MEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
Vermont (10-13-1, 3-10-1 HEA) returns to the road for a Hockey East weekend series at ninth-ranked Providence (15-7-4, 8-5-1 HEA).
 
The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:05 p.m. on both Friday (Feb. 1) and Saturday (Feb. 2) at Schneider Arena in Providence, Rhode Island. Play-by-play voice Michael Lehr is on the call for both games through WVMT 620-AM and CatamounTV.com. Saturday's game will broadcast on NBC Sports Boston.
 
RELATED LINKS
CatamounTV Preview
Friday: Watch ($) | Listen | Live Stats | Game Notes (.pdf)
Saturday: Watch ($) | Listen | Live Stats
 
SCOUTING THE FRIARS
Providence enters the weekend as the ninth-ranked team in the nation following a sweep of nationally ranked Northeastern. The Friars hold a 15-7-4 overall record and are sixth in Hockey East with a 8-5-1 record. The Friars are seventh nationally in both scoring  offense (3.46) and scoring defense (2.04). They rank 12th in power play (22.8%) and sixth in penalty kill (86.4%).
 
Scott Conway leads the team in scoring with 12 goals. Junior Josh Wilkins is the team's leading point-scorer (28) and assist-man (19). Senior Hayden Hawkey is in his third season as the Providence starter. In 25 starts this season, Hawkey ranks ninth in the country in goals against average (1.96) and 36th nationally in save percentage (.912). He is tied for second nationally with five shutouts.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Vermont holds a 27-26-7 all-time record against the Providence College Friars. The series began with a 4-2 Vermont win on January, 8, 1969. Since joining Hockey East, Vermont holds a 15-14-7 record against Providence.
 
Vermont took three points from Providence in last season's series at Gutterson Fieldhouse. In the last 10 meetings, Providence holds a 6-3-1 edge over the Catamounts.
 
LODERMEIER DOT WORK
In last weekend's series against Merrimack, junior captain Derek Lodermeier dominated the faceoff circle, winning 77.5% of his draws (31-for-40). He won the most important faceoff of the weekend on Saturday in overtime, getting the puck to winger Max Kaufman for the game-winning-goal.
 
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 is second in the NCAA in saves per game (30.1) and is second in the nation in total saves (724). He ranks 16th in the nation in save percentage (.924).
 
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.
 
FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT SET FOR FEB. 9 | Tickets
The University of Vermont announced a Fan Appreciation Night, scheduled for UVM's game against New Hampshire on Saturday, Feb. 9. Fans in attendance will have a chance to win several prizes, including Bruins tickets, televisions, and much more.
 
Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the 2018-19 men's hockey season