WOMEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
After a 4-1 win in the Hockey East Quarterfinals over Providence Vermont continues its pursuit of its first-ever Hockey East title Wednesday night as they host the three-seed UConn at 6 p.m. It is the third semifinal appearance in program history and Vermont's first at home. The action will be streamed live from Gutterson Fieldhouse on CollegeSportsLive with Rob Ryan on the call.
 
Tickets are just $5 and can be purchased by clicking here. Youth 12 and under wearing a hockey jersey will receive free admission. UVM students just need their CatCard to attend for free.
 
RELATED LINKS
Live Stats | Live Video | Tickets
CatamounTV Preview: Coach Plumer | Schafzahl | Poulin-Labelle
 
SCHAFZAHL NAMED HOCKEY EAST PLAYER OF THE YEAR
On Tuesday, it was announced that senior forward Theresa Schafzahl is the first player in program history to receive the Cammi Granato Award as Hockey East Player of the Year. Schafzahl appeared in 21 regular season games in Hockey East play for Vermont, leading the conference with 21 goals and 39 points. Her 1.86 points per game was second-best among all league players. She netted three game-winning goals in league play and converted at a shooting rate of 21.6%. The Weiz, Austria, native potted seven of her 21 tallies while on the power-play, ranking second in the conference. Schafzahl was also crowned the Hockey East Scoring Champion and PNC Bank Three Stars Award Winner, as well as the sole unanimous First Team All-Hockey East selection. She was named Hockey East Player of the Week four times and Hockey East and National Player of the Month in January.
 
PLUMER NAMED HOCKEY EAST COACH OF THE YEAR
Plumer was named Hockey East Coach of the Year by a unanimous vote of his peers after leading the Vermont Catamounts to a 22-10-3 overall record, the most wins in program history, and a 18-7-2 mark in Hockey East regular season play. The mark was good for a second-place finish in the Army ROTC Hockey East Standings which was the best-ever finish for Vermont in Hockey East play, and doubled the most-ever league wins for the Catamounts (2016-17). Under Plumer, the Catamounts allowed just 693 shots against at even strength, second-fewest of any team in Hockey East. His team's 18.5% power-play conversion rate was also second in the league, while Vermont claimed the best penalty kill in the conference at 91.8%, good for third nationally, and the most shorthanded goals with four.
 
ADDITIONAL CATAMOUNTS EARN POSTSEASON AWARDS 
Alyssa Holmes, a graduate forward, became the second Catamount in program history to be honored as the Best Defensive Forward. The center of UVM's dominant top line was a +25 this season. Her 239 faceoff wins was fifth in Hockey East this season. She also blocked 23 shots for the Catamounts, most of any forward on the team. 
 
Poulin-Labelle became the first Catamount to be named Best Defenseman. She shared the honor with Northeastern defender Skylar Fontaine. She ranked third amongst all NCAA defenseman with 34 points (13G, 21 A) in 32 games. She was named Hockey East Defender of the Month in December and January. 
 
RECORD BREAKING SEASON
This seasons' special team has literally rewritten the UVM record book. The Catamounts 21 regular season wins and 18 conference wins are both program records. In addition, Vermont is currently ranked No. 10 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll and the USCHO/DCU Poll. This week is the first time in program history UVM has been ranked in both polls.
 
McPHERSON FUELING THE CATAMOUNTS RUN
Sophomore goaltender Jessie McPherson has been outstanding in net for the Catamounts. Dating back to December 10 she has won 12 of her last 14 games and over that stretch she has made 344 saves on 365 shots, a .942 save percentage. In Saturday's quarterfinals win she set a new single-season program record with her 15th win of the season.
 
PK PROWESS
The Catamounts own the nation's fourth ranked penalty kill this season, boasting an 90.7% success rate. Vermont has only allowed eight goals while shorthanded this season, and has scored four times while on the penalty kill with Natálie Mlýnková scoring two of them. The 2018-19 Catamounts finished the season with the nation's top penalty kill at 87.4%. Vermont is one of just six teams in the country to have allowed eight or fewer goals shorthanded this season.
 
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
UConn earned a spot in the Hockey East Semifinals with a 3-1 win over Boston University Saturday. First year goaltender Megan Warrener stopped 15 of 16 shots while three different goal scorers helped secure the win. Warrener was named Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week for her efforts.
 
Leading the way for the Huskies offensively this season is graduate student Morgan Wabick who has 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points. Wabick scored twice for the Huskies in their 5-1 win at Vermont in January. She also had a goal and an assist in the Huskies quarterfinals win over BU.
 
Wednesday will be the Huskies third straight semifinal appearance. They are 4-5 all-time in program history in semifinal games. Despite making four championship game appearances like Vermont they have yet to claim a conference crown. In each of the last two seasons Northeastern has ended UConn's season in the playoffs.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Vermont and UConn will square off for the 51st time in series history tomorrow night. The Catamounts are 14-30-6 overall against the Huskies. This season the Huskies hold an 2-1-0 edge. On October 30, the Huskies defeated Vermont 2-1 in overtime at the Freitas Ice Forum. Summer-Rae Dobson scored 55 seconds into overtime for the Huskies. Natálie Mlýnková scored the only goal of the game for the Catamounts. On January 7, UConn bested Vermont 5-1 at Gutterson Fieldhouse but the next day UVM topped the Huskies 6-2.
 
UConn hasn't faced Vermont's presumed starter Jessie McPherson this season. During the 2020-21 campaign McPherson was 2-0-0 against the Huskies winning both contests in Storrs. McPherson stopped 55 of the 57 shots she faced against UConn last year.
 
PLAYOFF HISTORY
The Catamounts are 5-15 in their Division I program history in the playoffs. All 10 appearances have come consecutively under Head Coach Jim Plumer. After Saturday's 4-1 win Vermont is now 2-1 in program history when hosting. In 2014 UVM defeated Maine 3-2 in triple overtime and last year the Black Bears upset the Catamounts 3-1 at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
 
Vermont has made two previous semifinal appearances in program history in 2014 and 2017. UVM fell in both instances to Boston College. In 2014 the Eagles beat UVM 3-1 in Hyannis, Mass. then in 2017 BC defeated Vermont 4-3 in double overtime at Boston University. UVM has never faced UConn before in the Hockey East postseason.
 
OTHER SIDE OF THE BRACKET
In the other Hockey East Semifinal, the top-seed Northeastern welcomes the five-seed Maine to Matthews Arena. That game will be broadcast live on NESN at 6:30 p.m. If Northeastern wins the UConn/UVM winner will travel to Matthews Arena for the Hockey East Championship Saturday. If Maine prevails the UConn/UVM winner will host Saturday. The Hockey East Championship is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday on NESN+.
 
LIFE AS A TWO-SEED IN HOCKEY EAST
Vermont finished as the two-seed in Hockey East for the first time in program history this season. It is UVM's first time higher than the four-seed. In the Hockey East tournament, the two-seed is 24-16 all-time, winning the league championship four times. The last two-seed to claim the league title was Boston University in 2015. The Terriers also won as the two-seed in 2014.
 
HOCKEY EAST ALL-STAR TEAMS ANNOUNCED
Maude Poulin-Labelle and Theresa Schafzahl became the first Vermont skaters in program history to be named Hockey East First-Team All-Stars on Friday. It is also the first time UVM's had two representatives on the First-Team. Kristina Shanahan was named to the Second-Team and Jessie McPherson was named an Honorable Mention All-Star. First year Reagan Miller was named to Hockey East's Pro-Ambitions All-Rookie Team.
 
KARJALAINEN WINS BRONZE MEDAL WITH TEAM FINLAND
Senior defenseman Sini Karjalainen and Team Finland won the bronze medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics defeating Switzerland 4-0. Karjalainen is the 2nd player in program history to win an Olympic medal. She is also the first Vermont hockey player to win a medal while on the current roster.
 
The Windjammer Inn and Conference Center is the presenting sponsor of the UVM women's hockey program