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No. 17 Vermont vs. New Hampshire | Feb. 6-7, 2015, 7:05 p.m.
Video | Audio | Live Stats | Tickets | Game Notes | CaTV Preview

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VERMONT MEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
The 17th-ranked Vermont men's hockey team (15-9-2, 7-6-1 HEA) returns to Gutterson Fieldhouse this weekend for a Hockey East series against longtime rival New Hampshire on Friday (Feb. 6) and Saturday (Feb. 7) at 7:05 p.m. Pre-game radio coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on WVMT 620-AM and SportsJuice.com with Alastair Ingram and Joe Gervais on the call, and free high definition video is available both nights via CatamounTV.com.
 
TICKETS
Reserved tickets are still available for both premium games at a cost of $25 for adults and $20 for children 17 and under. Tickets can be purchased online at UVMathletics.com/Tickets, in person at the UVM Athletic Ticket Office in Patrick Gym, or over the phone by calling 802-656-4410. The Gutterson box office opens at 6 p.m. prior to each game.
 
PROMOTIONS
Friday is $1.00 Hot Dog Day presented by Sodexo/University Dining Services. On Saturday, the team will host a Post-Game Catamount Kids Conference presented by the DoubleTree. The National Guard, Moe's, The Bagel Place, and Kevin Smith Sports will have tables in the main lobby.

SETTING THE SCENE
New Hampshire is Vermont's longest-standing rival in men's hockey as the schools meet for the 105th time in series history on Friday night. With eight games remaining in the regular season, the Catamounts (15 points) are tied with Notre Dame for fifth place in the league standings, while the Wildcats (nine points) reside in 11th. After winning seven straight contests, UVM is just 1-6-1 in its last eight games and is winless (0-4-1) over the last five.

LAST SATURDAY: PENN STATE 4, VERMONT 2 | Photo Gallery
Penn State scored four unanswered goals and came back from 2-0 down to beat Vermont in the third annual Philadelphia College Hockey Faceoff at the Wells Fargo Center. Brady Shaw and Mario Puskarich scored less than two minutes apart in the second period, but Casey Bailey responded within 14 seconds to put PSU on the board and cut the UVM lead to one. Scott Conway knotted the score just over four minutes into the third period, and David Thompson's right point shot beat Mike Santaguida (35 saves) through traffic with 3:09 remaining for the eventual game-winner.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS | Website
New Hampshire is just 2-4-0 over its last six games, but split a Hockey East series at Notre Dame last weekend in South Bend, Indiana. Sophomore Tyler Kelleher leads the Wildcats with 26 points and 17 assists, while senior Grayson Downing has scored a team-high 14 goals. Rookie Adam Clark has seen the most time in net with 20 starts and owns a 2.94 goals against average and .894 save percentage. Dick Umile is in his 25th season as the head coach at UNH and earned his 550th career win last Friday night against Notre Dame.

SERIES HISTORY
Friday marks the 105th all-time meeting in the series, which dates back to the Catamounts' first season as a varsity men's hockey program in 1963. UVM has faced UNH more often than any other team in school history, with St. Lawrence ranking second at 91 all-time meetings. Vermont swept New Hampshire on the road last season in Durham for its first back-to-back away wins at the Whittemore Center in four years. Prior to those wins, the Catamounts had defeated the Wildcats just once in the previous 11 matchups dating back to the 2010 Hockey East Quarterfinals.

WEEKEND SWEEP IN DURHAM
In early February of last season, Vermont swept UNH in Durham for its first-ever regular season weekend sweep at the Whittemore Center. UVM took the first game 5-2 as its top line of Brendan Bradley, Chris McCarthy, and Mario Puskarich combined for eight points. McCarthy posted a goal and two assists, becoming the 42nd player in program history to reach the 100-point plateau. In a more defensive game on Saturday, the Catamounts held off the Wildcats for a 2-1 victory thanks to 28 stops from Mike Santaguida. Puskarich netted the eventual game-winner in the second period.

PALIOTTA FOR WALTER BROWN AWARD
Mike Paliotta is tied for the team-lead in scoring with 23 points, which ranks second among all Hockey East defensemen behind Notre Dame's Robbie Russo. He was named one of 20 candidates for the Walter Brown Award on Wednesday, presented to the best American-born college hockey player in New England. The senior captain ranks sixth overall in NCAA defensive scoring and is four shy of last season's career-high point total of 27. Paliotta has the most shots on goal (100) by any league defenseman and ranks third overall.

WHO'S NEXT | Schedule
Vermont travels to Conte Forum next weekend to face No. 11 Boston College on Friday (Feb. 13) at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday (Feb. 14) at 7 p.m. in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Pre-game radio coverage begins 30 minutes prior to faceoff on WVMT 620-AM and SportsJuice.com, and pay-per-view video is also available at BCEagles.com.