MEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
Vermont (8-13-1, 1-10-1 HEA) returns to the friendly confines of Gutterson Fieldhouse for a Hockey East series with the Merrimack Warriors (7-17-1, 4-11-0 HEA).
 
The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:05 p.m. on both Friday (Jan. 25) and Saturday (Jan. 26). Tickets for both contests are available using the links below. Play-by-play voice Michael Lehr is on the call for both games through WVMT 620-AM and CatamounTV.com
 
RELATED LINKS
CatamounTV Preview
Friday: Tickets | Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Game Notes (.pdf)
Saturday: Tickets | Watch | Listen | Live Stats
 
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
Merrimack enters the weekend series against Vermont with a 7-17-1 overall record and 4-11-0 Hockey East mark. The Warriors sit in ninth place in the conference standings, ahead of UConn and Vermont. Merrimack ranks 11th in Hockey East in scoring offense (1.96), scoring defense (3.80), power play (12.3%), penalty kill (75.0%), and shots on goal per game (26.2).
 
Freshman Chase Gresock and junior Tyler Irvine are tied for the team lead with 16 points each. Gresock leads the team in goals (7) and Irvine leads the Warriors in assists (11). Senior Craig Pantano has made 18 starts in goal for Merrimack. He leads the team with a 3.34 goals against average and .891 save percentage.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Vermont and Merrimack meet for the 42nd time in series history Friday night at Gutterson Fieldhouse. The series began with a 4-3 Vermont win in March 1973 in Burlington.
 
This weekend will perhaps differentiate the all-time series, as the teams enter the weekend with a 17-17-9 all-time record against the opponent.
 
RALLY AROUND MENTAL HEALTH | Donate
The Catamounts will be using green tape and wearing green ribbons on their helmets Friday (Jan. 25) to support Rally Around Mental Health, an initiative created by student-athletes, for student-athletes in order to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around mental health.
 
PROMOTIONS
Friday's game is TD Bank Night at Gutterson Fieldhouse. Fans are welcome to take the ice following the game for an open skate. TD Bank is providing winter hats and a signed gear raffle to all fans who take the ice following the game. There will be a skate check for fans to drop off skates when arriving at Gutterson Fieldhouse. All those taking the ice are strongly encouraged to wear helmets and all fans 18 years and younger are required to wear a full helmet with facemask.
 
Saturday's game is Handy Toyota Night at Gutterson Fieldhouse. Shirts and rally towels will be handed out to fans prior to puck drop, courtesy of Handy Toyota.
 
Player trading cards of your favorite current Catamounts, courtesy of Baystate Financial Services, will be available for pickup at both games. Fans are encouraged to visit the marketing table each night for the exclusive cards.  
 
Vermont men's hockey alumni are back in Burlington for the weekend, with over 40 former Catamounts making the trip back to UVM. The alumni in attendance will be honored during Saturday's game against Merrimack.
 
HOBEYLEKKAS | Vote for Stef
Stefanos Lekkas is one of 83 nominees for the 2019 Hobey Baker Memorial Award fan vote. Voting is open to fans through March 10, with a maximum of one vote allowed per day. Lekkas leads the country in saves per game (31.2) and is second in the nation in total saves (686). He ranks 15th in the nation in save percentage (.930).
 
Lekkas is one of eight goaltenders nominated for the award. Ryan Miller was the last netminder to win college hockey's top individual prize as a sophomore at Michigan State in 2001. Vermont's most recent Hobey Baker finalist was Viktor Stalberg in 2009.
 
HOCKEY EAST 35th ANNIVERSARY TEAM | Vote
Joe Fallon '08 and Viktor Stälberg '09 are Vermont's nominees for the Hockey East 35th Anniversary team. Fans can vote on the all-Hockey East squad using the link above.
 
Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the 2018-19 men's hockey season