BURLINGTON, Vt. - Four first years scored for the Catamounts including first career goals from Philip Törnqvist and Thomas Sinclair as they defeated Dartmouth 5-1 Sunday afternoon in non-conference action from Gutterson Fieldhouse. Sunday was Rally's Birthday and Youth Day presented by Healthy Living. With the win Vermont improved to 6-11-1 this season while the Big Green fell to 1-10-1.
COACH'S QUOTE
"The coaching staff is very pleased with the sixty-minute effort tonight," Head Coach Todd Woodcroft said. "Our game plan was to get off to a good start and to dictate the game with our skating. We were physical and dialed in from puck drop. Four even strength goals and a perfect penalty kill coupled with solid net minding from Gabe Carriere helped us seal this victory. It was special to see so many of our young players contributing on the scoresheet as well. That was a full team victory. Back to work tomorrow to get prepared for Lindenwood after the holiday break. On a personal note from the team - we want to wish everyone reading this a safe and happy holiday season. We hope you have a nice break surrounded by all that you love. Happy Holidays."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Vermont opened the scoring with Törnqvist's first career goal 5:13 into the first period. His defensive partner Robbie Stucker completely fooled two Dartmouth defenders at the point with a spin-o-rama and fed a pass to Törnqvist as he cut down the wing. With Dartmouth's Cooper Black off balance Törnqvist roofed a shot just under the bar for his first career goal. Isak Walther earned the second assist on the even strength goal.
- Just 3:21 later Sinclair notched his first career goal to make it 2-0 for the Catamounts. From just outside the crease Sinclair redirected a Carter Long point shot past Black. Jens Richards picked up the secondary assist on the tally.
- With 1:18 left in the opening period Dawson Good made it 3-0 Vermont with his second goal of the season. Stucker made a great cross-ice feed to Good and he one-timed it home into an empty net. Ralfs Bergmanis picked up his third assist of the season on the Good tally.
- Richards made it a four-goal lead with an outstanding individual effort with 6:52 left in the second period. Richards intercepted a Dartmouth pass to the point and quickly took the puck in transition. He beat a Dartmouth defender to the outside and cut to the crease. He stuffed the puck past Black's pad for his second goal of the season. The goal was initially not given but after review the puck clearly crossed the line.
- Dartmouth's Tyler Campbell found the scoresheet 5:30 into the final frame with his first goal of the season. On the back-check Campbell stripped a Vermont defender and on the ensuing two-on-one rush he snapped a shot past UVM's Gabe Carriere.
- Isak Walther closed out the scoring for the Catamounts with an empty-netter with 2:07 to play.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Catamounts had four goals from first years for the first time since February 21, 2014 against Merrimack. In that contest Mario Puskarich had a hat trick and current Volunteer Assistant Coach Brendan Bradley added a tally.
- With today's 5-1 win, Community Bank N.A. will donate $375 to Special Olympics Vermont. Community Bank, N.A. donates $75 per goal to Special Olympics Vermont for every goal the men's and women's team scores this season.
- With today's win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to COTS, the Committee on Temporary Shelter, as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Since the campaigns inauguration in 2017, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has donated over $72,000 to local non-profits.
UP NEXT
Following the semester break the Catamounts will host Lindenwood for the first time in program history. Vermont will welcome the Lions on Friday, December 30 at 7 p.m. and then again on New Year's Eve at 4 p.m. The radio voice of the Catamounts Adam LaFleur will have the call on WVMT. The Zero Gravity Craft Brewing Pregame Show starts 30 minutes before each game.
Like all home games both contests with the Lions will air on ESPN+. It will also be available on a pay-per-view basis internationally at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/hockeyeast. Subscriptions to the service are available for $9.99 USD per month or $4.99 USD for individual games.
