Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat? (Part II)
SCOUTING REPORT: UVM
Vermont is an excellent hockey team. I have seen them play St. Lawrence once, Yale, and Colgate. They are very fast to the lose puck, tough and aggressive, hard hitting and take away time and space on defense, have an excellent goalie, ranked just behind Collin Stevens and have some forwards who can score. As Union fans we all know they are well coached and their coach has great pedigree.
After studying the team I suggest they change their name form "The Catamounts" to "The Pit Bulls"
What impressed me:
UVM is a very strong third period team.
- In the third period they scored 55% more goals than that of the opposition !!!
- When tied after 2 they are a phenomenal 7-3-1 !!!
- When trailing after 2 they are a phenomenal 6-8-1 !!!
Clearly from these stats,
it isn't going to be over until the "fat lady" sings.
They are tough gritty, will come out hitting, like the first period of the Colgate final.
They take a lot of shots on goal.
They consistently beat the teams they were supposed to beat - meaning they are very disciplined
Team Defense - tied for 8th with Boston College, 2.27 gapg and - fairly consistent throughout the year. Providence is up there to.
Team Offense - 33ed at 2.78gpg - fairly consistent throughout the year
Strong Penalty Kill - 7th,
Power Play 44th
No difference home or away
The last time we beat them was 11/15/2003
They will be well rested. The last time they played was March 16th.
Their record against the ECAC was 3-1-2.
- They handily defeated a good St. Lawrence (8th) team twice, 5-1 and 4-2. Most of the game I saw was played in the St. Lawrence end of the rink. St. Lawrence never got anything going. They defeated Clarkson (5th) when Clarkson was 12-4-1.
- They just managed a third period tie with Dartmouth (10th), at Vermont, that stayed that way in overtime, back on January 3 when Dartmouth was 2-11. However, we in the ECAC know that Dartmouth was one tough team, even back then.
- They tied Yale (6th), again at Vermont. This game I thought belonged to Yale. Despite Vermont's speed, they were having trouble staying with Yale's transition game. Vermont pulled its goalie (I think) and tied it with under a minute. Stayed that way in overtime.
- Vermont lost to Colgate (2nd) 2-3. Match was even. Vermont took lots of penalties. Looked like two identical teams but a Colgate team that had tasted victory out west, was not ready to settle for a tie. Finn was strong down the stretch.
So, they beat ECAC 8th (twice) and 5th, tied 10th and 6th and lost to 2nd.
Their record against common HE opponents
- They beat UNH at UNH twice, just as we did. Not an easy task.
Overall Vermont started the year 12-6-1
Since January 1 are 10-8-2
Since February 1 are 7-5
In January they were 3-3-2
It's hard to discern the meaning of these numbers as 5 of the last 6 games were against UML and the second half they played a tougher HE schedule.
Last year HE sent its franchise team into a region with two hungry ECAC teams. They will not make that mistake again. Now it's sending two of its best defensive teams to try and make sure that the ECAC does not come out of this region alive, and prevent another coronation of the king. We will see. The Captain of the Vermont team said that he saw us play and that Vermont matches up well against us. Their coach said that if Yale can win the national championship, well, what the hell, anyone can. Its impossible for any HE team to take any ECAC team seriously ... which is great news for us. UVM and Providence are estatic at their good fortune of finding themselves in a region with two ECAC teams.
This year in Interconference play HE bested ECAC 22-20-8.
Will be some great hockey Friday ...
Go Dutchman !!! and you too QU.
Footnote: I would encourage all the Union Fans to stay and cheer for QU in the second game on Friday. If the ECAC can come out of Bridgeport then the first ECAC matchup in the FF could very well be BC. God would that be GREAT !!!
