Game-day information: Game 6 vs. Vermont
When	Thursday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m.
Where	Boston, Mass.  |  Matthews Arena  |  Directions
Broadcast and stats	Live Stats  |  Video  |  Audio  |  Tickets
Notes and yearbook	Game Notes  |  2015-16 Yearbook
Promotions	Prizes for best Halloween costumes
Social media	@GoNUmhockey  facebook.com/GoNUmhockey instagram.com/GoNUathletics  Use #GoNU

BOSTON -- The Northeastern men's ice hockey team kicks off Hockey East play on Thursday night when the Huskies host Vermont at Matthews Arena at 7 p.m. in the first of two games against UVM this week. The Huskies are 13-12-6 in 31 Hockey East openers, and is facing the Catamounts in their league opener for the second straight season.
 
Thursday's promotions
Fans attending Thursday's game are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes to the game against Vermont. The two fans with the best costumes will win $50 gift cards to Conor Larkin's on Huntington Avenue, while other top costumes will win a free pizza coupon to UNO's. The Huskies will also be holding a sale of replica jerseys.
 
Huskies in Hockey East openers
Northeastern is entering its 32nd season in Hockey East, and owns a 13-12-6 (.516) mark all-time in Hockey East openers. Thursday will mark the second straight season that NU has opened the Hockey East slate against Vermont.
 
Club going up on a Thursday
Northeastern and Vermont will be playing the untraditional Thursday night game. It marks the first time that NU has played on a Thursday since March 10, 2011 when the Huskies topped Boston University in game one of the Hockey East quarterfinals, 4-2. The Huskies haven't played a regular season game on a Thursday since Feb. 8, 2007 at UMass Lowell (L, 1-0).
 
The all-time series with the Catamounts
The Huskies and Catamounts will meet for the 59th time all-time on Thursday. Northeastern trails in the all-time series with Vermont 23-29-6. The two teams met three times last season, with two of the games holding Hockey East implications. Vermont handled Northeastern 6-2 on Oct. 11 last season, but the Huskies responded with a 4-1 win at Vermont on Jan. 16. In their only non-conference matchup last year, the teams played to a 2-2 tie.
 
Northeastern captain Kevin Roy has accumulated 11 points in nine career games against Vermont, the most of any active Husky. In the three games last season, Dalen Hedges tallied four assists, including assists on both Northeastern goals in their 2-2 tie with the Catamounts on Jan. 17.
 
Scouting Vermont
Vermont enters the weekend set with NU after five straight games against some of the nation's most elite programs. The Catamounts opened the season with a 3-0 win at Minnesota, their first win against the Gophers since Oct. 23, 2011. Goalie Mike Santaguida, a nominee for the Mike Richter award a year ago, stopped all 24 shots the Gophers attempted and earned his fifth career shutout. Despite the opening night win, the Catamounts have dropped four straight home games, two to Nebraska-Omaha and two to North Dakota.
 
The Catamounts will look to their top line of Mario Puskarich, Jarrid Privitera and Liam Coughlin to continue their already solid offensive production. Puskarich, a junior, has recorded five points already this season. He finished fifth on the team in scoring last season with 11 goals and 13 assists. Coughlin has impressed his new team through his first five games as a freshman. He has posted four assists, the most on the team, and is searching for his first collegiate goal.
 
Recapping Saturday's game at Minnesota
After seeing No. 19 Minnesota pot four first period goals, the Northeastern battled back to make it a one-goal game, but could not net the equalizer late in the third period as the Gophers completed the sweep on Saturday night at Mariucci Arena, 4-3.
 
The Huskies received goals from three different scorers, including Eric Williams' first collegiate tally, while Ryan Ruck made 28 saves in his first collegiate start. Michael Brodzinski (one goals, two assists), Leon Bristedt (one goal, one assist), Hudson Fasching (two goals) and Justin Kloos (two assists) all logged multi-point games for Minnesota and received 25 stops from Eric Schierhorn.
 
The Gophers outshot NU 32-28 in the game and went 1-of-5 on the power play. Northeastern, meanwhile, was 1-of-3 on the man advantage.
 
Shots, shots, shots
The Huskies haven't been afraid to fire the puck on goal in their first five games of the season, peppering opposing netminders with 186 shots on goal. It's the fourth most shots on goal in the nation for team's through its first five games.
 
At the other end of the ice, Northeastern is holding opponents to just 22.60 shots per game, the fourth fewest in the nation. The Huskies' 14.6 shot differential per game is the fourth highest in the nation.
 
Take me to your leader
The biggest storyline entering the 2015-16 season is senior captain Kevin Roy, who returns for his senior season on Huntington Avenue. He is ranked 24th in career scoring at Northeastern (55 goals, 71 assists, 126 points). He also ranks 28th all-time in career goals and tied for 25th in career assists.
 
He is currently the nation's active leader in career assists and points, and is also second among active players in career goals (see page two).
 
Last season, the Lac-Beauport, Quebec native became the 21st player in program history to record 100 career points in three seasons or less. He logged 44 points to become the first Husky since 1993-94 to log at least 40 points in consecutive seasons. For his efforts, he was named a CCM Second Team All-American, First Team Hockey East All-Star and was a candidate for the Hobey Baker Award.
 
Roy is one of eight returning All-Americans, and the first Northeastern player since Rob Cowie in 1990 to be named an All-American and return for the following season.
 
Ruck debuts at Bentley
Freshman netminder made his collegiate debut on Oct. 17 at Bentley, making six saves in relief of Derick Roy in the third period. Ruck arrived at Northeastern after playing for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL for two seasons, posting a 3.17 goals against average and a .903 save percentage in 33 games in 2014-15. Ruck followed that up with a 21 save effort at Minnesota on Oct. 23, including an early candidate for save of the year, which was the No. 2 play on SportCenter's Top Plays of the night.
 
Hall call
Bill Cotter '73 was a three-year letterwinner with the Northeastern, and will be inducted into the Varsity Club Hall of Fame on Nov. 6. His hockey career at Northeastern was highlighted by the 1970-71 season in which he finished fourth on the team in scoring (five goals and 13 assists).
 
In addition to his on-ice contributions to Northeastern, the Newton, Massachusetts native has been an active member in the Northeastern community since his graduation. In 1999, he received the Friends of NU Hockey Fernie C. Flaman award for commitment to Northeastern hockey. He was also recognized as one of Hockey East's "20 Special Friends" for his support of Northeastern hockey.
 
The road ahead
NU continues Hockey East play next weekend against rival Boston University. The Huskies and Terriers will do battle on Friday night at Agganis Arena before heading to Matthews Arena on Saturday for NU's Homecoming Game.