WOMEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
On the final weekend of the regular season the Catamounts return to Gutterson Fieldhouse for a two-game series against #2 Northeastern (15-1-1). Action is set for 5 p.m. Friday night and 3 p.m. on Saturday. Friday night is the Catamounts annual Military Appreciation Night presented by Milton CAT. Saturday is Senior Day presented by the UVM Alumni Association and our Cancer Awareness game presented by SD Ireland to benefit the University of Vermont Cancer Center.
 
Fans can catch all the action this weekend for free on CBS CollegeSportsLive. Fans are encouraged to watch our special Senior Day presentation following the game on Saturday night.
 
RELATED LINKS
Live Video (free) | Live Stats | Weekly Media Press Conference
 
MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT TO BENEFIT THE JOSH PALLOTTA FUND
We are proud to partner with Milton CAT our annual Military Appreciation game, and to benefit the Josh Pallotta Fund. The Josh Pallotta Fund was created by a group of Veterans, family, and community members in memory of Joshua R. Pallotta. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Veterans and Service Members by combining local and national resources, emergency services, and research to provide Veterans the resiliency, transition and reintegration tools to help them sustain or return to full and healthy lives. To donate to the Josh Pallotta Fund please click here.
 
CANCER AWARENESS GAME PRESENTED BY SD IRELAND
Saturday's contest is our Cancer Awareness game presented by SD Ireland to benefit the University of Vermont Cancer Center. The SD Ireland family have long been committed to supporting cutting-edge research at the UVM Cancer Center. They invite our community to join them today in supporting our local cancer center—a national leader in advancing cancer treatment and survivorship. Visit VermontCancer.org for free educational resources and to learn more about cutting-edge research and patient support programs. Let's all rally together and make a donation today to the UVM Cancer Center—donations fund important research, prevention programming and supportive care services for patients and families facing a cancer diagnosis in our community. To donate to the UVM Cancer Center please visit - go.uvm.edu/hockey4cancer.
 
SENIOR DAY PRESENTED BY THE UVM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
The UVM Alumni Association is pleased to be the presenting sponsor for the women's hockey senior celebration. 121,000 alumni around the world send their congratulations and gratitude to each of you for your amazing commitment and dedication to your University. By working together great things can be achieved. Congratulations and Go Cats Go!
 
Fans are invited to stay tuned following Saturday's game to watch the Senior Day Ceremony on CBS CollegeSportsLive.
 
MCPHERSON NAMED TO WOMEN'S GOALIE OF THE YEAR AWARD WATCH LIST
First-Year Jessie McPherson has been named to the watch list for the inaugural Women's Hockey Goalie of the Year Award, as announced by the Women's Hockey Commissioners Association last week.
 
Just five games into her career as a Catamount McPherson is 4-1-0 and posted shutouts in her first two collegiate games. She is fourth overall in Division I in save percentage (.959) and third overall in goals-against average (1.00). She was named the Hockey East Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week on January 11 and the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week on January 5.
 
BALANCED OFFENSIVE ATTACK FROM THE CATAMOUNTS
Vermont is averaging 3.00 goals per game, good for third in Hockey East and tied ninth in the NCAA. Vermont has scored 24 goals this season with 15 different skaters scoring.
 
ALL-STAR FORM CONTINUES FOR POULIN-LABELLE
Last season junior defenseman Maude Poulin-Labelle became the sixth Catamount in program history to be named a Hockey East All-Star. This season she has picked up right where she left off, she leads the team in scoring with nine points and is second-best on the team with a +8. She is fourth amongst NCAA defensemen averaging 1.12 points-per game.
 
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
Northeastern has won 14 straight games, posting an impressive nine shutouts during that stretch. In 17 games this season Northeastern has only conceded 11 goals. They have gone nine straight games without conceding more than a goal. They are also the top-scoring team in the country averaging 4.29 goals-per game. Northeastern has only given up two goals in a single game three times this season, on each of those occasions their opponent earned at least a point either forcing overtime or winning the game (Boston College, Dec. 13, 2-1).
 
Junior forward Chloé Aurard leads the NCAA with five game-winning goals this season. She is the teams' leading scorer with 12 goals on the season. Fellow junior Alina Mueller has the most points in the NCAA, with 30 points on eight goals and 22 assists.
 
NU is led in net by Aerin Frankel who statistically is one of the most successful goaltenders in league history. On February 6, she set a new Hockey East record with her 25th career shutout in a 12-0 win over Holy Cross. Her .973 save percentage and 0.60 goals-against average are both tops in the NCAA. In five meetings with Frankel last season the Catamounts scored six goals against her.
 
SERIES HISTORY
This weekend will mark the 53rd and 54th all-time meeting between the Catamounts and Huskies. Northeastern has eliminated Vermont in each of the last two seasons in the Hockey East Quarterfinals. Vermont is 8-40-4 all-time against Northeastern. Vermont's last win against NU game on January 27, 2018. Ève-Audrey Picard completed a hat trick with 11 seconds left in regulation to seal a 4-3 win and a program record fourth straight win over the Huskies.

HOCKEY EAST ANNOUNCES 2021 TOURNAMENT AND SEEDING FORMAT
The 2021 men's and women's tournaments will be a single-elimination format with each game hosted at the home arena of the higher seed. Additionally, the league announced seeding will be determined by a newly-developed mathematical formula dubbed the Hockey East Power Index. The Catamounts are currently third in the HEPI.
 
Following the conclusion of the regular season on Sunday, February 21, the women's Tournament will begin with two Opening Round games on Wednesday, February 24. The seventh-seeded program will host the 10 seed and the eight seed will welcome the nine seed while seeds 1-6 enjoy a bye into the quarterfinals. All remaining teams will be reseeded before the quarterfinal round on Sunday, February 28. Semifinals will take place on Wednesday, March 3 and the championship game will be held on Saturday, March 6 to determine the winner of the Bertagna Trophy.
 
SHOOTOUTS COME TO HOCKEY EAST
New this season in Hockey East games that are tied following a five minute three-on-three overtime will got to a shootout to decide the extra point in the league standings. A regulation league win is now worth three points, and overtime or shootout win is worth two points.
 
HOW TO WATCH THE CATAMOUNTS ON NESN & SPORTSLIVE
Want to follow the Catamounts at home and on the road? Visit our How to Watch the Catamounts page - http://go.uvm.edu/how2 for details on how to watch Hockey East action on NESN and SportsLive.