MEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
Vermont (1-4-2) returns to Gutterson Fieldhouse this weekend as they host No. 17 UMass (4-3-1) for a pair of league matchups. The New England rivals will faceoff at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night. Both games will air live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan on the call and as always, the games will also be broadcast on WVMT with the voice of the Catamounts Adam Lafleur in the Handy Toyota Broadcast Booth. 
 
Friday night is Military Appreciation Night presented by Milton CAT. Collins Aerospace will be giving away hockey pucks, totes and hats. As a part off Military Appreciation service members will receive 20% off their purchase at the UVM Bookstore kiosk with a valid military ID.
 
Saturday is the annual TD Bank Teddy Bear Toss. Fans are encouraged to bring in NEW stuffed animals to toss onto the ice during the first intermission to benefit the King Street Center. TD Bank cardholders are also eligible to receive a 20% discount at the UVM Bookstore's athletic kiosks as well as free hot chocolate or coffee at UVM Dining concessions stands at the game.
 
RELATED LINKS
Friday: Buy Tickets | Watch Live
Saturday: Buy Tickets | Watch Live
Listen Live
Live Stats
International Steaming
Weekly Press Conference: Steenerson | Coach Wiedler
 
MANGBO NAMED HEA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore goaltender Axel Mangbo was named Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. He made 30 saves Saturday in the Catamounts 1-0 win over UConn, earning his first career win and shutout. Mangbo is the first Catamount to earn the honor since Jérémie Bucheler on November 13, 2023.
 
Bucheler picked up his honor after he scored two goals and added three assists in Vermont's 6-2 win over then No. 14 UMass on November 11, 2023. Bucheler matched a program single-game record for a UVM defenseman with his five points. He was the first Catamounts defender to post five points since 1972.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS HELPING LEAD WAY
The Catamounts are ranked 11th in the NCAA and second in Hockey East with a 91.3% penalty kill this season. UVM has successfully killed off 21 of their opponents 23 opportunities with the extra man. Last weekend at UConn the Catamounts also scored three power play goals. UVM was three-for-six over the course of the week, Joel Määttä scored the OT winner on Saturday during a four-on-three advantage.
 
SCOUTING THE MINUTEMEN

• The Minutemen are 4-3-1 this season and 0-1-1 in league play. In their only league action this season they topped UConn in a shootout at home (3-3 tie in regulation) and fell 3-2 in Storrs the next night.
• Last weekend the Minutemen topped AIC 4-3 on Saturday with a three-goal first period. Sophomore goaltender Michael Hrabal made a career-high 44 saves in the win.
• Junior forward Cole O'Hara (Nashville, 4th Round Pick – 2022) is tied for the longest active point streak in the NCAA at eight games. He has four goals and eight assists this season for 12 points. He has found the stat sheet in all eight contests for UMass. His 12 points are second best in Hockey East and tied for 8th best in the NCAA.
• The Catamounts lead the all-time series with UMass 48-32-10. Vermont snapped a 13-game unbeaten streak for the Minutemen against Vermont with a 5-2 win at Mullins Center last year.
• Jens Richards scored the first Catamounts hat trick since 2018 in the 5-2 road win.
• In the teams' only meeting at the Gut last year Coach Wiedler picked up his first win over a top-ten team as UVM defeated the Minutemen 2-1 in overtime with a goal from Ryan Miotto. It was UVM's first home win over UMass since 2014.
• The teams first met on January 10, 1964, in a 5-5 tie at UMass.

CATAMOUNTS LEADERSHIP GROUP
Vermont men's hockey head coach Steve Wiedler announced his team's leadership group for the 2024-25 campaign, Will Zapernick and Joel Määttä will serve as captains while Jens Richards will be an alternate.
 
ALWAYS READY TO GO
Among players returning this season to Catamount Country, two players played in all 35 games during the 2023-24 season Will Zapernick and Timofei Spitserov. Zapernick has also played in all seven contests this season.
 
For news and updates about the Vermont men's hockey program, follow @UVMmhockey on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.
 
Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the UVM men's hockey program