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Sun., Nov. 2 vs. UConn, 2 p.m. | Live HD Video (free) | Live Stats

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VERMONT WOMEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
Vermont (5-2-1, 0-0-0 HEA) closes out its six-game homestand on Sunday as they host Connecticut (2-4-3, 0-0-0 HEA) in the Catamounts Hockey East opener at Gutterson Fieldhouse. Faceoff is set for 2 p.m. and it is Youth Hockey Day, which includes a postgame skate with the student-athletes.
 
CAMPBELL NAMED HOCKEY EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior co-captain Sarah Campbell was named the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. Campbell had a goal and two assists in Vermont's sweep of Union College last weekend. The Catamounts took down the Dutchwomen 4-0 during both games of the series. Campbell was on the ice for six of Vermont's weekend goals and also blocked two shots.

CATAMOUNTS RANKED 12^th IN ALONG THE BOARDS POWER RANKINGS
Vermont is ranked 12^th by the website Along the Boards after its 5-2-1 start to the season. Three other Hockey East teams are ranked in Al Daniel's weekly rankings, Boston College (3), Boston U (4), and Northeastern (13).
 
BEST START IN PROGRAM HISTORY
Vermont is now 5-2-1 this season it is the best ever start for the Catamounts through eight games. The five non-conference wins have already matched the previous program record as well. Dating back to last season Vermont has won 13 of its last 17 regular season games.
 
PELKEY WITH US NATIONAL TEAM AT FOUR NATIONS CUP
Senior forward Amanda Pelkey will miss the Catamounts next three games while playing for the U.S. women's national team at the Four Nations Cup in Kamloops, British Columbia.
 
She is the first Catamount and native Vermonter to play for the senior women's national team. The U.S. begins play at the tournament on Tuesday against Finland at 4 p.m. (ET).
 
VERMONT GOALTENDERS SHUTTING THE DOOR
Madison Litchfield and Molly Depew posted back-to-back shutouts against Union College last weekend. Bemidji State, Minnesota, and Vermont are the only three teams in the country with shutouts from two of their goalies.
 
It was the first time Vermont has shutout opponents in back-to-back games since December 1-2, 2012 at Connecticut. Current goaltender coach Roxanne Douville was in net for both of those games.
 
Litchfield has a 1.71 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage in seven games this season. She ranks in the top 14 of both categories nationally.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS HELPING THE CATAMOUNTS STRONG START
Vermont's power play and penalty kill are both ranked in the top ten in the NCAA. The power play is clicking at 18.2% (6/33) which is second best in Hockey East and eighth best in the NCAA.
 
The penalty kill has successfully killed off 25 straight power play opportunities for Vermont's opponents. Overall they are 26-for-27 on the kill good for 96.3%, which is fourth in the NCAA.
 
CATAMOUNTS CLOSING STRONG
Vermont has outscored its opponents 13-3 in the third period of games this season. It continues a trend as last season the third period was their best. The Catamounts outscored its opponents by 11 over the course of the season and by 15 in league play.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Connecticut: The Huskies are 2-4-3 this season and are coming off a 2-2 tie at Rensselaer last Sunday. UConn opens Hockey East play tonight as they host Maine at 7 p.m.
 
The Huskies and Vermont have each played Rensselaer and Union twice this season. The Huskies went 1-2-1 in their series against the ECAC foes while the Catamounts were 3-1-0.
 
Senior forwards Sarah MacDonnell and Emily Snodgrass are tied for the team lead in scoring with four goals and two assists for six points in nine games this season.
 
Vermont is 6-19-2 all-time against the Huskies. However over the last two seasons under Coach Plumer the Catamounts are 5-1-0 against UConn.
 
SHUTOUT CAN BE EXPECTED
The last five games in the UConn/Vermont series have been shutout wins. Elaine Chuli picked up the Huskies last road shutout in a 2-0 win at Gutterson Fieldhouse last season on January 11, 2014 in the teams last meeting. The day before on January 10 Madison Litchfield made 24 saves to earn her first collegiate shutout in a 3-0 win. Going even further back nine of the last 12 games in the series have involved a shutout.
 
HOCKEY EAST OPENERS
Over their nine seasons in Hockey East the Catamounts are 3-5-1 in league openers. Although Vermont has won three straight Hockey East openers, including two straight under Coach Plumer. Vermont is 1-1-0 when facing UConn in their league opener, including last season's 4-0 win over the Huskies.
 
NEW BENCHMARKS AT VERMONT
The Catamounts established several program records last season including winning 18 games to finish fourth overall in Hockey East. Vermont also won it's first ever Division I playoff game defeating Maine 3-2 in triple overtime to advance to the Hockey East Semifinals.
 
ALL ACROSS THE MAP
The Catamounts have players from 11 different states (Alaska, California, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Vermont), one Canadian province (Ontario) and one other country (Sweden). Vermont has five players from Ontario more than any other state or province.