WAKEFIELD, Mass. – University of Vermont sophomore goalie Melissa Black has been named the Hockey East Goaltender of the Month for December 2016. The league office made the announcement on Wednesday.
 
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Hockey East Release
 
In addition, sophomore forward Alyssa Gorecki garnered runner-up mention from the conference as the Warrior Hockey Player of the Month.
 
Black backstopped the Catamounts to a pair of wins at then-No. 10 Northeastern over the weekend of Dec. 3-4 as UVM upset the Huskies twice in overtime at Matthews Arena in Boston. She made 28 saves in her team's 2-1, come-from-behind result on Dec. 3 before kicking out 21 pucks the following afternoon to seal the road sweep.
 
As 2016 wound to a close, the netminder then made 21 stops to preserve a 2-2 tie against Yale at Gutterson Fieldhouse (Dec. 30).
 
The native of Newmarket, Ontario has been between the pipes for each of Vermont's three ranked wins this season, helping the Catamounts accomplish the feat for the first time in program history.
 
UVM is 8-7-5 (4-3-3 WHEA) and is back at Gutterson Fieldhouse on Saturday (Jan. 7) to take on conference rival Maine at 2 p.m.
 
Hockey East Monthly Awards–December 2016
Warrior Hockey Player of the Month: Andie Anastos, Boston College
            Runner-up: Alyssa Gorecki, Vermont
Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Month: Delaney Belinskas, Boston College
            Runner-up: Nicole Dunbar, Boston College
Hockey East Goaltender of the Month: Melissa Black, Vermont
            Runner-up: Katie Burt, Boston College
 
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