BURLINGTON, Vt. – University of Vermont head coach Kevin Sneddon announced his team's captain and leadership group for the upcoming 2019-20 season on Monday.
 
Senior Derek Lodermeier will serve as captain for the second straight season in 2019-20. Seniors Matt Alvaro, Stefanos Lekkas, Matt O'Donnell, and junior Max Kaufman will serve as alternate captains in 2019-20. Senior Corey Moriarty and junior Owen Grant will serve as additional representatives to the leadership group.
 
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2019-20 Schedule
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"We have had a lot of successful planning meetings with this group over the spring and summer," Sneddon said. "I feel that we are on the same page about how things will work this year and they have had a lot of great input into the process. They bring experience, passion, and strong commitment to the program and each other."
 
Lodermeier tallied 18 points in 29 games in 2018-19 and matched the team lead with 13 assists. He won 52% of his faceoffs to rank 24th in Hockey East last season. The Brooklyn Center, Minnesota product has tallied 47 points in 104 career games in Green & Gold.
 
Alvaro, a captain a season ago, will serve as an alternate captain in 2019-20. Alvaro played in 30 games and posted nine points in 2018-19. The Toronto, Ontario native has posted 40 points in 89 career games at Vermont.
 
O'Donnell, also a captain in 2018-19, played in all 34 games last season and led Vermont's blue line with 13 points. He has played in 79 consecutive games and has 42 points in 107 career games.
 
Lekkas, a Second Team Hockey East All-Star in 2018-19, returns for his senior season and will serve as an alternate captain. The Elburn, Illinois native ranked seventh in the nation with a .930 save percentage and 19th nationally with a 2.27 goals against average last season. Lekkas ranks first in program history in save percentage (.919), third in total saves (2,940), third in goals against average (2.57), and seventh in wins (41).
 
Kaufman led the team in scoring a season ago with 21 points in 29 games. He was 20th in Hockey East with 0.72 points per game and tallied a pair of game-winning goals. Through two seasons, Kaufman has 29 points in 60 career games.
 
Vermont opens the 2019-20 campaign on Saturday, October 5 against the University of Guelph at 7:05 p.m. at Gutterson Fieldhouse. The Catamounts open the Hockey East slate on Friday, October 25 with a 7:05 p.m. puck drop against the Black Bears of Maine at the Gut. Season tickets can be renewed or purchased through the link above or by clicking here.
 
Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the UVM men's hockey program