MEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
The Vermont Catamounts (4-6-0, 1-5-0 HEA) host the Black Bears of Maine (4-7-1, 2-3-1 HEA) for a pair of games this weekend at Gutterson Fieldhouse. Friday's game is slated to begin at 7:05 p.m. while Saturday's tilt will begin at 5:00 p.m.
 
Tickets are available for both games via the links below. Each game will stream through CatamounTV.com and will broadcast on WVMT 620-AM with Michael Lehr on the call.
 
RELATED LINKS
Game Notes (.pdf) | CatamounTV Preview
Friday: Tickets | Video | Audio | Live Stats
Saturday: Tickets | Video | Audio | Live Stats
 
FRIDAY'S CAN DRIVE
The UVM Student Athlete Advisory Council is collecting cans in November to benefit the Chittenden County Emergency Food Shelf. Fans are asked to bring a canned food good or other nonperishable food item to donate. All fans who donate a food item will receive a complimentary ticket to Saturday's women's hockey game at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
 
SATURDAY'S TEDDY BEAR TOSS & SKATE WITH THE CATS
Saturday's game is Vermont's annual 'Teddy Bear Toss' game. All fans are encouraged to bring a stuffed animal to throw on the ice during the second intermission. All toys will be donated to local children in need. The annual Skate with the Cats will take place following the Saturday's game. Fans can bring skates and hop on the ice with the Catamount players. The Cats will wear their lavender Rally Against Cancer jerseys, and fans can purchase them on the spot for $100, with proceed benefitting the UVM Cancer Center.
 
SCOUTING THE BLACK BEARS
Maine enters the weekend with a 4-7-1 overall record and 2-3-1 Hockey East record. The Black Bears opened the season with a sweep of St. Lawrence and hold conference wins over UMass Lowell and Boston University. Maine was swept by Minnesota-Duluth early in the season and most recently dropped a pair of non-conference games to Quinnipiac.
 
Captain Chase Pearson leads the team in goals (8) and points (12). He has accounted for nearly one-third of Maine's goals this season (8 of 26). Mitchell Fossier leads the Black Bears with eight assists. Jeremy Swayman has started every game in goal this season and holds a 3.11 goals against average and .906 save percentage.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Vermont holds a 28-25-6 all-time series edge over the Black Bears. The Cats have a 21-16-6 record against Maine since joining Hockey East prior to the 2005-06 season. The series has been even of late, with Vermont splitting the last 10 matchups with Maine at 4-4-2. However, when stretched to the last 20 meetings, Vermont holds a 13-5-2 edge over Maine.
 
LEKKAS LEADS THE WAY
Stefanos Lekkas leads Hockey East and ranks fifth in the country with a stellar .938 save percentage. The junior goalie ranks 24th of 80 eligible Division I goalies with a 2.20 goals against average. Entering the weekend, Lekkas ranks sixth among active goalies with 2,231 career stops.
 
SHORTY, SHORTY
Vermont scored its first two short-handed goals of the season in last weekend's 5-3 win over Dartmouth. The last time the Cats scored multiple short-handed goals in a single game was during the 2000-01 season, when Vermont did it twice.
 
Joey Cipollone's short-handed game-winner marked just the 10th time since 2000 Vermont has scored a game-winning-goal while short-handed.
 
POLAR OPPOSITES
Vermont is the least penalized team in Hockey East and the country while Maine is the most penalized team in Hockey East and the country. The Cats average just 7.4 penalty minutes per game to Maine's 18.2 penalty minutes per game. 
 
GOALS FOR GOOD with Community Bank
Vermont men's hockey has partnered with Community Bank for 'Goals for Good.' For every goal the Cats score this season, Community bank will donate $100 to Special Olympics Vermont. This season's total through ten games is 21 goals and $2,100 donated.         
 
Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the 2018-19 men's hockey season