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For the first time in program history, Vermont (2-1-1) takes on 11th-ranked Michigan from the Big Ten at 7:05 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 28) at Gutterson Fieldhouse. UVM then hits the road on Sunday (Oct. 30) at 3 p.m. for its Hockey East opener against reigning league champion No. 16 Northeastern. Free live video is available for both games in HD at the links below. Pre-game radio coverage begins 30 minutes prior to faceoff on WVMT 620-AM with live audio via Sports Juice.

RELATED LINKS
Michigan: Video | Audio | Live Stats
Northeastern: Video | Audio | Live Stats
CatamounTV Preview

HALLOWEEN AT THE GUT
Friday night against Michigan is Halloween at the Gut. Fans are encouraged to dress in Halloween costumes and can trick-or-treat to the promotions table. Select fans in costume will be asked to participate in an on-ice promotion. Handy Toyota will have a table in the lobby giving out T-shirts, and the first 2,500 fans will receive a free schedule magnet courtesy of Vermont Mutual Insurance Group.
 
STUDENT TAILGATE
UVM Athletics will also host its first Student Tailgate on Friday, presented by UVM Continuing and Distance Education. The event will take place at 6 p.m. outside the Gutterson Parking Garage, on the grass between Patrick Gym and Gutterson. The indoor track will be used as a rain location. The tailgate will feature free food and giveaways, music from the student band Jeddy, face-painting, sign-making, and more.

LEKKAS HONORED
Rookie Stefanos Lekkas was named the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after posting a 1.99 goals against average and a .930 save percentage in his first two collegiate appearances against 20th-ranked Nebraska Omaha last weekend. Lekkas made 32 stops in his debut start as a Catamount on Friday night and stopped all 21 shots he faced in relief on Saturday in 56 minutes of play to preserve a 5-2 win.

OFFENSIVE BALANCE
UVM has scored 16 goals in its first four games from 12 different players for an average of 4.0 goals per game to rank seventh nationally. 20 different Catamounts have collected at least one point during the 2-1-1 start, and six rookies have already posted their first career points. Sophomore Craig Puffer leads the balanced attack with five points after a four-point weekend in Omaha on two goals and two assists. 
 
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
Michigan (3-1-1) enters the weekend on a four-game unbeaten streak after a win and tie last weekend at home against Michigan Tech. Rookies Will Lockwood and Jake Slaker have each tallied six points on three goals and three assists in the first five games to lead the team. The Wolverines have already used three goalies, including freshmen Jack LaFontaine and Hayden Lavigne who have each made two starts.
 
Red Berenson is in his 33rd year as the head coach in Ann Arbor, having led Michigan to 11 Frozen Fours and a pair of national titles. He ranks fourth all-time in career coaching wins (838) behind Jerry York, Ron Mason, and Jack Parker. Last year, he was named 2016 Big Ten Coach of the Year, leading Michigan to a record 36th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history and the 23rd NCAA bid in his tenure. 

SCOUTING NORTHEASTERN
The Huskies, who are idle until Sunday afternoon, are 3-1-2 after three consecutive home wins by the combined score of 18-6 against Bentley and Arizona State. Zach Aston-Reese leads the team with 10 points on four goals and six assists, while Dylan Sikura paces the squad with eight assists. Sophomore Ryan Ruck has played every minute in net and has posted a 2.12 goals against average and a .905 save percentage.

Last year, Northeastern won the Hockey East Championship for the first time since 1988 with a road upset of Notre Dame in the quarterfinals and wins over Boston College and UMass Lowell at TD Garden. The Huskies fell to eventual national champion North Dakota in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, their first bid since 2009. NU graduate Jim Madigan is in his sixth year as the head coach. 

WHO'S NEXT
Vermont continues a four-game road swing with a two-game Hockey East series against fifth-ranked UMass Lowell next weekend at Tsongas Center. The Catamounts and River Hawks face off on Friday, Nov. 4 at 7:15 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.