The 2024–25 Vermont Catamounts men's ice hockey season was the 69th season of play for the program, the 52nd at the Division I level and the 20th in Hockey East. The Catamounts represented the University of Vermont in the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, played their home games at the Gutterson Fieldhouse and were coached by Steve Wiedler in his 2nd season.
Season Vermont's season had trouble getting off the ground thanks to inconsistent play on both sides of the puck. The Catamounts were only able to win once in their first eight games, however, the early season trouble did give Axel Mangbo a change at the starting role. With the sophomore in goal, the team was able to post a few wins in November. Unfortunately, the offense was still unsettled and it took until December for Vermont to demonstrate any level of competency. When the offense did wake up, the team was able put together a 5-game winning streak while averaging 6 goals per game. The stretch lifted them up to a .500 record by the beginning of January and gave the team an outside shot at an at-large bid.
Though the team was hoping to continue their hot streak, as soon as they returned to their conference slate, the Catamounts found it incredible difficult to score. Over the six matches immediately after their winning stretch, Vermont averaged just over 2 goals per game. The team had a brief reprieve in mid-February when the scoring returned, however, around the same time, the strong goaltending the team had been receiving vanished. Mangbo was suddenly unable to keep the puck out of the net and, when he was replaced, Keenan Rancier wasn't any better. The Catamounts allowed at least 4 goals in each of their final 7 games, losing each contest. The losses sunk the team to the bottom of the standings putting the team in the familiar position of having to begin their postseason run on the road in the Opening Round.
Rancier got the start and gave up 2 goals in quick succession in the first. Colin Kessler was able to cut into the lead with his team-leading (tied) twelfth of the season before the period was over to keep contact with Massachusetts. The defense did yeoman's work over the final 40 minutes, insulating their goaltender and limiting the Minutemen to only 10 shots, however, the offense was unable to do their part and was unable to secure a second goal. The loss consigned the Catamounts to their eighth consecutive losing season, continuing the worst stretch stretch in program history.
Departures Ralfs Bergmanis Defenseman Transferred to Minnesota State Jérémie Bucheler Defenseman Graduation (signed with San Jose Barracuda) Andrei Buyalsky Forward Signed professional contract Barys Astana Gabe Carriere Goaltender Graduation (signed with San Jose Barracuda) Zach Dubinsky Forward Graduation (signed with Iowa Heartlanders) Lucas Jones Defenseman Transferred to Plymouth State Ryan Miotto Forward Graduation (signed with Wheeling Nailers) Chris Théodore Forward Graduation (signed with Jokers de Cergy-Pontoise)
Recruiting Colin Kessler Forward 20 Anchorage, AK Charlie Kinsman Defenseman 19 Orchard Park, NY Michael La Starza Forward 20 Montreal, QC Keenan Rancier Goaltender 24 Victoria, BC; transfer from Minnesota State Blake Steenerson Forward 19 Maple Grove, MN Max Strand Forward 21 Roseau, MN Sebastian Törnqvist Defenseman 21 Everlöv, SWE; transfer from Massachusetts Jax Wismer Defenseman 19 Newmarket, ON
Roster As of September 22, 2024.
Standings
Schedule and results
!colspan=12 style=";" | Exhibition
!colspan=12 style=";" | Regular Season
!colspan=12 style=";" |
Scoring statistics C 35 9 18 27 16 F 34 12 11 23 39 F 33 8 14 22 8 C/LW 35 9 12 21 14 RW 33 12 6 18 4 C 35 8 10 18 8 D 31 1 17 18 46 RW 33 6 11 17 10 C/RW 35 3 14 17 10 D 34 2 13 15 22 F 32 5 8 13 23 D 31 5 7 12 18 D 26 4 6 10 10 C 33 3 5 8 21 D 33 2 6 8 4 F 26 5 2 7 6 LW 18 2 3 5 4 F 27 2 2 4 46 D 32 0 3 3 6 D 26 1 1 2 2 C 4 1 0 1 17 LW 3 0 1 1 0 D 6 0 1 1 0 D 15 0 1 1 6 G 23 0 1 1 0 C 2 0 0 0 0 G 3 0 0 0 0 F 7 0 0 0 2 D 8 0 0 0 2 G 14 0 0 0 0 Bench – – – – – 12 Total 100 173 273 356
Goaltending statistics 3 48:08 0 0 0 1 19 0 .950 1.25 25 1274:49 9 13 0 65 525 3 .890 3.06 14 782:32 2 8 3 44 339 0 .885 3.37 Empty Net - 25:52 - - - 6 - - - - Total 35 2131:21 11 21 3 116 884 3 .884 3.27
Rankings
PollWeekPre 1 23456789101112131415161718192021222324252627 (Final) USCHO.comNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNR–NRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNR–NR USA HockeyNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNR–NRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNR Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 12 or 26.Note: USA Hockey did not release a poll in week 12.
Awards and honors Colin Kessler Hockey East All-Rookie Team
2025 NHL entry draft
4 120 † Los Angeles Kings † incoming freshman
References