MEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
The Catamounts open the 2021-22 regular season this weekend as they host Colgate for Opening Night presented by TD Bank. The two-game series will be played at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night. Both contests will be broadcast live for free on CollegeSportsLive. The new voice of the Catamounts, Adam LaFleur, will broadcast the action live on WVMT (FM 96.3 / AM 620).
 
RELATED LINKS
Buy Tickets
CatamounTV Weekly Press Conference: Coach Woodcroft | Jacques Bouquot
Live Stats | Live Video
 
OPENING NIGHT PRESENTED BY TD BANK
To celebrate the official start to the 2021-22 campaign in the Home Opener presented by TD Bank the first 500 fans will receive a free t-shirt from TD Bank.
 
WOODCROFT CONNECTION TO COLGATE
Head Coach Todd Woodcroft's brother Craig played at Colgate from 1988-91. He's tied for tenth all-time at Colgate with 168 points. He is also sixth all-time with 250 penalty minutes. He was the 1990 ECAC Tournament MVP. In his time with the Raiders Craig was 4-3-1 against the Catamounts. Following the 1990-91 campaign he was an All-American Honorable Mention.
 
BUYALSKY NAMED TO NEHJ PRESEASON HOCKEY EAST ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
First year forward and Colorado Avalance third round draft pick Andrei Buyalsky was named to the New England Hockey Journal's Preseason Hockey East All-Rookie Team on Monday.
 
BABICHUK HONORED AS HOCKEY EAST WEEKLY TOP PERFORMER
With a shorthanded goal and an assist in the final four minutes of UVM's come from behind 4-2 win over Mercyhurst sophomore defenseman Cory Babichuk was named a Hockey East Weekly Top Performer. His shorthanded tally was also the game-winner.         
 
BACK TO NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
Tomorrow will be the first time in 615 days that Vermont will face a non-conference opponent in a regular season contest. Vermont's last 22 regular season games since playing at RPI on February 1, 2020 have all been in Hockey East.
 
SCOUTING THE RAIDERS
Colgate is 1-0-0 this season after a 5-2 win over RIT last Saturday on the road. Five different Raiders scored in the season-opening triumph for Colgate. Junior forward Colton Young and graduate forward Josh McKechney led the way with two points apiece. During the 2020-21 campaign McKechney was one of the Raiders leading scorers with 13 points including seven goals.
Colgate returns 22 players from the 2020-21 squad that went 6-11-5 including all four of its goaltenders. Sophomore goaltender Carter Gylander started the RIT win making 22 saves. He played in 19 of the Raiders 22 games last season.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Colgate leads the overall series with Vermont 37-27-5, the teams were regular opponents in UVM's time in the ECAC. The teams first met on November 27, 1971 a 7-2 win for Vermont. The teams last met in the 2015 Sheraton/TD Bank Catamount Cup. Vermont beat the Raiders 4-1 to clinch the Catamount Cup that year.
 
DRAFT CAPITAL
The Catamounts enter the new season with five NHL Draft picks on the roster. It is the first time in the 2000s UVM has had more than three players drafted on the roster at one time. Robbie Stucker (Columbus, 2017 7th Rd.), Andrei Buyalsky (Colorado, 2021 3rd Rd.), Luca Mu¨nzenberger (Edmonton, 2021 3rd Rd.), Isak Walther (Nashville, 2019 6th Rd.) and Timofei Spitserov (San Jose, 2020 7th Rd.) are sure to bring NHL attention to the program this season.
 
NEW FACES AT THE GUT
Second year Head Coach Todd Woodcroft will field a significantly different team this year in Catamount Country. 14 Catamounts are eligible to make their debut for Vermont tomorrow night. UVM's newcomers include 10 first years, two juniors, one senior and a grad transfer.
 
GUT HOCKEY GOES INTERNATIONAL
The Vermont roster is comprised of student-athletes from nine different countries. There is at least one player from Finland, Latvia, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Germany, Kazakhstan, Canada and the United States. UVM features five players from Ontario the most of any province or state. Vermont's eight players from outside North America is tied for the second most of any Division I program with Lake Superior State. Only Alaska has more with 14.
 
VETERAN LEADERSHIP AMONGST CATAMOUNT CAPTAINS
Junior defenseman Andrew Lucas will continue as the 62nd captain in program history this season. Senior Carter Long and juniors Jacques Bouquot and William Lemay will serve as alternate captains.  
 
ORDER YOUR EXCLUSIVE VERMONT HOCKEY GEAR BEFORE OCTOBER 11
Through Monday, October 11 fans have an exclusive opportunity to purchase Nike UVM men's hockey gear directly from UVM's apparel supplier BSN Sports. Customize gear with your favorite players number. Order today at https://www.bsnteamsports.com/shop/ICEMHOCK. Orders will be fulfilled within 10 weeks.
 
WOODCROFT HEADED TO 2022 OLYMPICS WITH SWEDEN
Vermont Head Coach Todd Woodcroft has been named an assistant coach with the Swedish national men's team for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. The men's ice hockey competition at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games is slated for February 9-20, 2022. Games will be played at the National Indoor Stadium and the Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing. 
 
This past season he served as an assistant coach remotely with the 2021 Sweden national junior team at the IIHF World Junior Championships hosted in Edmonton, Alberta.
 
WINTER 2021 FAN AND VISITOR POLICY
The University of Vermont is now requiring anyone in a campus building to wear a face covering - regardless of vaccination status. The policy went into effect on August 5 to aid in protecting our community from the spread of COVID-19. In order to ensure the safety of students, staff and the community, UVM is now also expecting that all vaccine eligible visitors to campus, including fans attending athletic events, will be fully vaccinated.
 
Due to the ongoing health and safety protocols, concessions will be closed for the time being. No outside food will be permitted but fans are allowed to bring a reusable water bottle (maximum size 2 liters). Our policy will be reevaluated as circumstances evolve. 
 
Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the 2021-22 men's hockey season