MEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
Vermont will officially begin the 2023-24 campaign Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. as they host McGill in their TD Bank Home Opener from Gutterson Fieldhouse. The action will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Brian McLaughlin on the call. The first 500 fans will receive a cobranded TD Bank and UVM t-shirt. Saturday's contest will also be broadcast live on WVMT with the voice of the Catamounts Adam Lafleur in the Handy Toyota Broadcast Booth. 
 
RELATED LINKS
Live Stats | Live Video: ESPN+ 
Tickets | International Streaming ($)
Listen Live
 
VERMONT HOCKEY MEDIA DAY
Last week, the Catamounts hosted their annual media day at Gutterson Fieldhouse presented by Little Caesars. Watch the multimedia coverage from CatamounTV below.
Opening Statement – Steve Wiedler
1-on-1 with Jérémie Bucheler             
1-on-1 with Will Zapernick
 
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.
 
BUYALSKY AND WALTHER BRINGING THE OFFENSE
Last season Andrei Buyalsky (5 Gl, 13 Ast) and Isak Walther (9 Gl, 10 Ast) led the way for the Vermont offense. They were the first Catamounts to post 18 or more points in a season since 2018-19. Walther posted three game-winning goals for Vermont last season the most by a Catamount since, current Colorado Avalanche forward, Ross Colton had three during the 2017-18 campaign.
 
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 REDBIRDS
McGill's 148th season of hockey is underway with a record of 3-3-0. On Thursday night, they lost their conference opener 4-3 against Concordia at home. In their six games this season they have scored 20 goals and given up 20 goals. They've scored at least three goals in all but one game this season.
 
The Redbirds have been led offensively by first year forward and QMJHL graduate Charles-Antoine Dumont. Dumont has six goals and one assist for seven points. He's currently on a three-game goal streak. The former captain of the Drummondville Voltigeurs had 44 points in 67 regular season games last year in the Q.
 
SERIES HISTORY
McGill won the only previous meeting in program history taking a 3-2 decision on December 30, 1978. This will be the Catamounts first Canadian opponent in an exhibition since 2019. UVM defeated Guelph 6-1 on October 5, 2019.
 
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.

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