BURLINGTON, Vt. – University of Vermont head coach
Todd Woodcroft officially announced the 2020-21 recruiting class with nine members of the Class of 2024 and one transfer on Tuesday afternoon.
RELATED LINKS
Incoming Class Photo Gallery
"The current incoming men's ice hockey class will continue to honor the expectations set by generations of players who wore the Green and Gold before them," said Woodcroft. "Each of these young men, from all over the world with from vastly different backgrounds, have chosen UVM as the next step in their academic and hockey career."
"Specifically, we have ten new individuals joining the team for the 2020-21 season: five Canadians, three Americans, one Swede and one Latvian (seven forwards, two defensemen and one goalie). While their journeys to get to UVM are remarkably different, the one thing they all have in common is that they are Catamounts from this day onward."
#34 MICKEY BURNS | F | 5-9 | 170 | Wayne, NJ | Jersey Hitmen (NCDC)
Mickey spent the last two seasons with the Jersey Hitmen of the NCDC, where he was a two-time All-Star selection. In 2019-20, he served as team Captain and was named NCDC Offensive Player of the Year and MVP after leading the league in goals (45) and points (77). Prior to his time in the NCDC, Mickey played both U16 and U18 hockey within the Hitmen organization. He also played four seasons at Don Bosco Prep, where he was named New Jersey HS Player of the Year in 2018.
#35 GABE CARRIERE | G | 6-2 | 185 | Ottawa, ON | Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL)
Gabe spent last season with the Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL, where he ranked 2nd in the league with 21 wins in 34 games played. Voted Waterloo's Rookie of the Year, he ranked in the top ten in GAA (2.57), SV% (.905), and shutouts (2). Prior to his time in the USHL, Gabe spent two seasons in the CCHL with the Kanata Lasers and the Ottawa Jr. Senators, where he was named to the league All-Rookie and All-Star Teams. While in the CCHL, he won a bronze medal with Hockey Canada at the 2018 Junior Club World Cup in Sochi, Russia and was named MVP of the 2019 CJHL Prospects Game.
#13 CONNER HUTCHISON | D | 5-11 | 170 | Hicksville, NY | Penticton Vees (BCHL)
Conner played his junior hockey with the Penticton Vees of the BCHL, where he led the team in points by a defenseman. He also led all BCHL rookie defensemen in points (42), assists (36), power play points (17), and points per game (.72). Prior to his time in the BCHL, Conner spent four years with Selects Academy at South Kent School, where he captained the national championship team in 2018.
#23 NOAH JORDAN | F | 6-5 | 215 | Toronto, ON | Miami University - Ohio (NCHC)
Noah comes to Vermont after spending the last two season at Miami University – Ohio of the NCHC, where he totaled 8 points in 21 games played. Prior to enrolling at Miami, he attended St. Michael's College and played in the OJHL with the Buzzers and the North York Rangers. In a combined five years of junior hockey experience between the OJHL, BCHL, and CCHL, Noah amassed 161 points in 234 games played.
#11 WHIM STALBERG | F | 6-5 | 215 | Gothenburg, SWE | Jersey Hitmen (NCDC)
Whim, cousin of former Catamounts Viktor and Sebastian, spent last season with the Jersey Hitmen of the NCDC, where he was a teammate of fellow first year player, Mickey Burns. In 2019-20, he scored 8 goals and added 26 assists for 34 points in 46 games played. Prior to his time in the NCDC, Whim played for Karlskrona HC in the J20 SuperElit, where he had a 15-25-40 line in 45 games played.
#18 AZZARO TINLING | F | 6-1 | 220 | Pointe-Claire, QC | Hawkesbury Hawks (CCHL)
Azzaro, brother of fellow first year player, Dovar, spent the last two seasons with the Hawkesbury Hawks of the CCHL, where he served as Alternate Captain in 2019-20. This past season, he scored 16 goals and added 23 assists in 51 games played. Prior to his time in the CCHL, Azzaro spent one season with Cowichan Valley Capitals of the BCHL, where he amassed 21 points in 45 games played. Before entering junior hockey, Azzaro attended Stanstead College following two seasons with the Lac St. Louis Lions in Montreal.
#25 DOVAR TINLING | F | 5-11 | 185 | Pointe-Claire, QC | Hawkesbury Hawks (CCHL)
Dovar, brother of fellow first year player, Azzaro, arrives to Burlington from the Hawkesbury Hawks of the CCHL. He led all rookies with 51 points (21 G, 30 A) in 50 games played, earning him Rookie of the Year honors. Dovar also represented Team Canada at the 2020 World U17 Hockey Challenge and won a silver medal at the World Junior A Challenge while playing for Team Canada East. Prior to entering junior hockey, Dovar played for the Lac St. Louis Lions in Montreal and won a gold medal with Team Quebec at the 2019 Canada Winter Games.
#26 RAIMONDS "RAY" VITOLINS | F | 6-0 | 180 | Ogre, Latvia | Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
Ray split the 2019-20 season between HS Riga and the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL. Although a short stint in the USHL, he tallied 6 goals and added 2 assists in 15 games played. With HS Riga, he totaled 13 points in 21 games played and served as team Captain. Ray has represented Latvia at International competitions since 2017, including at the U18 World Championships in 2019.
#19 PHILIP "PHIP" WAUGH | D | 6-4 | 220 | McLean, VA | Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
Phip comes to Vermont from the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL, where scored 3 goals and added 10 assists 43 games played. He was considered a top penalty killer for the Bandits, who ranked 2nd in the AJHL in penalty kill (88%) and 3rd in goals against per game (2.5). Prior to his time in the AJHL, Phip spent three seasons at the Trinity Pawling School, where he totaled 44 points in 75 games played.
#16 WILL ZAPERNICK | F | 5-9 | 180 | Edmonton, AB | Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL)
Will comes to Vermont after spending the last three seasons with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the AJHL. As an AJHL player in 2019-20, he ranked in the top ten in goals (34), assists (54), points (88), and points per game (1.52). In his three seasons, he amassed 184 points in 176 games played. Will also represented the AJHL Selects and Hockey Canada at the 2019 Junior Club World Cup in Sochi, Russia.
Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the UVM men's hockey program
