Vermont Skates Past Clarkson, 5-2
Junior forward Travis Blanleil posts goal and assist for Catamounts

Junior forward Travis Blanleil had a goal and an assist for the Catamounts
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
1st 2:10  VER1-0 EV Ori Abramson (1)Travis Blanleil/1, Derek Lodermeier/1
3rd 3:58  CLK1-1 EV Jordan Boucher (1)Nic Pierog/1
3rd 5:11  VER2-1 PP Brian Bowen (1)Rob Darrar/1, Max Daigle/1
3rd 8:42  VER3-1 EV GW Travis Blanleil (1)Tom Forgione/1, Derek Lodermeier/2
3rd 11:26  CLK2-3 PP Jordan Boucher (2)James de Haas/1, Sam Vigneault/1
3rd 16:30  VER4-2 EV Brady Shaw (1) -
3rd 17:23  VER5-2 EV Jarrid Privitera (1)Conor O'Neil/1, Craig Puffer/1
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd Final
Vermont  1045
Clarkson  0022
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd SOG
Vermont  1281131
Clarkson  13131137
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
Vermont (1-0-0)  1/6 12/24 0
Clarkson (0-1-0)  1/10 9/18 0
Vermont Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Mike Santaguida (W, 1-0-0)60:002 1313935
Clarkson Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Jake Kielly (L, 0-1-0)60:005 118726

POTSDAM, N.Y. - Five different Catamounts scored goals and senior goalie Mike Santaguida made 35 saves, leading Vermont to a 5-2 season-opening victory over former ECAC rival Clarkson on Friday night at Cheel Arena.

Travis Blanleil registered the game-winning goal and an assist for his second career multi-point game, while rookie Derek Lodermeier collected a pair of assists in his NCAA debut.

Vermont struck quickly just 2:10 into the season as Lodermeier sprung Blanleil for a 2-on-1 into the Clarkson zone. Blanleil delayed before feeding a pass to the edge of the crease for Ori Abramson, who ramped the puck into the roof of the net with his backhand. The goal was Abramson's second career tally, while Lodermeier picked up his first collegiate point.

The remainder of the first period was dominated by special teams with 13 total penalties called. Santaguida was perfect in the opening frame with 13 saves, including a sprawling pad stop at the right post on a late power play.

The Catamount penalty kill became the story of the second period, killing off 43 seconds of 5-on-3 to begin the frame. UVM then denied Clarkson on another two-man advantage for 1:19 before the five-minute mark to retain the lead. Jarrid Privitera punctuated the final kill of the period with a diving block on a center point drive from Golden Knight captain James de Haas.

Clarkson finally equalized four minutes into the third period when Jordan Boucher fired a one-timer into the upper right corner off a centering pass from Nic Pierog.

The Catamounts responded 1:13 later on the power play. Rob Darrar directed a shot on target from the slot, and the rebound found Brian Bowen at the back door. Bowen fluttered the puck past Jake Kielly (26 save) from the left doorstep before the rookie could recover. Max Daigle posted his first career point with the second assist.

Vermont doubled the lead at 8:42 of the third as Tom Forgione wristed a quick shot wide of the left post after a feed from Lodermeier. The puck came off the end boards to the right doorstep, and Blanleil finished on his forehand for a 3-1 cushion.

Boucher's second goal of the night at 11:42 came on the power play and ended a run of nine consecutive Vermont penalty kills. UVM won its third consecutive season opener.

Brady Shaw restored the two-goal lead with three and half minutes left after picking off a clearance in the Clarkson slot. Shaw deked to his backhand and stuffed the puck under Kielly's left pad for an unassisted tally.

Jarrid Privitera sealed the win less than a minute, finishing a rebound from the top of the crease to follow a shot from linemate Conor O'Neil.

UVM received points from 11 of its 18 skaters in the opener and closed the night 9-for-10 on the penalty kill.

Vermont and Clarkson match up again on Saturday (Oct. 8) at 7:05 p.m. in the home opener at Gutterson Fieldhouse. Tickets can be purchased at UVMathletics.com/Tickets. Free live video is available at CatamounTV.com and pre-game radio coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on WVMT 620-AM.