2017 Catamount Cup
Gutterson Fieldhouse, Burlington, Vt., Dec. 29-30
Watch: www.uvmathletics.com
Pre-determined pairings
Friday: UMass Lowell vs. Harvard; Vermont vs. St. Lawrence
Saturday: UMass Lowell vs. St. Lawrence; Vermont vs. Harvard
(Head-to-head, goal differential and total goals will be used to break ties)
Vermont
Players to watch: Ross Colton, F (10-2-12), Craig Puffer, F (4-5-9), Stefanos Lekkas, G (4-10-2, 3.06 GAA, .912 sv %)
Notable: After a one-year hiatus, Vermont will once again host the Catamount Cup, looking to turn around a disappointing performance in the first half of the season… The Catamounts opponents in the tournament are somewhat familiar foes in ECAC teams Harvard and St. Lawrence. Vermont was a member of the ECAC until 2005… The Catamounts opening-game opponent, Harvard, is the alma mater of head coach Kevin Sneddon. He was a member of Harvard’s 1989 national championship team… Vermont won its only in-season tournament a year ago, capturing the title at the Friendship Four with a victory over Quinnipiac in the championship game.
UMass Lowell
Players to watch: Ryan Lohin, F (5-9-14), Kenny Hausinger, F (6-8-14), Christoffer Hernberg, G (9-2-0, 1.85 GAA, .931 sv %)
Notable: The River Hawks have been one of the nation’s most dominant in-season tournament teams since coach Norm Bazin took the reins prior to the 2011-12 season. In that span, Lowell has amassed a 12-1-1 record during in-season tournament games, winning five titles. The only two tournaments the River Hawks have lost in the span were the 2015 Three Rivers Cup, losing to host Robert Morris in the title game, and the 2014 Catamount Cup in which Lowell won both games but lost to host Vermont on goal differential… The River Hawks opener will be against a familiar opponent. Lowell traveled to St. Lawrence earlier this season, earning a 5-0 win on October 21… Harvard is a much less familiar opponent for Lowell. The teams have met just three times with the River Hawks winning two of the three contests including the opening game of the 2001 Denver Cup.
St. Lawrence
Players to watch: Jacob Pritchard F, (7-6-13) Joe Sullivan, F (6-3-9), Ben Finkelstein, D (2-7-9), Nolan Gluchowski, D (0-8-8).
Notable: St. Lawrence will play the second game of the Catamount Cup on Friday, facing host Vermont… The tournament’s pre-determined schedule means that the Saints won’t have chance to face fellow ECAC member Harvard, as St. Lawrence will play Massachusetts-Lowell on Saturday… It’s been a rough season for the Saints, who enter the tournament with one win and the worst winning percentage in Division I …Pritchard and Sullivan have combined to score 13 of the Saints’ 29 goals this season.
Harvard
Players to watch: Ryan Donato, F (8-7-15), Lewis Zerter-Gossage, F (4-4) Reilly Walsh D, (3-5-8), Merrick Madsen G (.906 sv %, 2.49 GAA)
Notable: Harvard will be without sophomore defenseman Adam Fox, who is playing with the Team USA in the World Junior Championship in Buffalo… Who will be in goal for the Crimson? Michael Lackey started the last two games prior the semester break for Harvard. That broke a streak of 55 consecutive starts by Madsen, a senior captain…This weekend marks the final two games of a nine-game road trip for the Crimson, which is the longest in program
Quotable
“We’re certainly looking forward to the second half. The break couldn’t have come at a better time to reenergize both mentally and physically. Practices couldn’t have been better. The guys are appreciating their time back together. And this is always a great time. We’ve had some success here with the Cat Cup.” – Vermont coach Kevin Sneddon
“[The key to tournament success] is everyone doing their small part. When you’re coming back from a long break it’s important everyone is keeping the game simple and enjoying the atmosphere.” – UMass Lowell coach Norm Bazin
“Harvard is a very structured club. They have some different makers on offense. They’re very good on the cycle and certainly very structured on the forecheck. We’re going to have our work cut out for us.” – Bazin
“One of the greatest things about our team last year was that we were undefeated at home and I think we play our best games at home. But at the end of the year, the tournaments are always away. So I think that’s good for us to get used to playing away.” – Ryan Donato
