Vermont Men's Hockey Returns to National Rankings After Strong Start

Vermont Men’s Hockey Returns to National Rankings After Strong Start

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The University of Vermont men’s hockey team has earned the No. 20 spot in the U.S. College Hockey Online weekly national poll, according to a report from the Burlington Free Press.

The Catamounts have entered the national rankings for the first time in nearly a decade. Their last inclusion in the USCHO poll came at the conclusion of the 2016-17 season, when they were ranked 18th.

The team’s ascent follows a strong start to the 2026-27 season, characterized by a 5-3-1 overall record and a 4-1-1 mark in league play. This performance has placed Vermont at the top of the Hockey East standings with 14 points, currently holding a three-point lead over Boston University.

Vermont’s recent success is built on a weekend sweep of Boston College. The Catamounts secured a 5-2 victory in the first game and followed it with a shootout win after a 4-4 tie.

The decisive moment in that shootout was a goal from Michael Hagens, a former Boston College player. Hagens currently leads the Vermont roster with eight points, consisting of three goals and five assists through nine games.

The team’s depth is reflected in the scoring distribution across the roster. Several players have driven the early-season surge:

  • Ethan Burroughs: 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists)
  • Cedrick Guindon: 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists)
  • Colin Kessler: 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists)
  • Mathias Loiselle: 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists)
  • Andoni Fimis: 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists)

In the net, Jacob Oster has started eight games for Vermont. He maintains a 1.96 goals-against average and a .93 save percentage.

This season represents a sharp departure from the previous year’s struggles. Last season, the Catamounts finished with a 13-21-3 overall record and an 8-15-1 record in league play.

The resurgence in men’s hockey coincides with high-level performance in other programs, specifically Vermont field hockey. The America East champion Catamounts have secured a spot in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Vermont field hockey, which holds a 14-5 record, will travel to Illinois to face St. Joseph’s in the opening round. The matchup is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the campus of Northwestern.

Vermont Men's Hockey Returns to National Rankings After Strong Start

The men’s hockey team will return to Gutterson Fieldhouse for a two-game series against Maine. The games are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14.

Maine enters the matchup with a 5-5 overall record and a 1-3 record in league play. Both contests will be available for broadcast on ESPN+ and WVMT-AM.

The Catamounts’ recent trajectory includes a split home series against No. 11 Boston University and a road split at Clarkson. They also completed a home sweep of New Hampshire prior to their trip to Boston College.

The program’s last winning campaign concluded with their 18th-place ranking in 2017.

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