WOMEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
After a week off the Catamounts continue the 2020-21 campaign this weekend as they host Holy Cross (3-5-0) at 6 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Catch all the action broadcast live for free on CBS CollegeSportsLive with Rob Ryan on the call.
RELATED LINKS
Live Video (free) | Weekly Media Press Conference
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR
Friday will be the fifth time in program history the Catamounts have played on New Year's Day. UVM is 1-3-0 in its games on January 1, winning on the last occasion defeating Union on the road 2-1 in 2011.
CALDWELL NAMED HEA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior forward
Val Caldwell was named Hockey East Player of the Week on December 21. Caldwell had a goal and two assists on December 19 as the Catamounts opened the 2020-21 campaign with a 4-2 win over UNH. It marked the second time in her career she has had three or more points in a single game.
CATAMOUNTS PENALTY KILL UNBLEMISHED
Vermont is one of six teams this season (Mercyhurst, Minnesota, Ohio State, Quinnipiac, and Wisconsin) to not give up a power play goal. The Catamounts were seven-for-seven on the kill against New Hampshire. Sophomore goaltender
Natalie Ferenc made 13 saves on the penalty kill for Vermont.
IT ALL STARTS WITH POSSESSION
Vermont is first in Hockey East winning 63.8% of its faceoffs this season. In the NCAA only Quinnipiac has been better this season.
Hailey Burns,
Maddy Skelton,
Theresa Schafzahl, and
Natálie Mlýnková have all won 65% of better of their draws and make up the top-four in Hockey East in the category.
SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS
After defeating New Hampshire 5-2 on Wednesday the Crusaders are 3-5-0 this season. Except for a two-game sweep by Providence (Dec. 4-5) they have split games with their Hockey East foes going 1-1-0 against Maine, UNH and Merrimack this season.
The Crusaders are led by two first-year forwards Bryn Saarela and Millie Sirum. Saarela has four goals and four assists in eight games while Sirum has seven points in six games.
Junior goaltender Jada Brenon has started seven of the eight games for the Crusaders. She has a .917 save percentage and 2.50 goals-against average. Last season in two starts against Vermont she made 91 saves.
INSIDE THE SERIES
The Catamounts lead the all-time series with the Crusaders 4-2-1, although the Crusaders won the last two games last season in Worcester defeating UVM 2-1 and 2-0. UVM won the first official meeting 2-0 in 2001 as D-III programs.
HOW TO WATCH THE CATAMOUNTS ON NESN & SPORTSLIVE
Want to follow the Catamounts at home and on the road? Visit our How to Watch the Catamounts page -
http://go.uvm.edu/how2 for details on how to watch Hockey East action on NESN and SportsLive.
BE A PART OF THE CROWD AT THE GUT THIS YEAR
Miss being in the stands at Gutterson Fieldhouse this season? You can still be a part of the action by purchasing a cutout version of yourself or pet to be displayed the entire season. For more information visit go.uvm.edu/cutouts.
