Photo Credit: Melissa Wade
Complete 2009-10 Schedule

BURLINGTON, Vt. – The University of Vermont men’s hockey team announced its 2009-10 schedule today. The Catamounts will play 19 home games and meet as many as seven teams that advanced to the 2009 NCAA Tournament. The schedule is highlighted by a two-game series at Denver, the annual Sheraton/TD Bank Catamount Cup and three games with defending national champion Boston University in a rematch of last year’s Frozen Four contest.

“The trend of having one of college hockey's most challenging schedules continues this year for our program,” Vermont head coach Kevin Sneddon said. “Not only will our team be challenged every night during Hockey East conference games, but our non-conference line up is extremely exciting for our fans and our team.”

“We start with Denver, who could be the unanimous preseason number one team in the polls. This trip will allow us to see how we stack up against one of the best programs in college hockey as well as serving as a great team builder.”

The season begins on Sunday, Oct. 4 when Vermont hosts New Brunswick (Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada) at 4 p.m. at Gutterson Fieldhouse. The game is part of a doubleheader with the UVM women’s hockey team who hosts McGill at 7 p.m.

The following weekend (Oct. 9 and 10) the Catamounts begin regular season play with a two-game series at Denver (WCHA), who was a No. 1 seed in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. The Pioneers won back-to-back national championships in 2004 and 2005, and have won seven national titles in program history.

The Catamounts non-league schedule also includes three games against ECAC opponents, all of which are at home. Vermont meets Yale on Monday, Nov. 30 at 7:05 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s first round contest in the NCAA Tournament. Vermont hosts St. Lawrence on Dec. 12 and Dartmouth on Dec. 19.

The 2009-10 Sheraton/TD Bank Catamount Cup at Gutterson Fieldhouse on January 2 and 3 features Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA), Mercyhurst (Atlantic Hockey) and Alabama-Huntsville (CHA). Vermont will meet Alabama-Huntsville in the opening round (7:05 p.m.), while Minnesota-Duluth takes on Mercyhurst (4 p.m.).

The Bulldogs went 22-13-8 last year and won the WCHA postseason tournament. The Lakers won 22 games in 2008-09, while the Chargers advanced to the 2007 NCAA Tournament.

“Our ECAC matchups allow us to keep long standing traditions alive as we take on Dartmouth, St. Lawrence and Yale,” Sneddon said. “The Sheraton/TD Bank Catamount Cup will allow our fans to see different programs at Gutterson Fieldhouse as Mercyhurst and Alabama-Huntsville join Minnesota-Duluth for a great field of teams.”

“Our student-athletes are well aware of the challenges we face with this year's schedule and each of them have committed themselves to the highest standards of strength training this off-season. We are all very anxious to get the season underway.”

Vermont’s home and Hockey East opener is against Boston College on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 7:05 p.m. The Hockey East portion of the schedule once again includes 27 league games. Vermont faces Boston University in the first of three meetings on the season at Agganis Arena on Dec. 4. The Terriers visit Gutterson Fieldhouse on Feb. 26 (7:05 p.m.) and Feb. 28 (4:00 p.m.). Other Hockey East opponents include: Maine, Massachusetts, UMass-Lowell, Merrimack, New Hampshire, Northeastern and Providence.

The Hockey East playoffs are set to begin on March 12 at campus locations with the league championships set for March 19 and 20 at the TD Bank Garden in Boston, Mass.

Vermont had a 22-12-5 record in 2008-09 and tied for third place in the Hockey East standings at 15-8-4. The Catamounts earned their fourth ever bid to the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the 2009 Frozen Four at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. It marked the second time in program history that the Catamounts advanced to the Frozen Four.

Vermont was ranked third in last year’s final USA Today/USA Hockey Poll. It was the highest final ranking in program history.