University of Vermont Athletics

Louis Cote 1980 - Hockey

There wasn't a collegiate hockey player in the country who stirred up the home fans and drove the opposition crazy in the late 1970s like UVM defenseman and 1990 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, Louis Cote. Chants of "Lou-ee, Lou-ee" can still be heard reverberating off the Gutterson roof. One of the top stickhandlers in the history of the game, Cote's passing, especially on the power play, was perhaps his forte ... particularly his thread-like passes to All-America center and UVM Hall of Famer Craig Homola.

UVM's all-time top scoring defenseman, Cote scored 28 goals and had 114 assists in 115 games for 142 career points, graduating 12th on UVM's all-time scoring list. The triggerman on UVM's potent power play in the late 70's, Cote was named a consensus All-American (first of two times), All-East and All-New England selection following his junior season. He was also named the team's MVP in 1979. Slowed by a knee injury his senior year, he still led the Catamounts to the ECAC West regular season championship.

"He was a joy to watch. Louis was unquestionably the best puckhandler in UVM hockey history - and along with Providence's Ron Wilson - one of the top two offensive defensemen I've ever seen in college hockey," said Dick Whittier, UVM's longtime sports information director. "It was Cote who made the power play click. His clever stickhandling at the point opened things up for the likes of Homola and another Hall of Famer, Tom Cullity."

Since graduation, Cote continued to play hockey on two different continents. He has played in Sapporo, Japan (1980-83), Chamonix, France (1983-85), Scotland (1985-86), Villard de Lans, France (1986-88). A member of the French National Team, he played in two World Championships winning a Bronze Medal in Oslo in 1989.

At UVM, Cote was an outstanding student and received the Wasson Athletic Prize, which is presented to the male and female members of the senior class who have maintained the highest standard of academic scholarship and athletic attainment. He also was a member of the Mortar Board Society, an academic honorary.