MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. - Colin Kessler scored two goals in his collegiate debut as the Catamounts skated to a 5-5 tie with St. Thomas Friday night in Vermont's regular season opener from Saint Thomas Arena.
COACH'S QUOTE
"Credit to St. Thomas in that game, they played a hard, never say die, brand of hockey," said Head Coach Stephen Wiedler. "We knew this would be a hard-fought series. I liked our resolve, I liked our offense, but our risk/reward meter was way off. We have to learn how to close these games out. We'll dig through the tape and learn the lessons."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Catamounts opened the scoring just 2:33 into the contest. St. Thomas' Jake Sibell made an initial save on Sebastian Törnqvist but Kessler tapped home the rebound for his first career collegiate goal. Mario Gasparini also earned an assist on the tally.
- The Tommies responded exactly two minutes later with Lucas Wahlin's first goal of the season. From the top of the slot Wahlin wired a shot just inside the bar and past Keenan Rancier.
- Vermont reestablished its lead with a power play goal with 3:34 to play in the opening frame. Sebastian Törnqvist faked a shot at the point and dished over to the faceoff circle and Kessler one-timed it home for his second goal of the season. Simon Jellus earned a secondary assist on the goal.
- The Catamounts made it a two-goal cushion 11:25 into the second period. Jens Richards poked home a loose puck in the crease for his first goal of the year. Massimo Lombardi and Joel Määttä were credited with the assists on the play.
- With 7.6 seconds left in the second the Tommies cut the UVM lead in half. During a period of four-on-four play Mason Poolman deposited a cross-ice pass from Liam Malmquist to make it 3-2.
- 6:05 into the third period the Tommies equalized on a two-on-one rush by two brothers. Luc Laylin one-timed a feed from his brother Casey just under the blocker to make it 3-3.
- Vermont answered back just 47 seconds later. Massimo Lombardi notched his first goal of the season knocking home a centering feed at the top of the crease from Määttä at the 6:52 mark.
- Vermont wasn't done, just 36 seconds after the Lombardi tally Michael La Starza made it 5-3 with his first goal of the year. His shot trickled through the pads of Sibell and found the back of the net.
- The Tommies stormed back once again, Cooper Gay scored with 8:36 left in the third and then Poolman equalized with 4:55 to play to make it 5-5.
- Neither team could solve things in regulation, UVM's Keenan Rancier made five saves in overtime for the Catamounts.
- In the exhibition shootout the Catamounts earned the win with Jellus scoring for Vermont and Rancier stopping all three St. Thomas attempts.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Sebastian Törnqvist, Michael La Starza, Colin Kessler, Charlie Kinsman, Jax Wismer and Keenan Rancier all made their regular season debuts in the green and gold tonight.
- Tonight, was the Catamounts first time scoring five in their season opener since defeating No. 4 Michigan 5-2 on October 6, 2018, at Yost Arena.
- With tonight's 5-5 decision, 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.
UP NEXT
The Catamounts and Tommies will wrap their series at 7 p.m. on Saturday. The action will air live on CCHA TV. As always, the game will be broadcast live on WVMT (96.3 FM/620 AM) with the voice of the Catamounts Adam Lafleur in the Handy Toyota Broadcast Booth.
