VERMONT WOMEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
The University of Vermont women's hockey team (6-16-1, 4-8-1 HEA) returns to Gutterson Fieldhouse this weekend as they host Boston University (13-8-1, 10-4-1 HEA) in a two-game Hockey East series.  The Catamounts host the Terriers at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
 
RELATED LINKS
Saturday vs. Boston University – Live Video (free) | Live Stats
Sunday vs. Boston University – Live Video (free) | Live Stats
Game-Worn Pink Jersey Auction
 
SKATING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER AND POSTGAME SKATE WITH THE CATS SUNDAY
The Vermont women's hockey team will continue the ongoing effort to support the University of Vermont Cancer Center and cancer research by wearing special pink jerseys this weekend as part of the Hockey East Skating Strides program.
 
The team's game-worn pink jerseys are being auctioned off now at auction.uvmathletics.com with bids for the women's jerseys starting at $85 per jersey. Money raised through the auction will support the University of Vermont Cancer Center. The auction closes at noon on Tuesday.
 
A ceremonial puck drop will occur prior to the game with representatives from the University of Vermont Cancer Center, Otter Creek Awnings, Hockey East and the Vermont Athletic Department. All Rally Against Cancer Games this year are presented by Otter Creek Awnings and Vermont Custom Closets.
 
Entering its 10th season, the Hockey East Skating Strides program has raised over $300,000 for various breast cancer charities across the league.  Locally, the money raised from this Saturday's game will be donated to the University of Vermont Cancer Center.
 
After the game on Sunday the Catamounts will host their annual Postgame Skate with the Cats. Fans can bring their own skates and a helmet to skate with the women's hockey team for 15 minutes following the game.
 
O'NEILL NAMED HOCKEY EAST ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Freshman Daria O'Neill was named Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week on Monday. O'Neill registered a goal and two assists last weekend as Vermont earned three points on the road at Maine in a two-game series. On Saturday afternoon O'Neill started a Vermont comeback to earn a tie with her first career goal shorthanded with just over six minutes left in the third period.
 
COLANG LEADING THE WAY
Senior forward Dayna Colang is leading the Catamounts in scoring for the second straight season. This year she 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points in 23 games. In her career at Vermont she now has 88 total points which ranks third all-time behind Brittany Zuback (97) and Amanda Pelkey (105).
 
Colang is currently on a five-game point scoring streak in which she has seven points. In Vermont's last game, a 4-1 win at Maine, she had two goals and an assist. She was named a Hockey East Weekly Top Performer after her five-point week. In all six of the Catamounts wins this season she has registered at least a point.

SPECIAL TEAMS SUCCESS IN LEAGUE PLAY
Vermont's power play and penalty kill efforts have been impactful in Hockey East contests. The Catamounts power play is 10-for-43 in league play good for 23.3%, which is second only to Boston College. Nine of Vermont's 10 power play goals have come in league play. Vermont's penalty kill efforts in league play have been successful 87.5% of the time, which is third in the league behind Boston College and Northeastern. Last weekend at Maine the Catamounts also scored two shorthanded goals.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Boston University: The Terriers are 2-1-1 in their last four games following the inaugural Windjammer Classic here in Burlington. Boston University has only played one game in 2016 a 4-3 loss at home to No. 1 Boston College last Saturday. The Terriers are the only team to have played a one-goal game with the undefeated Eagles this season, and they've done it twice.
 
The Terriers leading scorer this season is sophomore forward Rebecca Leslie, she has five goals and 23 assists for 28 points in 22 games. During the Windjammer Classic in November she had a goal and two assists for the Terriers.
 
Leslie's classmate Victoria Bach leads the team with 13 goals this season. Bach was named to the Windjammer Classic All-Tournament Team after a four-point performance against Ohio State. The Terriers are 7-1-1 this season when Bach scores, as she did on October 25 in Boston University's 5-2 home win over Vermont.
 
The Terriers lead the all-time series against Vermont with a record of 25-5-3. Three of the Catamounts five wins against the Terriers have come under Coach Plumer.
 
KAYLA KRUK JOINS WOMEN'S HOCKEY THROUGH TEAM IMPACT
The women's hockey team officially drafted seven-year-old Shelburne, Vt. native Kayla Kruk through Team IMPACT. Kayla celebrated her draft day with the Catamounts last Saturday in a ceremony facilitated by the 501(c)(3) non-profit, Team IMPACT, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team.Click here to read more about Kayla and Team IMPACT.
 
TEAM LEADERS
Senior Gina Repaci and junior Sarah Kelly will serve as co-captains for the University of Vermont women's hockey team this season.
 
ALL ACROSS THE MAP
The Catamounts have players from 10 different states (Alaska, California, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Vermont), two Canadian provinces (Alberta and Ontario) and two other countries (Czech Republic and Finland). Vermont has four players from Ontario more than any other state or province.
 
3RD ANNUAL PACK THE GUT CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY THE WINDJAMMER
The University of Vermont Athletic Department hosts the third annual Pack the Gut Challenge – presented by the The Windjammer Restaurant – on January 29 vs. UConn at 7 p.m.

Two years ago UVM women's hockey successfully broke the Hockey East regular season attendance record of 1,498 as 2,028 fans attended their game against Boston College.
The goal this season is to break that attendance record and support theBurlington Meals on Wheels, a non-profit organization that delivers home-delivered meal service to people in need.

Admission is only $2, free for UVM students! Help us break the Hockey East attendance record.
 
The 2015-16 Vermont women's hockey campaign is brought to you by the Windjammer Restaurant and Inn.