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In the untraditional times of COVID-19, Vermont’s hockey program found a silver lining in the summer of 2021, with coaching staffs watching, current and former Catamounts took to the world’s stage to face off in premier sporting events. For men’s hockey, the start of their summer success story begins back on one special day in February, when alumnus Dominique Ducharme ’95 was named Interim Head Coach of the Montreal Canadiens—and later that night, alumnus Ross Colton ’18 became the 18th player in Vermont’s program history to play with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He scored a goal less than seven minutes into his first game. A sign of good things to come. 

And it doesn’t get much better or bigger than the Stanley Cup Final for hockey players. The 2021 championship between the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning brought the two alumni together around the ice. Under Ducharme’s tutelage, the Canadiens advanced to the Stanley Cup Final by defeating Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vegas as the underdog in each series. With Colton on the ice, the Tampa Bay Lightning advanced to the championship series with five points in the playoffs. The battle of Catamount alumni was settled in game five of the best-of-seven series by Colton scoring the Stanley Cup clinching goal—something no rookie had done since 1927 in the championship final. 

“While I have only spent brief time with each of these two gentlemen, I can tell you that their own pride in the green and gold is apparent,” said men’s hockey head coach Todd Woodcroft. “Of course, I will use their names when recruiting alongside all the other accomplished players that have worn our jersey.” 

“For a player, the National Hockey League is the ultimate dream, it is the one thing that every young player around the world aspires to,” continued Woodcroft. “And then for Ross to score the game-winning goal in the Stanley Cup Final? That is what every young girl and boy hockey player has desired since they first started skating.” 

The kept the momentum going in August when—at the 2021 International Ice Hockey Federation’s Women’s World Championships in Alberta, Canada—four current and former student-athletes battled it out on the ice wearing international jerseys. For the Czech Republic: Sammy Kolowrat ’19, Natálie Mlynková ’24, and Tynka Pátková ’24 and for Finland: Sini Karjalainen ’22. And for the current coaching staffs back in Vermont, there couldn’t have been a better advertisement for coming to Vermont and playing hockey as a Catamount.

From left to right, Sammy Kolowrat ’19, Natálie Mlynková ’24 and Tynka Pátková ’24 represent the Czech Republic at the 2021 International Ice Hockey Federation’s Women’s World Championships in Alberta, Canada. 

The Czech Republic went undefeated in the preliminary round action, including a goal from Pátková, the first World Championship goal of her career. All four stepped up to the world’s stage together for another Catamount showdown in the quarterfinals, where Finland eked out a 1-0 win over the Czechs. In the end, it was Finland and Karjalainen taking home a bronze medal at the World Championship, the first medal for Karjalainen and the first for Catamounts since Amanda Pelkey ’15 took home back-to-back gold for the United States in 2016 and 2017. 

“Player development is such a crucial part of our program and it shows that not only can we attract players who aspire to play at the World Championships and Olympics, but help them improve and achieve their dreams,” said . “It is an amazing feeling to see our players and alums play for their national teams.” 

“Since I arrived at �պ�����, we have made a concerted effort to recruit in Europe and that investment in overseas recruiting trips and in developing contacts with key coaches and federations has really paid off over the past few years,” said Plumer. “Those players have really impacted our culture in a positive way and it is helping us continue to attract top international players.” 

The international approach is embraced by the men’s and women’s hockey programs at �պ�����. A glance at their 2021-22 rosters reveals nine different nations that have sent a student-athlete to Vermont’s program—Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Russia, Slovakia, and Sweden. 

“It truly is an international game now, long gone are the days that only certain parts of North America were producing college hockey players,” explained Woodcroft. “The growth and popularity of the game now affords us the chance to find players from California or Kazakhstan. We will use our connections to unearth players anywhere in the world and try to recruit them to this university if they fit the identity we are aspiring to create.” 

At this year’s NHL Draft, the Vermont men’s hockey program had two first-years on the current roster selected in the third round. Luca Münzenberger from Düsseldorf, Germany, was taken 90th overall by the Edmonton Oilers and Andrei Buyalsky from Karaganda, Kazakhstan, was taken 92nd overall by the Colorado Avalanche. It was the first time in program history that two players were selected in the first three rounds of the same draft. 

The growing international pedigree brings in more quality international recruits to Vermont’s men and women’s programs. “When we are recruiting international players, it really helps to have well-known alumni to talk about,” mentioned Plumer. “Playing university sports is not common in Europe, so it is a nice way to show how important hockey is at �պ�����. We absolutely emphasize the success that our players are having on the international stage, and that this is a place where players can develop and be part of a truly family atmosphere.” 

Vermont hockey will once again take to the international stage this winter at the 2022 Olympics. Men’s hockey head coach Todd Woodcroft will be an assistant coach with Sweden during the men’s hockey competition and several Catamounts will be competing in the women’s tournament. Sini Karjalainen should be back on defense for Finland and three Catamounts qualified for the Olympics in a qualifying tournament November 11-14. Sammy Kolowrat ’19, Natálie Mlynková and Tynka Pátková finished in first place in their qualifying group in Chomutov, Czech Republic, to advance to the Olympics. It will be the Czech Republic’s first-ever Olympic appearance on the women’s side. The wave of Vermont hockey success all over the map in 2021 is set to carry one into the new year and beyond.