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The Catamounts return to Gutterson Fieldhouse this weekend for a two-game series with the Maine Black Bears. It is a promotion packed weekend at the Gut. Friday's contest is presented by Widewail and starts at 7 p.m. On Saturday evening the Catamounts will face the Black Bears at 5 p.m.

On Saturday fans are encouraged to bring in a non-perishable food item to support the Vermont Foodbank, and everyone that does will receive a box of coffee and have the opportunity to be entered to win a Keurig coffee machine.  All fans who purchase a ticket online in advance of Saturday's game will automatically be entered to win a season pass to Smugglers' Notch! Winners will be announced during the game. Finally, on Saturday there will be free pizza to the first 250 students, thanks to Little Caesars.

Both contests will air live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan back on the call. The voice of the Catamounts, Adam LaFleur, will broadcast both games live on WVMT (FM 96.3 / AM 620) and the Varsity Network App.
 
RELATED LINKS
CatamounTV Press Conference: Coach Woodcroft | Lucas Jones
Listen Live on the Varsity Network App
Live Stats
Live Video: ESPN+ | International Streaming ($)
Tickets
 
HOME SWEET HOME
The Catamounts have won four straight home games, defeating Holy Cross, UNH (twice) and RPI by a combined scored of 14-5. It is the first time Vermont has won four straight home games since December 30, 2016 – January 20, 2017 when Vermont won five straight against Bentley (2x), St. Lawrence, Northeastern and UConn.
 
POWER PLAY FINDING ITS RHYTHM
After a slow start, offensively the Catamounts have been hitting their stride as of late with the man advantage. UVM has scored a power play goal in each of its last three games. Jacques Bouquot and Robbie Stucker have each scored two power play goals over that stretch for Vermont.
 
MICHALS TO COACH AT WORLD JUNIOR A CHALLENGE IN ONTARIO
Drew Michals will be joining the Latvian Federation as an Assistant Coach at the upcoming World Junior A Challenge in Cornwall, Ontario. (December 11-18) In addition, Catamounts commits Alex Bump (USA) and Kris Krumins (Latvia) will compete in the prestigious tournament.
 
The 2022 World Junior A Challenge represents a partnership between Hockey Canada, the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), Hockey Eastern Ontario, NHL Central Scouting and the local organizing committee. The five-team format includes Team Canada East, Team Canada West, Latvia, Sweden and the United States.
 
AUTIO MATCHES CAREER-HIGH AT PROVIDENCE
Oskar Autio had his best performance as a Catamount in UVM's last HEA game at No. 9 Providence. He matched a career-high making 41 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss. It was the second time this season a UVM goalie has made 40+ saves. On October 29, Gabe Carriere made 42 saves in another overtime contest at Colgate.
 
SCOUTING MAINE
The Black Bears enter this season with 16 new faces on the roster. Maine is 3-8-1 overall and 0-5-1 in Hockey East action. The Black Bears sit in 10th place with three points, although they've played the fewest games of anyone in the conference. The Catamounts have a three-point edge on Maine entering the weekend, making this a huge series.
 
As the Black Bears hit the ice Friday night it will be just their second game in the last 19 days. Last Saturday the Black Bears defeated AIC 5-1. Six of the Black Bears eight losses have come against ranked opponents. Maine handed No. 4 Quinnipiac its only loss of the season thus far on October 22 with a 4-0 decision from Alfond Arena.
 
Junior forward Lynden Breen leads the team in scoring this season with six goals and three assists for nine points. He had two goals including the game-winner in the Black Bears 5-1 win over AIC.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Vermont leads the all-time series against Maine with a record of 31-29-8. The Catamounts are 19-17-4 at home against the Black Bears. Last season in Orono the Catamounts won 1-0 in overtime with a Cory Babichuk tally and then the next night UVM claimed a win in the shootout backed by a career-high 50 saves by Gabe Carriere. Todd Woodcroft earned his first collegiate win in a 5-4 decision at the Gut on January 8, 2020.
 
SIZE MATTERS
The Catamounts as a team have an average height of 6'1.6" which makes them the tallest team in college hockey. Boston University (6'0.9") is the only other team in Hockey East in the top-10. Vermont is also fourth in the NCAA in average weight at 191.0 pounds.
 
VERMONT CONNECTION SHINES AT 2022 WORLD JUNIORS
Joel Määttä became the first Catamount in program history to medal at the highest level of the World Juniors in August. He earned a silver medal with Finland, with three goals and an assist in seven games. Head Coach Todd Woodcroft earned a bronze medal as an assistant coach with Sweden. Ralfs Bergmanis (Latvia) and Luca Münzenberger (Germany) also competed at the 2022 IIHF World Juniors. Assistant Coach Scott Moser served in the same role for Slovakia as well.
 
RECORD NUMBER OF CATAMOUNTS ATTEND NHL ROOKIE CAMPS
Vermont had a program-record 11 student-athletes (committed or enrolled) participate at NHL Development Camps this summer. Joel Määttä who was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Draft attended Oilers camp with his UVM teammate Luca Münzenberger. Locally Porter Schachle and Gabe Carriere were invitees to the Boston Bruins development camp.
 
DRAFT CAPITAL
The Catamounts enter the new season with six NHL Draft picks on the roster. Robbie Stucker (Columbus, 2017 7th Rd.), Andrei Buyalsky (Colorado, 2021 3rd Rd.), Luca Münzenberger (Edmonton, 2021 3rd Rd.), Isak Walther (Nashville, 2019 6th Rd.), Timofei Spitserov (San Jose, 2020 7th Rd.) and Joel Määttä (Edmonton, 2022 7th Rd.) are sure to bring added NHL attention to the program this season.
 
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.
 
NEW SEASON, NEW JERSEYS
This season the Vermont men's and women's hockey teams are wearing new jerseys by Gemini Athletic Wear. Replica versions of the new men's road green jerseys are available now through the UVM Bookstore - https://go.uvm.edu/newgreen.
 
Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the 2022-23 men's hockey season