BURLINGTON, Vt. – Four Catamounts have inked professional deals since the conclusion of the 2019-20 Vermont hockey season last week.
Matt Alvaro signed a standard player contract with the ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears,
Thomas Beretta signed an amateur tryout contract with the ECHL's Norfolk Admirals, and
Stefanos Lekkas signed with the ECHL's Fort Wayne Komets. Captain
Derek Lodermeier was signed to an amateur tryout contract with the AHL's Manitoba Moose.
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Alvaro: Orlando Solar Bears
Beretta: Norfolk Admirals
Lekkas: Fort Wayne Komets
Lodermeier: Manitoba Moose
"I am so happy for these four seniors who deserve this opportunity to play pro hockey right now," said head coach
Kevin Sneddon. "This experience will help them for next season while still graduating from UVM on time. Congrats men!"
Alvaro posted two goals and nine assists for 11 points in 34 games this season for the Catamounts. In his collegiate career, he played 123 games and tallied 51 points on 18 goals and 33 assists.
Orlando returns to action Wednesday night (Mar. 11) at home against the South Carolina Stingrays. The Solar Bears are the ECHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Beretta signs an ATO with the Admirals after spending his senior season at the University of Vermont. Beretta played in 32 games this season and posted two goals and six points. With his three seasons at Michigan Tech, Beretta played in 133 collegiate games with 16 goals and 32 points.
Norfolk takes on the Maine Mariners at the Cross Insurance Arena in Bangor tonight (Mar. 10). The Admirals are the lone ECHL team without an NHL affiliate.
Lekkas signs with Fort Wayne after one of the most impressive goaltending careers in UVM program history. The Elburn, Illinois native finished his collegiate career with 3,913 saves, the most in Hockey East history, second-most in UVM history, and fifth-most in NCAA history. In Green & Gold history, Lekkas is the program's all-time save percentage leader (.918) and ranks second in games played (134), third in goals against average (2.61), fourth in wins (45), and fourth in shutouts (7).
Lekkas joins former Catamounts
Anthony Petruzzelli '18 and
Brady Shaw '17 on the Komets. He dressed for the Komets in their games played last Friday (Mar. 6) and Saturday (Mar. 7). Fort Wayne hosts the Wichita Thunder tomorrow night (Mar. 11) at the Memorial Coliseum. Fort Wayne is the ECHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights.
Lodermeier captained the Catamounts as a junior and senior and finished his collegiate career with 18 goals and 40 assists for 58 points in 138 games. In 2019-20, Lodermeier posted six goals and five assists and led Vermont with 77 shots on goal.
Manitoba begins an extended road swing this weekend, taking on the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday (Mar. 13) and Saturday (Mar. 14) before closing the weekend at Chicago on Sunday (Mar. 15). The Brooklyn Center, Minnesota native joins Daniel Brickley, the cousin of former Catamount
Connor Brickley '14 in Manitoba. Manitoba is the AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets.
These four Catamounts join several recent Vermont alums currently in the professional ranks:
Liam Coughlin '19 – Indy Fuel (ECHL)
Jake Massie '19 – Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL)
Craig Puffer '19 – Manglerud (Norway)
Ross Colton '18 – Syracuse Crunch (AHL)
Rob Darrar '18 – Huntsville Havoc (SPHL)
Anthony Petruzzelli '18 – Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL)
Trey Phillips '18 – Rapid City Rush (ECHL)
Rob Hamilton '17 – Stockton Heat (AHL)
Mario Puskarich '17 – Manchester Storm (EIHL)
Brady Shaw '17 – Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL)
Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the UVM men's hockey program
