Exciting Clash Ahead: Women’s Hockey Takes on #15 UConn in Storrs This Sunday!

BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Vermont women’s hockey squad (4-14-2, 3-8-2 WHEA) wraps up its first Hockey East weekend of competition in the new year by heading to Storrs, CT for a singular contest against the No. 15 UConn Huskies (12-8-1, 10-3-1 WHEA) at Toscano Family Ice Forum this Sunday (Jan. 5). This matchup marks the inaugural encounter between the two teams this season. The puck is set to drop at 3 p.m., and it will be streamed live on ESPN+ and TSN+.
 
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VERMONT OUTLOOK

• The Vermont team ended the 2024 calendar year with a solitary win in December, defeating Merrimack 2-1 on their home ice. Hailey Eikos and Evelyne Blais-Savoie each scored a goal for the Catamounts while Lara Beecher provided assists for both goals. Jane Gervais showcased a strong effort with a 23-save performance, earning her the title of Hockey East Defender of the Week.
• Sunday’s clash with UConn represents the first game in the season series between the teams.
• Kaylee Lewis netted her first goal of the season, marking the 11th of her career during Vermont’s latest game against Providence on Friday (Jan. 3).
• Maddy Skelton and Oona Havana each recorded their initial point of the season during the most recent game for the Catamounts, with both players providing one assist. This also marked Havana’s first career point in a Vermont jersey.
• Josie Hemp scored her first career goal against Providence on January 3, 2025, becoming the fifth Catamount defender to score this season.
• UVM has performed well in faceoffs this season, standing 11th in the nation for faceoff win percentage with a 52.8% success rate, placing third in Hockey East. Blais-Savoie is at the forefront of these victories, individually ranking eighth nationally and first in Hockey East with 241 total wins in the current campaign.
• Beecher leads the team with a total of 10 points, comprising three goals and a team-high seven assists. She also leads in shots taken, accumulating 61 this season.
• Blais-Savoie tops the team in goals, having scored five in the current campaign thus far, alongside two assists.
• Ashley Kokavec is tied for fifth in Hockey East in points among defenders, achieving nine points from three goals and six assists. Her nine points are the most among UVM’s defensemen.
• Vermont is one of three Hockey East institutions to feature two blue-liners with three or more goals (Eikos and Kokavec), along with Providence and New Hampshire being the other two schools.

 
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES

• UConn holds a record of 12-8-1 for the season, standing at 10-3-1 in Hockey East competition.
• The Huskies are 3-1-1 in their last five contests, outscoring their opponents 12-10. This season, the Huskies have secured three shutout wins while also experiencing three shutout losses.
• UConn boasts a 5-4-0 record at home while achieving a 7-3-1 record in away games this season.
• This contest marks UConn’s first home game since November 23, 2024.
• The Huskies are spearheaded by first-year forward Claire Murdoch, who has accumulated a team-best 16 points from seven goals and nine assists, tied for third-most points in Hockey East up until now.
• Three UConn players have netted six or more goals, with Murdoch scoring seven, while Ashley Allard and Kyla Josifovic each have six goals this season.
• The Catamounts hold a historical record of 16-33-8 against UConn, with the last victory being a 3-0 shutout against the Huskies at Gutterson Fieldhouse on February 17, 2024, during the last meeting of both teams last season.

 
For the latest news and updates on the Vermont women’s hockey program, follow @UVMwhockey on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and check out UVMathletics.com.
 

The Windjammer Inn and Conference Center is the main sponsor of the UVM women’s hockey program