CANTON, N.Y. - Simon Jellus scored two goals and Gabe Carriere made 37 saves leading the Vermont men's hockey team in a 3-1 win over St. Lawrence in non-conference action from Appleton Arena Friday night.
COACH'S QUOTE
"Proud of our group," Head Coach Steve Wiedler said. "They stuck to our process and played to our identity. Our upperclassmen led from the front and provided us with a strong push when needed."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Vermont opened the scoring on its third power play opportunity of the first period. Joel Määttä won the faceoff clean and Will Zapernick tapped the puck to Ralfs Bergmanis at the point. Bergmanis passed along the blue line Jellus and he one-timed a shot through traffic that beat the Saints' Grant Adams with 3:37 to play in the first.
- Jellus doubled the Vermont advantage 2:23 into the second period. Will Zapernick centered a feed towards the Saints net and the puck bounced off a defenseman in front. Jellus knocked the puck down and in one motion fired a backhander past Adams to make it 2-0.
- Just 58 seconds later Chris Theodore struck with his first goal as a Catamount to make it a three-goal edge. Theodore dumped the puck in the Saints zone and Zach Dubinsky was in on the play. Dubinsky attempted to center the puck and Adams couldn't control it and Theodore tapped it into the yawning net.
- The Saints got one back during a five-minute power play in the late stages of the third period. Carriere made an initial save but the loose puck was tucked home by Max Dorrington with 4:52 to play.
- In the final stretch of play Vermont allowed just three shots against to preserve their season-opening win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Tonight, was Simon Jellus' first career multi-goal game. It was the second time he's had two or more points in a single contest.
- Five Catamounts - Eli Barnett, Jérémie Bucheler, Ryan Miotto, Zach Dubinsky and Chris Theodore made their regular season debut in the green and gold Friday.
- Head Coach Steve Wiedler earned his first career win as Head Coach tonight. Wiedler is just the second Vermont coach to ever begin his tenure on the road.
- Wiedler joins Bill Ruffer (1963) as the only Vermont coaches to win their debut with the program.
- Vermont won its regular season opener for the first time since 2018 tonight. The Catamounts defeated Michigan 5-2 at Yost on that occasion.
- The Catamounts blocked 10 shots Friday night, Ryan Miotto, Thomas Sinclair and Philip Törnqvist were tied for the team lead with two apiece.
- With the win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to King Street Center as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Since its inauguration in 2017, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has donated over $80,000 to local non-profits through the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative.
UP NEXT
The Catamounts will close out their North Country swing tomorrow night down the road in Potsdam. Vermont and Clarkson will renew their series against each other a 7 p.m. Saturday night. Saturday's contest will be available on ESPN+ and Adam LaFleur the voice of the Catamounts, will have the call on WVMT from the Handy Toyota Broadcast Booth.
