As a team that has persevered through adversity all season, Vermont (17-13-7, 9-11-7 Hockey East) is peaking at just the right time. Its strong defensive style, combined with the sensational goaltending of Rob Madore, was a key ingredient in a successful run against UNH.
Madore was the backbone of the Catamounts throughout the series. After a rough start in Game 1, when he allowed six goals on 21 shots, he charged back for consecutive shutouts in the remaining two games of the series. Not only did this represent Vermont’s first-ever shutout against the Wildcats, but it was also the first time in UNH’s 86-year history it was shut out in back-to-back games at home.
Catamounts head coach Kevin Sneddon agrees that his goaltender was the highlight of the series.“I was pretty hard on [Madore] to try and spark him after Game 1,” Sneddon said. “I’m proud of how he responded with such incredible fashion. He certainly rose to the occasion. I thought he was the difference, especially in overtime.”
The Catamounts will need Madore to be rock solid again against a tough Eagles offense that hammered UMass goaltender Paul Dainton with 11 goals on 59 shots through two games in the quarterfinals.
Second-seeded Boston College (23-10-3, 16-8-3 Hockey East) earned its 18th semifinal berth after sweeping UMass Amherst. Cam Atkinson came up big for the Eagles, registering a career-high four points in a close 7-6 Game 1 win. Goals from four different players helped BC cruise to a 5-2 victory in Game 2.
Four Eagles recorded four points in the series, while Atkinson and Barry Almeida combined for six of the team’s 11 goals.
Eagles head coach Jerry York isn’t taking anything for granted. He knows his team is in for a hard matchup against Vermont and will need to work around a tough Catamounts defense.
“The Catamounts are at the top of their game and have a lot of momentum from their UNH series,” York said. “They’ve really found their stride right now. They’ve got some of the biggest, strongest and hard-nosed defensemen in the league. We need to be well prepared for a tight battle Friday night.”
Though Vermont took the regular season series 2-1-0, both coaches realize their previous matchups aren’t accurate predictors for the postseason. Both teams have completely changed since they last met.
“We haven’t seen them since the first semester,” Sneddon said. “We can’t use those games as a measure. We’ve both changed and matured so much since then. The second half has been a completely new year.”
BC currently holds the Hockey East tournament record with eight titles, its last coming in 2008. The Eagles will be looking to improve upon last year’s run, when they were eliminated by BU 3-2 in the semifinals. Overall, they have appeared in all Hockey East tournaments but one and have posted a record of 47-23-2.
After being shut out of the playoffs last season, the Catamounts have surged back to make their sixth tournament appearance, their last coming in 2008. This will be just their second semifinal appearance in program history. Overall, Vermont is 4-8-0 in tournament history — and should it advance to the championship, it would be the first No. 8 seed to do so.
After coaching a team that has battled tremendous adversity en route to a strong finish, Sneddon couldn’t be prouder of his troops — regardless of Friday’s outcome.
“We’ve played the underdog role all year, and we’ll be in the same role this weekend,” Sneddon said. “I am so proud of how this team has pushed through adversity and generated incredible success in the second semester. Friday night, we’ll focus on us and what makes us a good hockey team.”
