Ted Ryan

Correspondent

The nine members of the University of Vermont’s incoming class of men’s hockey freshmen are already on campus, taking part in the Catamounts’ offseason training program and attending summer classes.

The Class of ’20 currently features four forwards, four defensemen and one goaltender. One first-year player, forward Ross Colton, earlier attended the Tampa Bay Lightning’s development camp and defenseman Jake Massie is participating in the Chicago Blackhawks development camp.

The nine freshmen are forwards Matt Alvaro of Toronto, Ontario, Colton of Robbinsville, N.J., Cameron Klein of Alpine, N.J., and Derek Lodermeier of Brooklyn Center, Minn.; defensemen Max Daigle of Saint-Lambert, Quebec, Massie of Hudson, Quebec, Matthew O’Donnell of Fountain Valley, Calif., and Corey Moriarty of Estero, Fla., and goaltender Stefanos Lekkas of Elburn, Ill.

The 5-foot-8, 175-pound Alvaro recorded 11 goals and 30 points in 60 games for the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) this past season. Colton (6-0, 193), who briefly considered seeking his national letter-of-intent (NLI) release from UVM before reconfirming his commitment, had a breakout season with 35 goals and 66 points in 55 games for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL). Klein (6-3; 210) contributed nine goals and 27 points in 29 games of the PAL Junior Islanders (USPHL-Pr). Lodermeier (6-3; 210) recorded 26 goals and 60 points in 58 games for the Brooks Bandits (AJHL).

Among the defensemen, Daigle (5-10, 195) collected three goals and 27 points in 43 games for the Islanders Hockey Club (USPHL-Pr). Massie (6-2, 175), who de-committed for Massachusetts after former UVM associate head coach John Micheletto was dismissed, picked up four goals and 10 points in 44 games for the Omaha Lancers (USHL). O’Donnell (5-10, 190) accounted for four goals and 15 points in 15 games for the Jersey Hitmen (USPHL-Pr). Moriarty (5-11, 180) scored eight goals and 24 points for the Boston Jr. Bruins (USPHL-Pr).

Lekkas (5-11, 180) posted a 2.53 goals against average with a .924 save percentage for the Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL).

The UVM summer camp is designed to help players adjust to college life as well as prepare them for their first year of NCAA Division I competition.

The Catamounts are coming off a 15-22-3 season overall and a 6-13-3 Hockey East campaign. UVM won its first-round Hockey East tournament series at Connecticut but lost in overtime of Game 3 in a best-of-3 quarterfinal series at Boston College.

Vermont lost senior defensemen Yvan Pattyn and Alexx Privitera and forwards Jonathan Turk and Dan Senkbeil to graduation. Freshman goalie Packy Munson transferred to Denver and two forwards, Mike Stenerson and Tyler Gernhofer, left the team during the season.

With the addition of the freshmen, UVM could have as many as 17 forwards, 11 defensemen and three goaltenders vying for playing time this winter.

Correspondent Ted Ryan covers UVM hockey for The Burlington Free Press. Contact him at TedRyanVT@aol.com and follow him on Twitter at @TedRyanVT.