BURLINGTON, Vt. – The eight-seed Vermont Catamounts will face the nine-seed Holy Cross Crusaders during the opening round of the Hockey East Playoff Tournament on Wednesday (Feb. 26). Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. from Gutterson Fieldhouse. Fans can also catch all the action live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan on the call.
 
RELATED LINKS
Watch Live on ESPN+
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CatamounTV Weekly Press Conference: Coach Plumer | Skelton
 
PLAYOFF HISTORY

• For the first time in program history, Vermont will be playing in an opening round matchup. Previously, UVM had 14 quarterfinal appearances to start the Hockey East Playoff Tournament. All 14 appearances had come consecutively under Head Coach Jim Plumer.
• Vermont will be going head-to-head with Holy Cross in the playoffs for the first time in program history. Merrimack is the only other Hockey East School UVM has yet to face in the playoffs.
• In Hockey East Tournament history on the women's side the eight-seed is 2-18 overall and has never advanced to the semifinals. The eight-seed is 2-2 in the opening round and 0-16 once reaching the quarter finals.
• The Catamounts are 6-18 in their Division I program history in the playoffs.

 
VERMONT OUTLOOK

• Vermont comes off the final weekend series of the regular season splitting a two-game series with Northeastern. UVM was victorious in the first game, winning 3-2. Northeastern bounced back in the second game, defeating the Catamounts 3-1.
• Maddy Skelton, Ashley Kokavec, Evelyne Blais-Savoie, and Natalie Zarcone all recorded a goal over the weekend series with Northeastern.
• UVM has five wins over top 15 nationally ranked opponents this season, four coming against Hockey East teams (Boston University, Boston College, Northeastern twice, and St. Lawrence).
• Vermont is the only Hockey East school to score a shorthanded goal in back-to-back games this season.
• UVM has been solid in the faceoff circle this season, ranking 12th in the Nation in faceoff win percentage with a 52.4% success rate, good for third in Hockey East. Blais-Savoie is at the forefront of these wins for UVM, individually ranking fourth in the Nation and first in Hockey East with 417 total wins on the campaign.
• Vermont is the only Hockey East school that has two centers in the conference in the top 10 for most faceoffs won this season. Blais-Savoie sits alone at the top with 417 while Rose-Maire Brochu rounds out the top 10 with 273 faceoff wins.
• UVM is one of five Hockey East schools that has two or more defenders with eight or more assists on the season so far, (Kyla Bent and Kokavec). Providence, UConn, Northeastern, and Boston University are the other four Hockey East schools.
• Lara Beecher and Blais-Savoie each lead a team high six goals on the season.
• Beecher leads the team in points, having 16 total points on six goals and a tied team high 10 assists. Beecher also leads the team in total shots with 107 on the season, good for fifth most in Hockey East.
• Kokavec leads all UVM blueliners in points, notching 15 points on five goals and a tied team high 10 assists so far this season. Kokavec's 15 points is tied for sixth most among defenders in the Hockey East conference.
• Kokavec's 81 shots thus far is the third most by a defender in Hockey East to this point.

 
SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS

• Holy Cross secured their first season sweep over Vermont in their program history during the regular season, outscoring UVM 6-2 in the three games played on the campaign.
• The Crusaders finished the regular season with a 10-19-4 overall record and a 6-17-4 conference record.
• Holy Cross is 7-6-2 when playing at home and 3-13-2 playing on the road. The last time Holy Cross secured a win on the road was November 9, 2024, when they beat Vermont in Gutterson Fieldhouse 2-1 in overtime.
• The Crusaders concluded the regular season with a weekend series with Maine, falling 4-1 in the first game and tying 2-2 in the second game (Holy Cross won the shootout 2-0).
• The Crusaders are led by sophomore forward Emily Crovo who has posted 16 points on six goals and 10 assists, team highs in every category.
• The Catamounts hold a 13-7-1 all-time record against Holy Cross.

 
For news and updates about the Vermont women's hockey program, follow @UVMwhockey on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.
 
The Windjammer Inn and Conference Center is the presenting sponsor of the UVM women's hockey program