BURLINGTON, Vt. - Fifth-ranked Providence scored twice in the second period and Jon Gillies made 23 saves as the Friars held on for a 3-0 shutout of Vermont on Saturday night in Hockey East action at Gutterson Fieldhouse. The Catamounts fall to 3-5-1 (2-4-0 HEA), while the Friars improve to 9-1-1 (5-1-0 HEA) and sweep the weekend series after a 3-2 win on Friday.
After a scoreless first period in which UVM out-shot PC 9-7, the Friars opened the scoring at the 5:59 mark of the middle frame. Steven McParland forced a turnover behind the Vermont goal and fed a quick pass to the right doorstep for Ross Mauermann. From a weak angle, Mauermann lifted a one-timer into the upper right corner for his third goal of the weekend.
Less than three minutes later, Providence doubled the lead as Mauermann poked the puck free along the left wing half boards in the UVM zone. Nick Saracino skated into a one-time slap shot from the high slot, and it deflected off a Vermont stick into the left side of the net past Mike Santaguida's blocker.
The Friars put the game away with 5:42 left in regulation on a transition play. McParland lifted a pass into the path of Kevin Rooney down the left wing and he skated into the Catamount zone. Rooney wristed a shot from the left circle high glove side inside the right post to stretch the lead to 3-0.
Vermont pulled Santaguida down the stretch but couldn't grab a goal back on Gillies. Santaguida finished the night with 19 saves, while the UVM penalty kill was 3-3 on the night and a perfect 7-7 over the weekend.
Next weekend, Vermont plays a home-and-home Hockey East series against UMass Amherst in its final games before Thanksgiving. The teams square off on Friday, Nov. 22 in Amherst, Mass. at 7 p.m., followed by an afternoon matchup in Burlington on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 4 p.m.
The Catamounts will wear special camouflage jerseys on Sunday for Military Appreciation Day at Gutterson Fieldhouse. The jerseys will be auctioned off starting on Monday (Nov. 18), with proceeds being donated to Vermont Veterans Affairs (auction details will be released on UVMathletics.com). Merchanise from '47 Brand will also be sold to benefit the charity organization Operation Hat Trick.
'JACK IS BACK' NIGHT
As part of Saturday night's game, the men's hockey team hosted 'Jack is Back' Night at Gutterson Fieldhouse for 15-year-old Shelburne, Vt. native Jack Lyman. The Catamounts drafted Jack to the team prior to last season through Team IMPACT, a non-profit organization chartered to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening illnesses. Jack and Kevin Rich, an eight-year-old who was drafted onto the Providence men's hockey team last year through Team IMPACT, were recognized with a special puck drop ceremony before the game.