WOMEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
The second annual Windjammer Classic sits next on the docket for the Vermont women's hockey team, taking place on Friday (Nov. 25) and Saturday (Nov. 26) at Gutterson Fieldhouse. The four-team field features all four conferences in Division I women's hockey, as No. 5 Clarkson (ECAC), Robert Morris (College Hockey America) and St. Cloud State (WCHA) are all slated join the Catamounts for the tournament.
 
The puck drops on Friday's schedule at 4 p.m. when UVM plays host to St. Cloud State, later being followed by Robert Morris and Clarkson at 7 p.m. The tournament then wraps up on Saturday with the consolation (4 p.m.) and championship (7 p.m.) games.
 
Free live video for all four games will be available via CatamounTV.com and live stats will be provided through SIDEARM Stats. Fans are encouraged to check UVMathletics.com on Saturday for live stats information as website assignments will be dependent on Friday's results.
 
RELATED LINKS
Vermont vs. St. Cloud State: Live Video | Live Stats
Clarkson vs. Robert Morris: Live Video | Live Stats
Consolation Game: Live Video
Consolation Game: Live Video
Tickets

GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS
Friday: Fans are encouraged to take advantage of a special Black Friday deal as tickets to Friday's Windjammer Classic games will be just $2. In addition, all in attendance will receive a complimentary Vermont schedule magnet.
Saturday: Fans who did not pick up their schedule magnet on Friday can collect one during Saturday's games.
 
PLUMER FEATURED ON 101.3 ESPN RADIO
Head coach Jim Plumer took a few minutes earlier this week to preview the Windjammer Classic with Brady Farkas of 101.3 ESPN Radio. Click here to have a listen.
 
THAT'S A LOT OF HUSKIES...
Friday's game against St. Cloud State will wrap up UVM's three consecutive games in which the Catamounts faced each Division I team nicknamed the Huskies. Vermont hosted Northeastern (Nov. 18) and Connecticut (Nov. 20) last weekend, skating to 3-3 and 1-1 ties, respectively.
 
This is the first three-game span in program history that the Catamounts have met all three teams using the nickname.
 
CATAMOUNTS RECAP
Rachael Ade gave Vermont a 1-0 lead early in the first period but UConn responded just 2:04 later as the teams finished in a 1-1 tie last Sunday (Nov. 20) at Gutterson Fieldhouse. It was UVM's third consecutive draw, having gained a point against Northeastern (Nov. 18) and at Providence (Nov. 13). In preserving the tie, senior Madison Litchfield moved her GAA to 1.46, clocking in at sixth in the country in that category.
 
Friday's game against NU saw Alyssa Gorecki light the lamp twice as the Catamounts jumped out to a 3-1 lead over the 10th-ranked Huskies. The visitors stormed back in the third period, however, en route to a 3-3 decision. It was Gorecki's first career multi-goal game and was also highlighted by 24 saves by Litchfield.
 
SCOUTING THE FIELD
Clarkson: Ranked fifth this week in both the USCHO and USA Today polls, the Golden Knights (12-3-1, 8-0-0 ECAC) sit in a tie with St. Lawrence for first in the ECAC. The squad swept a pair in Southern New England last weekend, taking an 8-1 decision at Brown (Nov. 18) and 4-1 victory at Yale (Nov. 19). Eight players, including two freshmen, have tallied double digits in points on the season, led by senior Cayley Mercer (6-13-19). Junior Shea Tiley holds down the fort in goal with a 1.72 goals against average over 15 games.
 
Robert Morris: Atop College Hockey America, RMU (9-1-4, 5-0-1 CHA) is undefeated in its last seven games, posting a 5-0-2 mark in that span. Most recently, the Colonials swept a weekend series at RIT by a combined 9-4 margin. Junior Brittany Howard leads the team with 20 points on eight goals and 12 helpers, while Jessica Dodds and Lauren Bailey have split time in goal to compile a 1.95 GAA. Dodds' individual GAA of 1.52 ranks ninth nationally. Vermont faced Robert Morris for two games earlier this season, coming away with a tie in the series finale.
 
St. Cloud State: The Huskies bounced back from a Friday (Nov. 18) setback at Bemidji State to pull off a 3-0 win over the Beavers on Saturday. SCSU needed just 22 seconds to find the scoreboard courtesy of Hannah Potrykus, later adding another in the second period along with Ivy Dynek. Fans should keep an eye out for sophomore Julia Tylke, whose seven goals lead the team. Freshman Janine Alder has seen the majority of time in goal, notching five wins and maintaining a 2.03 goals against average. The Huskies are in fifth place in the WCHA with a 5-8-1 record and 4-7-1 in conference action.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Historically, St. Cloud State has had UVM's number, pocketing wins in all four meetings with the Catamounts. The teams last crossed paths in January 2008 when the Huskies, then ranked ninth nationally, swept UVM in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
 
Vermont's last win against Clarkson came on Oct. 17, 2009, upsetting the fourth-ranked Golden Knights at Gutterson Fieldhouse. Clarkson got on the board early in the first period, but multi-point efforts from Kailey Nash and Erin Barley-Maloney helped UVM to the 4-1 outcome.
 
The Catamounts' history with Robert Morris dates back to November of 2005 when the teams split a weekend series at Gutterson Fieldhouse. Kristi Anderson chipped in a goal and assist as the Catamounts earned a 3-1 win in the series finale that season. UVM came away with a point during the teams' weekend series in Pittsburgh last month after Taylor Willard tied things up at two-apiece in the third period of the series finale.
 
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
The Windjammer Classic will wrap up a four-game homestand for the Catamounts, although the sequence is part of a period in which UVM will play nine of 12 games within the confines of Gutterson Fieldhouse. The holiday season will witness Vermont host Dartmouth (Dec. 10) and Yale (Dec. 30-31) before ringing in 2017 with Maine (Jan. 7-8).
 
UVM currently has a 1-1-2 record at home, with three of the four contests being played against ranked opponents.
 
PLAYING YOUR CARDS RIGHT
Freshman Ève-Audrey Picard has made a splash in her brief time with UVM, posting a team-best nine points on four goals and five helpers. The Longueuil, Quebec product inked the scoresheet in six of Vermont's first eight games on the season and sits tied for fourth nationally among rookies with three power play goals. She became the first Catamount in the Hockey East era and just the first since 2000 to score twice in her collegiate debut, lighting the lamp twice at Union on Oct. 4.
 
As a result of her performances, Picard was honored as Hockey East Warrior Co-Player of the Week (Oct. 10) as well as UVM's TD Bank Student-Athlete of the Week (Oct. 10).
 
ALUMNAE WEEKEND SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 3-4
All women's hockey Alumnae are invited to save the date for Alumnae Weekend, taking place Feb. 3-4, 2017 around Pack the Gut presented by The Windjammer. Details will be announced shortly. To ensure that you receive updates on this and other alumnae events, please contact the Victory Club office via phone at (802) 656-0956 or email at Victory.Club@uvm.edu with your updated contact information.
 
NEXT UP
Vermont treks down Interstate 89 to Boston next weekend for a pair of 2 p.m. contests at Hockey East rival Northeastern. The series opens on Saturday, Dec. 3 at Matthews Arena.
 
In addition to sponsoring the Windjammer Classic, The Windjammer is the presenting sponsor of the 2016-17 women's hockey season. We appreciate their continued commitment and support of Vermont Athletics.