UVM Catamounts, 2024-25 Season, Does Anyone Care Anymore?

[UVM Cat in Texas]

Thought someone should maybe start a thread. Anyone think we can finish somewhere other than the bottom of HE? I'll be honest, I've never been less interested in UVM hockey, and I've been a fairly rabid fan since first setting foot on campus my freshman year in August 1984. I've reached a point where I feel there's nothing to look forward to. Not sure how much I'll keep up with what's happening this season. Anyone have any thoughts?

[BC/HE]

I know many think the Gutterson is a charm but could it be part of the problem? The Burlington area is big enough to warrant an up to date 6.000 to 8,000 seat arena for sports, concerts and events. I don't know what kind of hidden amenities there are in the current arena but having attended a game there felt like I was back in time at the McHugh Forum at BC in the 1970's.

[Jim F.]

I know many think the Gutterson is a charm but could it be part of the problem? The Burlington area is big enough to warrant an up to date 6.000 to 8,000 seat arena for sports, concerts and events. I don't know what kind of hidden amenities there are in the current arena but having attended a game there felt like I was back in time at the McHugh Forum at BC in the 1970's.

The Boston area is big enough to have a 55,000 seat baseball stadium, but they've kept Fenway. Boston is bigger than Tuscaloosa, but I don't see Alumni Stadium going to 100,000 anytime soon. Gutterson is loaded with character and is a great place to watch a hockey game. I'll take that any day over a half empty, concrete venue where I'm far away from the ice and the players don't hear anything from the crowd. If Vermonters wanted a 6,000 seat arena, they would have built one. Keep in mind also that covid sidetracked planned Gutterson renovations and enhancements.

[Catamount93]

I actually think the team will be better this year. For all the issues and upheaval the last few years, I actually think they've gotten more talented and they play a better brand of hockey. We aren't winning HE, but I do think we have a chance to be a winning hockey team this year.

[Vermont2004]

I liked how they looked in the Exhibition Game. Sebastian T?rnqvist looked really solid and their first line was buzzing. Difficult to gauge with that level of competition though. I think they may have mid pack potential but will not be able to hang with BU or BC.

[rufus22]

I'm interested to see who's going to be goalie #1. I assume it's Rancier since the coaches went out and got him but we'll see.

[rufus22]

What a disappointing start. Especially game 1 coughing up a 2 goal lead with 8 minutes left. I want to remain interested but I am wavering, esp since we gave this coach a contract prematurely.

[Catamount93]

I may be wrong but I have a different view. I think St. Thomas will prove to be a solid team. We showed the ability to score more than we have in recent seasons. I think we will be ok.

[rufus22]

You are probably right and there's some solace there. But at the same time, we handled them very easily last year in both games. We seem stalled out while they've moving ahead. But, it's early and I'm going to try to not get worked up.

[SoucyWasNoSieve]

I want to still care, and its great that the games are on ESPN+ now. But I also think we need to nab 1-2 amazing recruits, which for whatever reason has not happened in a really long time. The Gut is great, and obviously love Burlington, but basketball's repeated success seems to have put hockey in the backseat.

[jwheeler001]

Thats Rancier for ya, he cant clutch up when he needs to.

[Drew S.]

Anyone hear any more on Woodcroft? Did him or the accuser get a pay day out of the school?

[rufus22]

Woodcroft is assistant coaching somewhere in Switzerland. I've seen nothing about the legal fallout at UVM.

As for the current team, I find it difficult to care after very lame performances that PRECEDE Hockey East play. I'll be back in BTV over the holidays and for the first time in decades I don't see a reason to attend. Lame.

[GreenCat]

I want to still care, and its great that the games are on ESPN+ now. But I also think we need to nab 1-2 amazing recruits, which for whatever reason has not happened in a really long time. The Gut is great, and obviously love Burlington, but basketball's repeated success seems to have put hockey in the backseat.

I am with you. Maybe it is age or many seasons of lackluster performance but it is hard to care anymore. Parity in the men’s game seems to be reversing with the young guns going to the named schools for 1 year at best to get into the NHL and dilution across the NCAA. Financialization of everything in our society continues.

[VermontfaninNY]

Brought the herd to Saturday's game at the Gut, really wasn't expecting much out of the Cat's based on how they have played so far but was hoping the kids would enjoy it anyway. I thought Cat's outplayed Providence in the 1st, 2nd period and OT (shot's didn't reflect it in the 2nd and both periods were close). Looked like the Cat's plan was to really shell up in the 3rd and that obviously bit them in the ***.

I loved what I saw out of the offense - lots of fast transition rushes that they frequently capitalized on. Max Strand and Blake Steenerson certainly looked like they could play as freshman and it showed up on the scoresheet. There was at least better puck movement and creativity in the offensive zone.

The flip side of that is UVM's defense may have had the worst game I've ever seen a hockey team play at this level. I am not sure how many times they blindly passed into the middle of the slot, and I am not sure how many bad pinches they had (the second goal against resulted from one of the worst plays I've ever seen from a defenseman at ANY level resulting on a 3 on 0).

They need to be better defensively ... by a large margin. But I liked what I saw with that kind of offensive attack, and if they can keep it up they are going to win more than a few games this year.