MEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
After a weekend off Vermont will jump into Hockey East play as they travel to face No. 7 Providence in a two-game league set from Schneider Arena. On Friday night, the teams will faceoff at 7 p.m. before a 6 p.m. showdown on Saturday night, both contests will air live on ESPN+. As always, the games will be broadcast live on WVMT with the voice of the Catamounts Adam Lafleur in the Handy Toyota Broadcast Booth. 
 
RELATED LINKS
ESPN+ Broadcast: Friday | Saturday
International Streaming ($)
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Live Stats
 
CALM, CONSISTENT CARRIERE
A staple for the Catamounts this season has been the solid play of senior goaltender Gabe Carriere. Including the exhibition tilt with McGill Carriere has played every minute for UVM, he's stopped 77 of the 81 shots he's faced good for a .950 save percentage. His regular season .939 save percentage is currently 11th best in the NCAA. His 1.98 goals-against average is 14th best in the NCAA.
 
JELLUS POWERS CATAMOUNT ATTACK IN THE NORTH COUNTRY
Junior forward Simon Jellus notched his first career multi-goal game in UVM's 3-1 win at St. Lawrence. He scored UVM's first two goals of the 23-24 campaign including one on the power play. He also picked up his first career game-winner.
 
WIEDLER WINS CATAMOUNT DEBUT
Head Coach Steve Wiedler became just the second Catamount bench boss in program history to win his coaching debut with a 3-1 win at St. Lawrence on October 13. Wiedler joined Bill Ruffer (1963) as the only Vermont coaches to win their debut with the program. Wiedler is also just the second coach in program history to start his tenure with a road contest. The Catamounts also won their season opener for the first time since 2018 at Appleton Arena. UVM had last won its season opener at Michigan with a 5-2 win at Yost Arena.
 
CATAMOUNTS ARE COMING
In each of the last two seasons the Catamounts have increased their win total. Last season Vermont defeated Maine in the Hockey East Opening Round earning its first postseason win since 2018 and advancing to the Hockey East Quarterfinals for the first time since 2017. The Catamounts finished 15th in the NCAA on the PK in 2022-23. In 18 games, last season Vermont didn't give up a goal while shorthanded.
 
CATAMOUNTS LEADERSHIP GROUP
Head Coach Steve Wiedler has selected four student-athletes to lead the Catamounts during the 2023-24 campaign. Senior Will Zapernick will serve as the 64th captain in program history. Vermont will have three alternates this season with Jérémie Bucheler, Zach Dubinsky and Joel Määttä. Määttä served as an alternate captain last season as well.
 
BUCHELER ON THE PLUS SIDE
At Northeastern graduate transfer Jérémie Bucheler won the 2023 Beanpot, picking up the primary assist on the game-winning goal over Boston University in the semifinal. He carries a career +32 rating, which is tied for ninth amongst returning defenders in college hockey.
 
MIOTTO DANGEROUS ON THE KILL
Graduate transfer Ryan Miotto has a well-earned reputation for scoring shorthanded goals. The Canisius (AHA) transfer has three shorthanded tallies to his name, putting him fourth amongst all active returners in college hockey.
 
SCOUTING THE FRIARS
A strong start to the 2023-24 campaign has seen the Friars climb from a preseason ranking of 18th to seventh entering this weekend's action. Providence is 4-1-0 on the season with wins over No. 5 Michigan on the road and No. 2 Denver last weekend at home on their resume. PC has won three straight home games and is averaging 5.0 goals-per game over that stretch.
 
Forwards Jaroslav Chmelar, Riley Duran and Hudson Malinoski are tied for the team lead with three goals apiece. Chmelar is also tied for the team lead in assists and leads the way with seven points this year.
 
First year forward Tanner Adams was named the Pro Ambitions Hockey East Rookie of the Week on Monday. Adams scored the game-winner against Denver (his second GWG of the season) and added two assists last Friday.

SERIES HISTORY
Providence leads the all-time series between the two teams at 35-28-11. Sunday will be the 75th all-time meeting between the two teams. Providence has won nine straight against the Catamounts. The Catamounts last win in the series came on February 1, 2019 in a 3-1 decision at Schneider Arena. Conor O'Neil '19 scored the game-winner for Vermont with 3:31 to play. The Friars were ranked ninth in the country at the time.
 
DRAFT CAPITAL
The Catamounts enter the new season with six NHL Draft picks on the roster. Eli Barnett (San Jose, 2022 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 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. There are eight student-athletes from Ontario alone, including five newcomers this year.
 
JOIN US FRIDAY NOVEMBER 3 FOR MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT
The Catamounts will be hosting UConn on Friday, November 3 at 7 p.m. for their annual Military Appreciation Night presented by Milton CAT. The first 500 fans will receive a baseball hat. All active and retired military personnel will receive a complimentary ticket upon arrival with a valid military ID.

Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the UVM men's hockey program