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The University of Vermont Catamounts

Men's Hockey

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Vermont Men's Hockey Outlook 2009-10

Q&A with Vermont head coach Kevin Sneddon

Question: Kevin, your coming off a trip to the Frozen Four last season, when you reflect back to that accomplishment, what did it mean to the program and how do you hope to build off it this season?

Kevin Sneddon: It was a great moment in our proud tradition of Vermont Hockey. It was not only special for our team and staff, it was special for every fan, alum, and Vermonter as it brought a lot of pride to the entire state. Every season is a new journey, but the valuable experience of playing in "big" games is something that you can't teach. Our student-athletes were upset at the end of the season which tells me there will be no complacency in the locker room this year. They are hungry for another exciting journey.

Q: This is probably the most experienced team you've had in your tenure at Vermont with seven seniors that have already spent three years competing in Hockey East. How important will that maturity be this season?

KS: This is the senior's team. This group has been one of the most successful classes in UVM history. Not only are they very good players, but they are great people. Their leadership will guide our team toward its' goals this season, and we will rely on their experience on and off the ice.

Q: Vermont is one of only two teams in Hockey East in 2009-10 that returns all six of its starting defenseman and all of its goaltenders. What will that mean for the defense?

KS: Two areas where it is tough to have inexperience and that's goaltending and defensemen. Mistakes are magnified at those two positions especially in Hockey East with the talent level being the best in the country. We are fortunate to have one of the best defensive units in the league and experience between the pipes. We have youth at the forward position so our defensemen will be relied on for solid defense as well as contributing to the offense this season.

Q: Last year people wanted to know, how will the Catamounts replace Joe Fallon in goal? This year many people will ask how do you replace the offense vacated by Hobey Baker Award finalist Viktor Stalberg (signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the off season) and last year's captains Dean Strong, Peter Lenes and Corey Carlson?

KS: And after this season, we hope people will be asking about how we will replace the next crop of great Catamounts! This is a question I never mind answering as you hope the guys who are leaving your program as seniors or early pro departures are your best players. It means our program is developing student-athletes quite well. When these players leave, it opens the door for the next student-athletes to have a chance at key roles within our program. I don't know if we'll have anothere Hobey Baker finalist this year, but we have the ability to have several players emerge as top players in Hockey East. Perhaps we will have a more balanced attack this season which makes it more difficult for teams to defend.

Q: Last season goaltender Rob Madore emerged as one of the top freshman in the country. What do you expect from Madore and your trio of goaltenders in 2009-10?

KS: Rob had a great freshman campaign for us. When the rotation ended, Rob carried the bulk of play and played like a junior. He is extremely mature in his approach to everything and that helps him develop on and off the ice. That being said, he will have a lot of healthy competition from both Mike (Spillane) and John (Vazzano), who have also improved from last year. Like all of our positions, we have solid depth that will be needed during the course of a difficult schedule.

Q: Which newcomers do you expect to make an immediate impact this season?

KS: My staff did a great job of brining high quality student-athletes to Vermont. We've had limited practice time to date so it's tough to say who will make an impact right away, but Chris McCarthy, Sebastian Stalberg, Tobias Nilsson-Roos and david Pacan have a lot of skill that could help us immediately. With first year players, it depends on how quickly they can gain confidence at this level.

Q: From a special teams standpoint what do you hope to carry over to this season and where do you want to improve?

KS: We were disappointed in our kill last year as we are typically a top-20 team in the NCAA in that category. It really is quite amazing that we made it as far as we did with a sub par kill. Our power play was very good at times and inconsistent at others. We'll need improvements in both categories in order to have success this season.

Q: The 2009-10 Sheraton/TD Bank Catamount Cup includes Minnesota-Duluth, Mercyhurst and Alabama-Huntsville. Can you talk about what the fans can expect from this year's holiday tournament field?

KS: At first glance, our fans may not fully appreciate the talent of these teams. Mercyhurst was the runner-up to Air Force last season and they return all of their top-5 scorers this season. Minnesota-Duluth is the defending WCHA champion and had a great run in the NCAA tournament. Lastly, Alabama-Huntsville is a team on a mission as they attempt to find a new conference following this season. This is one of the best fields we've had and allows our fans to see teams they don't normally get to see.

Q: The Catamounts add a new assistant coach this year in 2006 Vermont graduate Joey Gasparini. What will he bring to the program?

KS: Joey was a great student-athlete for us. First and foremost, he brings passion for UVM to the table. There is something to be said for having an alum on staff as they know the experience of attending and playing for Vermont. He has a vast network in the recruiting world so we are counting on his ability to help us recruit the best student-athletes out there. But most importantly, we bring a person with incredible values to our program. Values that match our program, athletic department and university very well.

Q: What are the main goals for the team this season?

KS: It can be broken down to "daily excellence." We'll practice and train as hard as we possibly can and that will then allow us to go after championships at the end. We are committed to the process of getting better every day. It's worked in the past, and we are committed to making it work this year.

Last modified September 28 2009 03:35 PM

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