Vermont Rookies

The University of Vermont men’s hockey team has been a name in NCAA Division 1 hockey since 1974. Over the decades, the program has produced NHL All-Stars such as Tim Thomas, Martin St. Louis, and John LeClair, as well as Olympians who have represented the U.S., Canada, and Sweden. 

In 2005, Vermont left the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) to join Hockey East, a move that placed them in the most competitive conference in college hockey. Since then, the Catamounts have embraced the challenges that come with competing at the highest level. 

Under the guidance of current Head Coach Steve Wiedler, the program is beginning a new era in Vermont Hockey.

Wiedler, now in his second year as head coach, is leading the charge in reshaping the program. At 38, he is the youngest head coach in Hockey East, but his vision and determination have already made an undeniable impact on the program. 

“In year two of our staff leading this program, it’s great to have our first recruiting class be one that we think we can build upon,” he shared recently before a series at Gutterson Fieldhouse.

The 2024-25 freshmen, the first recruiting class under Wiedler’s leadership as head coach, includes six players: Max Strand, Colin Kessler, Charlie Kinsman, Blake Steenerson, Michael La Starza, and Jax Wismer. Five of the six competed against one another in the Eastern Conference of the USHL. Now, as teammates, they have quickly become key contributors to, what may prove to be, Vermont’s future resurgence. 

Within the freshman class, forwards Strand (#29) and Kessler (#7) have been at the forefront of the team’s offensive success. Due to their performances they have both received Hobey Baker nominations, an annual award presented to the top NCAA men’s hockey player.

Strand leads the team in points, tied for first in assists, and shares the lead in power play goals with Kessler, who is leading the team in goals. As the two have settled into their roles as linemates, their impressive partnership has become a testament to the new culture Wiedler is fostering.

Strand’s performance earned him the recognition of both Hockey East and National Rookie of the Month for December, a stretch during which Vermont went on a five-game non-conference winning streak. The Catamounts scored 30 goals in that span, with 10 of them coming from first-year players. The team averaged six goals a game - a rare feat for any program in Hockey East.

“I’ve never seen us put a whoop into non-conference teams like we did this year,” Coach Wiedler shares. “That’s a step in the right direction.”

Since league play resumed for the Catamounts, the team has scored 13 goals. First-year players have contributed 16 points to that total, with 5 goals and 11 assists. In five of the six games they have played, a freshman has found the back of the net.

Kessler and Strand, who both played for the Sioux City Musketeers in the USHL, were drawn to Vermont by a shared vision of wanting to make a lasting impact on the program. 

“We want to make a difference,” Kessler said.

“When I visited here, I fell in love with it,” said Strand. “The Gut reminded me of my rink in Roseau (Minnesota, his hometown), and it just felt like home.”

For Vermont players, one of the biggest appeals of the program is the ability to contribute to something bigger than themselves - a program with a rich history and legacy and with much more to prove.

“Here, you’re playing for the past and what the logo means. It’s bigger than yourself and bigger than the team we have now,” Kessler explains. “It’s not a weight on your shoulders, it’s a privilege.”

Coach Wiedler shares that sentiment, “We have the task of bringing [Vermont] back. I don’t see that as pressure, I see that as an exciting thing.”

The sense of pride in Vermont’s history and community is a key factor in Wiedler’s vision for the program.

“There’s nothing better than coming in with a dream and through your own actions making that a reality. That’s a unique circumstance,” he says. “There’s a lot of things that have to line up for that to happen and certain things that you need but our players want for nothing. They have everything they need in order to do that.”

Wiedler explains that no matter the timeline, those who contribute to Vermont’s turnaround will be remembered by the program.

“Whether it’s this year or five years from now, if you were part of taking those steps, then you know what? I’ll send those [you] a championship ring too.”

Coach Wiedler acknowledges that the team’s journey is still in its early stages and that growth will be constant. 

Vermont’s next nine games will bring them toe-to-toe with nationally-ranked, conference foes including UMass Lowell, Boston College, Maine, and Boston University.

“We’ve known since the beginning of the year that the last 15-game stretch is all Hockey East play and that those are the games that we really have to show up for,” Strand explains. “We’re prepared. We’re ready.”

The freshmen have quickly adjusted to the demands of Hockey East, and according to Wiedler, their willingness to embrace the challenge has been a key factor in their success. 

“These guys (Kessler and Strand) have a competitive fire that burns underneath the surface. That’s another reason for my optimism. I know who these guys are on the inside.”

Wiedler believes their attitude has been a catalyst for their early impact. 

“I don’t see them being intimidated, which contributes to how they’ve taken off as freshmen. These guys decided to do a cannonball rather than dipping their toe in the water.”

While Vermont’s recent results have reflected the tough nature of Hockey East, the program is undeniably moving in the right direction. Wiedler is confident that the foundation laid by this group of players will lead to something bigger.

“The program has taken another step and we’re pushing toward a bright future,” he says. “There’s a belief that we’re building something bigger than trying to get individual points.”

This collective mindset is critical to the team’s growth. As Wiedler explains, the focus is on continued improvement and creating a legacy that will last. 

The incoming classes, paired with the current freshman class’s energy and passion, are setting the stage for a bright future.

Wiedler sees an internal confidence as key to the program’s ongoing development. 

“One thing that’s going to continue to grow is that competitive fire,” he states. “There’s an ability to go toe-to-toe against anybody in this nation. There’s a belief in our team and our program that hasn’t been here since I’ve been here.” 

The ability to adapt, compete, and overcome adversity will define them as they face the challenges ahead but they have an exciting opportunity for success that the program has not seen in years.