BURLINGTON, Vt. - University of Vermont head women's hockey coach Jim Plumer announced the addition of five student-athletes to the 2016-17 roster Tuesday morning. Allie Granato (Plainfield, Ill.), Ali O'Leary (Reading, Mass.), Eve-Audrey Picard (Longueuil, Quebec), and Sydney Scobee (Minnetrista, Minn.) will represent UVM's class of 2020. Melissa Black (Newmarket, Ontario) will transfer to UVM from Union College as a incoming sophomore.
 
"We have been working really hard to identify the type of players who will thrive in our program and I am excited to welcome this group to UVM," said Plumer. "This is a diverse and talented class, and they will each have the potential to make a huge impact on our program over the course of their careers.  I know our returning players will welcome them in August and enjoy having them as part of our culture, on and off the ice."
 
Melissa Black (G • Newmarket, Ontario • Union College)
Last season Black was named Union's George Morrison MVP and Rookie of the Year … She played in 31 games last season compiling 1,111 saves, a .931 save percentage and a 2.74 goals-against average … Her save percentage was ranked 12^th in the NCAA last season … She made 30 saves in a 4-2 loss against Vermont on January 2 … During the 2014-15 season she appeared in 21 games with the Aurora Jr. Panthers (PWHL) posting a 1.70 goals-against average and a .945 save percentage with five shutouts.
 
Allie Granato (F • Plainfield, Illinois • Chicago Fury)
Last season Allie played for the Chicago Fury U19 team in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League … She scored two goals including a game-winner at the 2016 CAN/AM tournament in Madison, Wisconsin, the Fury finished 2-2-0 at the tournament … Allie's aunt Cammi Granato was a 1998 and 2002 U.S. Olympian and is a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee … Her uncle Tony Granato was recently named the men's head coach at the University of Wisconsin.
 
Ali O'Leary (F • Reading, Mass. • Boston Shamrocks)
O'Leary played for the Boston Shamrocks of the JWHL in 2015-16 … She had eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points in 28 games … Former Catamount Amanda Pelkey '15 served as an assistant coach with the Shamrocks last season … In the 2014-15 season she scored 41 goals and 24 assists as she led Reading High School to a 22-2-0 record and the program's first Division I state title … ESPNBoston.com named her "Miss Hockey" as the top female high school hockey player in Massachusetts … In just three seasons at Reading she was second all-time in scoring with 155 points.
 
Eve-Audrey Picard (F • Longueuil, Quebec • Saint-Laurent Patriots/Canada U18)
After missing the 2014-15 season due to injury Picard returned to action and thrived with the Saint-Laurent Patriots (CEGEP) last year … She was tied for fifth in the league in scoring with 16 goals and 14 assists in 23 games played … The Patriots finished the season 20-2-1-1 … This spring she was invited to Hockey Canada's conditioning camp in Hamilton, Ontario … Picard won a gold medal with Canada at the 2014 U18 Women's World championship in Budapest, Hungary … Picard had five goals and one assist in six games as Canada won their third consecutive U18 gold … In the gold medal game Picard had two goals in a 5-1 win over the United States … In 2013 Picard won the Esso Cup, Canada's National Female Midget Championship with LHFDQ Nord, it was Quebec's first Esso Cup title … She had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 title game win.
 
Sydney Scobee (G • Minnetrista, Minn. • Breck School)
Sydney compiled an 9-3-0 record during the 2015-16 season with Breck … She made 326 saves to go along with a .911 save percentage and a 2.52 goals-against average … In January she was named a Star Tribune Prep Athlete of the Week after leading Breck to Edina's Walser Invitational title … She stopped all 23 shots she faced in a 2-0 victory over Grand Rapids in the quarterfinals and made 40 saves in a 3-0 shutout of Maple Grove in the championship game … She was also recognized as a Let's Play Hockey Senior Goalie of the Year semifinalist in Minnesota.