MEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
The Catamounts return to league play this weekend as they travel to Chestnut Hill for their first road series at #18 Boston College since 2020. On Friday night, the Catamounts and Eagles will renew acquaintances at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. Then on Saturday evening the teams will do it again on ESPN+ and NESN+. The voice of the Catamounts, Adam LaFleur, will broadcast the action from the Handy Toyota Broadcast Booth on WVMT (FM 96.3 / AM 620) Friday, then The Game (FM 97.1/FM 105.9/AM 960) on Saturday due to NFL Playoffs conflicts. Both contests will be available as always on the Varsity Network App.
 
RELATED LINKS
CatamounTV Weekly Press Conference: Coach Woodcroft | Lombardi
Listen Live on the Varsity Network App
Live Stats
Live Video: ESPN+ | International Streaming ($)
 
JOIN CATAMOUNT COUNTRY FOR A PREGAME GATHERING FRIDAY AT CITYSIDE TAVERN
Please join UVM for light apps and a cash bar at Cityside Tavern (1960 Beacon Street, Brighton, Mass.) from 5-6:30 and then head over the men's hockey game at Boston College!  

Pregame Gathering Registration - go.uvm.edu/mihatbc.

Game Tickets are not included in event registration - purchase discounted tickets here.
 
CAPTAIN NAMED HOBEY BAKER AWARD NOMINEE
Senior forward and Catamounts captain Jacques Bouquot was named Vermont's Hobey Baker Award nominee on Thursday afternoon. Bouquot is Vermont's leading scorer this season with five goals and eight assists for 13 points this year. In the last 10 games, he has five goals and three assists. Fans can vote for Bouquot by clicking here.
 
POWER PLAY CLICKING IN CATAMOUNT COUNTRY
Overall the Catamounts power play has converted on 12.2% of its opportunities this season. But in its last 10 games Vermont is 8-for-35 on the power play good for 22.9%. Jacques Bouquot, Vermont's leading scorer, has four power play goals for Vermont over its last 10 games. Vermont is undefeated this season when scoring two or more goals on the power play this season.
 
CATAMOUNTS ARE FAST STARTERS
Vermont's best period this season has been the opening 20. The Catamounts are outscoring its opponents 18-7 in the first period. UVM has scored first in 12 of their games this season. In the first period UVM is outshooting its opponents 205-189, while in the remaining periods it is 448-376 in favor of their opponents.
 
FOND FIRST YEAR MEMORIES FOR JELLUS AND WALTHER
Sophomore forwards Simon Jellus and Isak Walther have fond memories of their first games against Boston College. On October 29 both of them scored their first career collegiate goals against the Eagles as UVM came from three goals down to defeat BC 5-4 in overtime. UVM's win over the ninth-ranked Eagles was also UVM's first win over a top-10 team in the Coach Woodcroft era.
 
SCOUTING BOSTON COLLEGE
The Eagles enter Friday's matchup with a record of 5-1-2 in their last eight contests. Boston College has played just twice in 2023. On January 7, they defeated UMass 4-2 at Frozen Fenway and last weekend they opened Sacred Heart's brand new Martire Family Arena with a 3-2 overtime win.
 
First year forward Andre Gasseau was named Pro Ambitions Co-Rookie of the Week by Hockey East on Monday. Gasseau had a shorthanded goal and two assists in BC's overtime win at SHU. The Eagles are led offensively this season by another first year, Cutter Gauthier. The fifth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft has 11 goals this season and eight assists. 10 of his 11 goals have come against conference opponents.
 
Graduate goaltender and Colgate transfer Mitch Benson has started every game this season for the Eagles. Benson is 9-6-4 this season and ranks third in Hockey East with 497 saves.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Vermont and Boston College will be meeting for the 76th and 77th time this weekend in Chestnut Hill. BC holds a 51-17-7 lead in the all-time series. Last season the Catamounts and Eagles split a weekend series at the Gut. UVM defeated Boston College 5-4 in overtime in game one and the Eagles notched a late winner to claim game two 3-2.  Vermont's last win at Kelley Rink came in game two of the 2016 Hockey East Quarterfinals on March 12. Current volunteer assistant coach Brendan Bradley scored the game-winner for UVM in that contest, a 4-2 decision.
 
Kelley Rink is the last facility in Hockey East that third year Head Coach Todd Woodcroft has not coached in yet. Vermont's last game at BC was January 4, 2020 an 8-3 decision in favor of the Eagles.
 
CATAMOUNTS VISIT ST. ALBANS FOR YOUTH CLINIC
Last week before the start of classes the Vermont men's hockey team traveled north to St. Albans for a Youth Clinic with local players in SASA. UVM's presenting sponsor Handy Toyota made the evening possible. Check out a video recap of the night by clicking here.
 
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.
 
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.
 
NOMINATE A HERO OF THE GUT PRESENTED BY MILTON CAT
Do you know of a Hometown Hero who has gone above and beyond in the community and would like to nominate and honor them as a Hero of the Gut? We are looking to highlight active or retired military members as well as other Heroes of our community such as police officers, firefighters, EMTs, teachers, doctors and nurses just to name a few at our Men's and Women's Hockey games.

We invite anyone to submit their Hometown Hero to be our Hero of The Gut. Recipients will receive tickets to their choice of a UVM Men's or Women's Hockey game, exclusive bench access pre-game, in-venue recognition (optional) and a token of appreciation.

Hero of the Gut is presented by Milton Cat. Nominate today at https://go.uvm.edu/hotg22.
 
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