BURLINGTON, Vt. - Men's Hockey scored three first period goals and never looked back as they defeated UConn 4-1 in their home opener Friday night from Gutterson Fieldhouse. Friday was the Catamounts annual Military Appreciation Night presented by Milton CAT. With the win, the Catamounts improved to 2-2-1 on the campaign and 1-1-1 in league action.
COACH'S QUOTE
"Really proud of our guys effort tonight," Head Coach Steve Wiedler said. "They were detailed and played our brand of hockey. Up and down our lineup our guys were contributing. Now it's about recovery and rest. Tomorrow will be another big test."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Vermont opened the scoring 6:45 into the first period. UConn's Arsenii Sergeev made two initial stops on Massimo Lombardi and Isak Walther but the puck remained out front and loose. Lombardi jammed at it and came right to Xavier Henry who activated from the point. Henry stashed it home for his first career goal to make it 1-0.
- The Catamounts doubled their advantage with 6:24 to play in the first period. Philip Törnqvist notched his first of the season for Vermont finishing off a series of passes at the UConn line. Will Zapernick cut into the UConn zone and then dropped the puck to Andrei Buyalsky. Buyalsky feathered a feed to Törnqvist as he entered the zone and he blew a low wrist shot past Sergeev.
- With 46 seconds left in the opening frame Vermont extended their advantage yet again. Lombardi won a puck battle in the UVM end and then fed a stretch pass to the UConn blue line. A UConn defender deflected the pass but it still got through to Zapernick who skated in alone. The Catamount captain ripped a wrist shot under Sergeev's glove to make it 3-0.
- Gabe Carriere continued his strong start to the campaign in the second period making nine saves including a point-blank opportunity from UConn's Matthew Wood in the final minute of the second.
- Isak Walther added another insurance marker for the Catamounts 7:48 into the third period. Zach Dubinsky won a faceoff clean to Walther and he skated into the slot and scored his second of the season over Sergeev's shoulder.
- UConn did find the back of the net on its last power play of the evening. Andrew Lucas scored from the point through traffic with just 2:53 to play.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Catamounts three-goal first period was their first time scoring three goals in a single period in Hockey East play since scoring three in the third to top Maine in the Hockey East Opening Round last March.
- Dating back to February 10 of last season the Catamounts have scored three goals in a period in four of their last 12 games against Hockey East opponents.
- The Catamounts won their regular season home opener for the first time since 2017 tonight.
- Friday night was the seventh straight game the Huskies have failed to score a first period goal.
- 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
On Saturday, the Catamounts and Huskies will faceoff at 6 p.m. and UVM will be hosting the Keurig Dr Pepper Can for Coffee Food Drive. Bring in a canned food item and you'll be entered into an in-game raffle for a free Keurig brewer.
Saturday's contest will air live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan on the call. As always, the game will be broadcast live on WVMT with the voice of the Catamounts Adam Lafleur in the Handy Toyota Broadcast Booth.
