The Vermont Catamounts skated to a 3-1 win over the University of Quebec at Trois Rivieres in a matinee exhibition Sunday at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
UVM’s leading scorer, junior Jeff Miles, and all the team’s seniors sat out the game. Vermont looked to rest its big guns for ECAC play beginning next weekend, when the team travels to Brown and Harvard. Each forward line had at least one freshman.
Play in the first period was slow. Both teams looked tentative and even sluggish at times, acting as if they were out for a leisurely Sunday afternoon skate. Vermont held a 9-6 shots on goal advantage at intermission.
Vermont coach Mike Gilligan was pleased with the rest of the game. “First period, I think they were complacent, but after that, they played exciting hockey. It was nice to see some of the guys who don’t get a lot of ice time get it, and respond and do well.”
The Catamounts got on the board first at 3:34 of the second period. The Vermont power play has been clicking at a 30 percent rate over the first five games. It struck again, as freshman Baron Becker tipped a Gerard Miller shot from the point past Trois Rivieres goaltender Eric Dejardins. Brady Leisenring also assisted on the goal.
The score remained 1-0 until 12:40 of the period, when Jerome Bergeron ripped a wrist shot from the top of the faceoff circle past Vermont netminder Matt Hanson. Marc-Etienne Hubert assisted on the goal.
The Cats had 22-9 shot advantage through two periods.
With less than five minutes to go in the contest, junior Dustin Corbett fired a wicked wrist shot to the upper corner of the net, beating new Trois Rivieres goalie Jean-Philippe Piche.
With a little over minute to go, a Scott Mifsud pass sprang Jeff Corey, who went in alone and beat Piche with a low shot for the final margin.
Trois Riviere goaltenders combined to make 31 saves. Vermont’s Hanson stopped 14 of 15 shots.
“I just wanted to see a competitive game, to continue the good feeling. It was a pleasure to see them having some fun,” Gilligan said.
