Game Notes (.pdf) | Live Audio (WVMT-AM 620) | Catamounts All-Access
VERMONT MEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
No. 11 Vermont (14-8-2) travels to North Andover, Mass., to play a pair of Hockey East games against Merrimack this Friday (Jan. 26) and Saturday (Jan. 27). Both games at Lawler Arena will begin at 7:00pm. The games can be heard live on the flagship station for Catamounts hockey on WVMT-AM 620 or on the Internet by going to www.sportsjuice.com.
STORY LINES
The 11th-ranked Catamounts (14-8-2, 9-4-2 Hockey East) are riding the nation's fourth longest unbeaten streak at four games (3-0-1) heading into a pair of contests against Merrimack this weekend. Vermont is in third place in Hockey East with 20 points in 15 league games played after sweeping No. 13 Boston College at Gutterson Fieldhouse last weekend. The sweep marked just the second time in school history that Vermont has swept a weekend series against a Hockey East opponent. Offensively junior co-captain Torrey Mitchell has four goals and three assists for seven points over the last two weekends. Freshman Brayden Irwin has added at least one point in each game during Vermont's current four-game unbeaten streak. Irwin has two goals and four assists for six points during that stretch. On defense Joe Fallon's 1.62 goals against average is first in the nation. As a team the Catamounts rank third in the nation in scoring defense (1.83 GAA) while the penalty kill is ranked second in the country (90.8-percent). Meanwhile Merrimack is 3-18-2 overall and 3-13-0 in Hockey East. The Warriors have lost five straight games but do have a pair of wins against Massachusetts this season. Merrimack has struggled offensively and ranks last in the nation with just 1.17 goals per game. The Warriors also rank second to last in the nation on the power play at 8.6-precent (12/139).
Vermont picked up a 3-2 win on Friday and a 4-2 victory on Saturday last weekend to pick up a sweep against Boston College. Friday's win against BC was the first for UVM against the Eagles since a 4-2 victory at Kelley Rink on Nov. 11, 1994. It was also the first weekend sweep for Vermont since a pair of 3-0 wins over Northeastern on Jan. 13 and Jan. 14 last season. On Friday sophomore Corey Carlson scored a pair of goals and junior Torrey Mitchell also added a goal. Junior assistant captain Mark Lutz added three assists in the win. On Saturday freshman Brayden Irwin had two goals and one assist and Mitchell added one goal and two assists. Freshman Viktor St