BOSTON – The Vermont women's hockey team has been selected second overall in the 2023-24 Hockey East Preseason Coaches Poll. The league made the announcement on Tuesday morning at Hockey East Media Day from Legends at TD Garden.
 
It is the second straight season the Catamounts' preseason ranking as been second, the highest in program history. Reigning six-time Hockey East champions Northeastern received 88 points and eight first place votes to top the poll. Providence (74 pts.), UConn (65 pts.) and Boston University (59 pts.) rounded out the top five.
 
Vermont scored over 100 goals in each of the last two years for the first time in program history on their way to back-to-back second place finishes in Hockey East with a program record of 22 wins in each campaign. Last season Lara Beecher became the first Catamount forward to be named Hockey East Rookie of the Year. Beecher tied for the lead among all Hockey East rookies with 18 points in league play, leading the way with eight goals and 0.67 points per game. 
 
Coach Plumer earned his 300th career win defeating Merrimack 6-2 on Feb. 3. He is UVM's all-time wins leader with 145 wins. Senior captain Natálie Mlýnková is the top returning scorer in Hockey East this season. She set new career highs in goals (23), assists (19) and points (42) last year. Vermont finished last season ranked 11th in the final USCHO poll.

Season tickets for the 2023-24 campaign are available and can be reserved now by calling 802-656-4410 or by visiting UVMathletics.com/Tickets. Vermont opens the 2023-24 campaign with an exhibition tilt against McGill on Sunday, October 1 at 2 p.m. Opening Night presented by TD Bank is set for Friday, October 6 against Clarkson at 6 p.m.

The Windjammer Inn and Conference Center is the presenting sponsor of the UVM women's hockey program