BURLINGTON, Vt. – First year goaltender Aiden Wright made 30 saves earning his first career shutout and propelling Vermont to a 3-0 win over RPI Saturday night in non-conference action from Gutterson Fieldhouse on Rally's Birthday presented by Healthy Living.

RELATED LINKS
Box Score
CatamounTV Highlights
Postgame: Coach Wiedler
Video: One-on-One Steenerson with Sierra Prue
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• In his return to the lineup Wright made 10 first period stops for Vermont in a scoreless opening frame between the two clubs. The Catamounts outshot the Engineers 13-10 in the opening 20 minutes.
• RPI's Rainers Rullers had the Engineers best opportunity of the second period ringing a shot off the crossbar with 1:04 left in the period. In transition on a two-on-two rush Luciano Wilson dropped the puck to Rullers and he just missed opening the scoring.
• Seconds later UVM's Colin Kessler was robbed by RPI's Nate Krawchuk to keep it scoreless. Blake Steenerson forced a RPI turnover on their breakout and UVM broke in on a three-on-one rush. Steenerson fed Kessler cross-ice for a one-timer that Krawchuk dove and robbed with his glove.
• Steenerson and Kessler cashed in for the Catamounts 11 seconds into the third period. Kessler cut into the RPI zone and dropped a pass to Jens Richards, his initial stop was stopped by Krawchuk but it was jammed home by Steenerson for his second goal of the season.
• The Catamounts sealed the win with empty-net goals 25 seconds apart from Richards and Daniel Sambuco.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Tonight was the sixth game this season that first year goaltender Aiden Wright made 30 or more saves for the Catamounts.
• Colin Kessler is the Catamounts leading scorer with 10 points this season, all on assists. He added two helpers tonight.
• Duncan Ramsay led the Catamounts with three blocked shots Saturday night.
• With tonight's Win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to the Lund Family Center through the Cat's Win, Community Win's initiative. Vermont Mutual has donated over $5 Million Dollars since launching their Charitable Giving Fund in 2014.
• With this evening's 3-0 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $150 to Special Olympics Vermont. Community Bank, N.A. donates $50 per goal to Special Olympics Vermont for every goal the men's and women's team scores this season.

UP NEXT
The Catamounts return home next weekend as they return to Hockey East play and host No. 12 Northeastern at Gutterson Fieldhouse for a two-game set. The teams will faceoff at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night.
 
Friday is Blades and Brushes night, fans are encouraged to bring their most creative poster to cheer on the Catamounts, or they can make one at the poster workshop by the marketing table. If fans make a poster, they can be entered in a free raffle at the marketing table. Saturday is Green Out the Gut presented by Casella, the first 500 fans can receive a free co-branded beanie & long sleeve shirt, courtesy of Casella.
 
Rob Ryan will have the call on ESPN+, while an international feed is available ($) via Stretch Internet. Owen Gund will have the radio call on the Varsity Network and WVMT.

For news and updates about the Vermont men's hockey program, follow @UVMmhockey on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.