WOMEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
After a weekend split at Holy Cross the 15th ranked Catamounts will host No. 14 UConn at Gutterson Fieldhouse in a rematch of the 2022 Hockey East Semifinal. It will the first time in women's hockey history the Catamounts and their opponent are ranked for a weekend series. Friday's Rally Around Mental Health Game will start at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the teams will do battle again at 3 p.m. Both games will air live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan on the call.
 
RELATED LINKS
CatamounTV Weekly Media: Coach Plumer | Schafzahl
Live Stats
Live Video: ESPN+ | International Streaming ($)
 
RALLY AROUND MENTAL HEALTH
Friday's home game against UConn will be the annual Rally Around Mental Health Game, which is an initiative that was created to help raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding mental health. Led by student-athletes, Rally Around Mental Health initiatives offer educational programming and activities to promote mental health. If you are interested in helping the Rally Around Mental Health initiative bring more resources and programming to UVM Athletics, please visit go.uvm.edu/ramh.
 
SCHAFZAHL SETS PROGRAM RECORD
Theresa Schafzahl scored three goals last weekend for the Catamounts in their weekend series at Holy Cross. With her first goal Sunday afternoon, she set a new program record for points with 106. She surpassed Amanda Pelkey (2011-15), the U.S. Olympic Gold medalist, who owned the record previously at 105 points. Schafzahl needs five assists to pass Pelkey (56) for the all-tine assists record. With five goals this season Schafzahl is tied for the lead in Division 1 for goals. With seven points (5 Gl, 2 Ast) she is also tied for the team lead in scoring.
 
POWER PLAY CLICKING EARLY
Currently at a 40% success rate the Catamounts have the third best power play in Division I. They are three-for-four at home this season and in one instance they scored in just seven seconds off a won faceoff. Vermont's 9.8 shooting percentage (even strength & PP) is ranked 10th in the NCAA.
 
ALL STARTS WITH POSSESSION
The Catamounts are fifth in the NCAA and tops in Hockey East winning 58.2% of their draws this season. Theresa Schafzahl (77.3%) and Evelyne Blais-Savoie (71.1%) are both ranked in the top-10 individually this season at the faceoff dot.
 
LONG CHANGE, LONG PERIOD
The Catamounts have been most effective this season during the second period, when both teams have the long change. UVM has outscored its opponents 7-1 in the second and outshot teams 49-17.
 
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
UConn is 4-2-0 this season suffering both losses last weekend against No. 3 Northeastern. Northeastern topped UConn 3-0 at home on Friday afternoon and on the road 4-1. UConn has been led in the early season by balanced scoring, Claire Peterson, Camryn Wong, Coryn Tormala and Brianna Ware all have four points to lead the team in scoring.
 
Both teams this weekend have been very good on the penalty kill. UConn has killed off 93.8% of their penalties and UVM has successfully defended 90.9% of theirs. They are among just nine Division I programs at or above 90% this season.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Vermont and UConn will square off for the 52nd and 53rd time in series history this weekend. The Catamounts are 14-31-6 overall against the Huskies. Last season the Huskies held an 3-1-0 edge over Vermont including their 3-1 win in the Hockey East Semifinals at the Gut. Two of the Huskies three wins came at Vermont.
 
In their last 10 matchups, the Catamounts hold a 5-3-2 advantage. Over that 10 game stretch Vermont is undefeated when it scores three or more goals against UConn.
 
HOCKEY ALUMNAE – SAVE THE DATE!
Vermont Hockey is excited to invite our former Catamounts back January 20-21, 2023 for Alumnae Weekend.  The weekend will include Pack the Gut and celebrating 25 varsity seasons!  Alumnae who interested in helping plan the weekend's events, can contact our Victory Club Office at Victory.Club@uvm.edu.  Hotel Block:  go.uvm.edu/wihhotel (held through December 19)
 
VERMONT SELECTED SECOND IN HOCKEY EAST PRESEASON POLL
The Catamounts received their highest-ever ranking in the Hockey East Coaches' Preseason Poll. After finishing in second last season with a conference mark of 18-7-2 UVM was selected by the coaches to place second again this year. The reigning five-time defending champion Northeastern was picked first. The Catamounts were the only team in Hockey East last season to defeat the Huskies at Matthews Arena in league play.
 
CZECH-MATES EARN BRONZE
Vermont forwards Tynka Pátková & Natálie Mlynková earned bronze medals at the 2022 IIHF Women's World Championships in Denmark last month. Czechia defeated Switzerland 4-2 in the bronze medal game behind two goals from Mlynková. It was Czechia's first-ever medal on the women's side. Former Catamount Blanka Skodova was also a member of the team.
 
There were three other current Catamounts in the tournament patrolling the blueline. First year Krista Parkkonen (Finland) made her World Championships debut while Sofie Skott (Denmark) and Sini Karjalainen (Finland) competed in their second World Championship at the senior level.
 
PURCHASE WOMEN'S HOCKEY SEASON TICKETS
For the first time this season fans can purchase season tickets to the women's hockey campaign. Tickets for adults are $50 and for youth 17 and under it's just $25. Secure the best deal in college hockey by calling the ticket office at (802) 656-4410.
 
The Windjammer Inn and Conference Center is the presenting sponsor of the UVM women's hockey program