. “Not a lot of 15-year-olds would be able to trust the process the way he did… His work ethic is crazy and has allowed his growth to accelerate this season. He has a tremendous hockey IQ. He is a big power forward that has elite speed and hands.”
During his time with the Generals, McGraw initially committed to Army West Point, marking his first NCAA destination. He later played two games with the USHL’s Fargo Force early in the 2024-25 season before returning to the Generals for 34 games. He then joined the Sioux Falls Stampede for 23 games that season, recording 7 goals and 9 assists. In his first full season with the Stampede in 2025-26, he notched 13 goals and 33 points in 49 games, serving as team captain alongside JJ Monteiro.
McGraw’s collegiate plans shifted multiple times: after decommitting from Army, he committed to Ohio State, then flipped to St. Cloud State, and now has recommitted to UMass-Lowell. The Riverhawks are gaining a strong two-way forward who contributes offensively while being responsible in his own end, along with solid playmaking ability and faceoff proficiency.