WOMEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
As the 11th ranked Catamounts approach the home stretch of the 2022-23 campaign they welcome Merrimack on their penultimate home weekend. UVM will host the Warriors for a single game Friday night at 6 p.m. for their annual Rally Against Cancer Game presented by Mascoma Bank.
 
Please consider making a gift to support the important work of the UVM Cancer Center. Your support is critical to providing top-notch clinical care, and advancing cancer research right here in our community. Mascoma Bank bolsters its support and commitment by pledging to match up to $10,000 for the Rally Against Cancer game through the month of February. Donate Here.
 
If fans would like to learn more about how Mascoma Bank is partnering with UVM Athletics and the UVM Cancer Center, you can read a full press release about the partnership here. 
 
The Catamounts will wear special-edition lavender jerseys for Friday's contest. A live auction for the sweaters will begin at puck drop at 6 p.m. at https://uvmathletics.com/auctions/. Bidding starts at $125 with the proceeds going to the University of Vermont Cancer Center. The auction will close Friday, February 10 at 6 p.m.
 
Friday's contest will air on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan on the call. The games will also be available on a pay-per-view basis internationally at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/hockeyeast. Subscriptions to the service are available for $9.99 USD per month or $4.99 USD for individual games.
 
RELATED LINKS
Buy Tickets
CatamounTV Weekly Press Conference: Coach Plumer | Mlýnková
Live Stats | ESPN+
International Streaming ($)
Rally Against Cancer Central
 
STRETCH RUN MEANS STANDINGS WATCH
With five games to go in the regular season the race for home-ice in the quarterfinals is heating up. Right now, it appears as though it's a five-team race for the coveted top-four spots. Keep in mind with the current league format a total of three points is up for grabs in each game.

1. Northeastern                          64 Pts
2. Vermont                                 44 Pts
3. Providence                             43 Pts
4. Boston College                       38 Pts
5. UConn                                     36 Pts

 
BEECHER NAMED TO NATIONAL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
On Thursday afternoon first year forward and Buffalo, N.Y. native Lara Beecher was named to the Women's Hockey Commissioners Association's National Rookie of the Year Watch List. Beecher has eight goals and nine assists this season for 17 points in 29 games. Her 17 points are the best by a first year at Vermont since Theresa Schafzahl had 17 in 2018-19. The program record for points by a first year is 31 by Ève-Audrey Picard in 2016-17.
 
YOU DON'T WANT TO TRAIL VERMONT
The Catamounts are 12-0-1 this season when leading after the first period and 13-0-0 when leading after two periods. In nine of its 10 losses, this season Vermont has trailed after the opening period.
 
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 30-14 in the second and outshot teams 289-192.
 
OFFENSE AND DEFENSE AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS
With 2.9 goals-per game the Catamounts offense ranks tied for 15th in the NCAA. Vermont has scored five or more goals six times in 29 games this season. Vermont is giving up just 1.9 goals per game which is tied for 11th best in the NCAA. Dating back to February 9, 2020 Catamounts are 25-0-0 when scoring four or more goals.
 
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS 
Merrimack enters the weekend with a record of 7-21-1 and they are 4-17-1 in conference play. The Warriors have lost eight straight games dating back to December 31. In league play they've picked up just four points in road contests. Senior captain Katie Kaufman leads the Warriors in scoring with 10 goals and eight assists for 18 points. In six career games against the Catamounts she has one goal and one assist.

SERIES HISTORY
Friday will be the 21st all-time meeting between the Catamounts and Warriors. The Catamounts have won all five meetings over the last two seasons and have the edge in the series 11-7-2. The Catamounts have earned 20 of a possible 21 points against Merrimack in their last seven meetings. In Vermont's sweep at Merrimack in November seven Catamounts had two or more points.
 
CZECH-MATES EARN BRONZE
Vermont forwards Tynka Pátková & Natálie Mlýnková earned bronze medals at the 2022 IIHF Women's World Championships in Denmark in September. Czechia defeated Switzerland 4-2 in the bronze medal game behind two goals from Mlýnková. It was Czechia's first-ever medal on the women's side. Former Catamount Blanka Škodová 
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.
 
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR SHE ROARS AND UVM ATHLETICS
She Roars has produced an exclusive line of apparel for UVM Athletics fans to show their support of all women, transwomen, femme and nonbinary folks in sport and in our community. The exclusive team store is open until 2/5 order now at go.uvm.edu/roar.
 
The Windjammer Inn and Conference Center is the presenting sponsor of the UVM women's hockey program