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WAKEFIELD, Mass. - University of Vermont senior captain Mike Paliotta has been named the 2015 Old Time Hockey Best Defensive Defenseman in Hockey East. The league announced several of its award winners along with the All-Rookie Team on Wednesday.

Paliotta becomes the first UVM player to win the award. He has logged the most ice time of any player on the roster this season and leads Vermont with a plus-16 rating from the blue line. The senior has skated in 103 consecutive contests and has missed just five games in his career, tying a program-record with 40 games played this season.

During Hockey East games, Paliotta cut down his penalty minutes from 39 as a junior to only 14 this season. The captain helped UVM secure this year's Hockey East Charlie Holt Sportsmanship Award with an average of 8.5 penalty minutes per game in its 22 league contests.

The Westport, Connecticut native was also named to the All-Hockey East First Team by the Hockey East Writers and Broadcasters Association (HEWBA) on Wednesday.  

UVM's active scoring leader with 83 career points, Paliotta has a team-best 36 points this year and notched a new career-high in scoring on Feb. 13 at Boston College. The senior had the most points (31) by any Hockey East defenseman in the regular season and currently ranks sixth in the NCAA in defensive scoring.  

Additionally, Paliotta has fired the most shots on goal (145) by any league defenseman and is the only blueliner among the league's top-9, ranking fourth overall. He has helped UVM win 20 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1996 and 1997.

The 7th-seeded Catamounts face No. 4 seed UMass Lowell on Friday (March 20) at 5 p.m. at TD Garden in Boston. 8-seed New Hampshire will face top-seed Boston University in the second semifinal at 8 p.m.

Both games will be televised live on NESN, NBC Sports Network, and TSN2 in Canada. Pre-game radio coverage begins begins at 4:30 p.m. on WVMT 620-AM, SportsJuice.com, and the TuneIn Radio app with Alastair Ingram and Joe Gervais on the call.

Click here for ticket information about seating in the Vermont cheering sections at TD Garden.

PRE-GAME RECEPTION
Don't miss the pre-game reception hosted by the UVM Alumni Association and Vermont Athletics at the Greatest Bar from 3-4:30 pm. on Friday (March 20). The Greatest Bar is located across the street from TD Garden in Boston at 262 Friend Street. Gather with fellow Catamount fans for light appetizers, green and gold pom poms, tattoos and a cash bar (full menu available). All Vermont fans are invited to gather again on Saturday (March 21) starting at 4:30 p.m. if UVM plays in the championship game.