HOCKEY EAST HEADLINES

Vermont claimed the 2019 Catamount Cup title thanks to back to back shutouts from senior netminder Stefanos Lekkas (Elburn, Ill.), who made 57 saves to become the first Catamount goaltender to post consecutive blank sheets since 2010. Ace Cowans (Beverly, Mass.) netted both game-winning goals, each set up by rookie Jacques Bouquot (South Windsor, Conn.)

Providence finished third at the Catamount Cup, topping Lake Superior, 2-1, in overtime and tying Union, 1-1. Tyce Thompson (Milford, Conn.) netted his NCAA-leading 14th goal of the season against Union. UConn advanced to the title game of the Ledyard Classic in the ninth round of a shootout off the stick of Carter Turnbull (Naniamo, B.C.) On Sunday in the championship game, Turnbull scored a pair of goals in the third period of an eventual 4-3 setback.

Maine earned a 5-1 win over AIC on Sunday. Patrick Shea (Marshfield, Mass.) scored two goals in the first period, including one while shorthanded, and set up another. Jeremy Swayman (Anchorage, Alaska) tallied 41 saves, the 16th time this year he has surpassed the 30-save mark and his second time making at least 40.

UMass toppled RPI, 5-3, on Sunday. Senior Niko Hildenbrand (Vacaville, Calif.) netted two goals, including the game-winner that broke a 3-3 tie with less than 10 minutes to go in regulation. He added an empty net goal to seal the Minutemen's fourth straight win.

HOCKEY EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Ace Cowans - Vermont

Ace Cowans (Beverly, Mass.) scored both game-winning goals as Vermont won the 2019 Catamount Cup with consecutive 2-0 wins over Union and Lake Superior State. The junior also assisted on Vermont's empty-net goal in the win over Union and extended his personal point streak to six games, scoring five goals and adding three assists in that span.

PRO AMBITIONS ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Jacques Bouquot - Vermont

Jacques Bouquot (South Windsor, Conn.) led all Hockey East rookies with three points last weekend, including two game-winning assists that powered Vermont to the 2019 Catamount Cup title. In Saturday's 2-0 win, Bouqout dished out the game-opening assist and gave the Cats an insurance goal into an empty net with just 1:25 left to play.

HOCKEY EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Stefanos Lekkas - Vermont

Stefanos Lekkas (Elburn, Ill.) recorded back-to-back shutouts to lead Vermont in consecutive 2-0 wins over Union and Lake Superior State. The senior netminder tallied 26 saves against Union and 31 against Lake Superior to finish the weekend with 57 saves and become the first Vermont goaltender to post back-to-back blank sheets since 2010.

HOCKEY EAST TOP PERFORMERS

Nico Lynch, BU (Sr., G; Barnstable, Mass.) Combined with Ashton Abel for a 26-save shutout while making his season debut in a 3-0 exhibition win over Concordia on Sunday

Ashton Abel, BU (Fr., G; Fort McMurray, Alta.) Combined with Nico Lynch for a 26-save shutout while making his season debut in a 3-0 exhibition win over Concordia on Sunday

Ethan Phillips, BU (Fr., F; Dartmouth, N.S.) Scored a shorthanded goal and added an assist in Sunday's 3-0 exhibition victory against Concordia

Carter Turnbull, UConn (So., F; Naniamo, B.C.) In Saturday's 2-2 tie with St. Lawrence, Turnbull scored the deciding shootout goal in the ninth round to give the Huskies the semifinal win. On Sunday in the championship game, Turnbull scored a pair of goals in the third period to stake the Huskies to a 3-1 lead. It was Turnbull's second multi-goal game this season

Patrick Shea, ME (Sr., F; Marshfield, Mass.) Scored two goals in the first period, including one while shorthanded, and set up another in Maine's 5-1 victory over AIC last weekend.

Jeremy Swayman, ME (Jr., G; Anchorage, Alaska) Tallied 41 saves in the Black Bears' 5-1 victory over AIC Sunday night at home. It marked the 16th time this year that Swayman has surpassed the 30-save mark and his second time making at least 40.

Niko Hildenbrand, UMass (Sr., F; Vacaville, Calif.) Netted two goals in UMass' 5-3 win over RPI, including the game-winner that broke a 3-3 tie with less than 10 minutes to go in regulation. He added an empty net goal to seal the Minutemen's fourth straight win.

Chase Gresock, MC (So., F; Powell, Ohio) Tallied the Warriors' lone goal Monday evening against two-time defending national champion Minnesota Duluth. He is now tied for the team lead with seven goals.