Herrington, who was selected for the All-ECAC Rookie Team last season, should prove an able replacement, notching 23 points freshman year.

"When we played Dartmouth in the scrimmage [a 2-1 Crimson win], I was impressed with its skill level," Mazzoleni said. "It was a pretty darn close matchup."

Vermont, expected to be a high scoring team, started the year with a flash. It split a pair of 7-4 games, losing at UNH to open the season and defeating Boston University. Jerry Gernander scored four goals against the Terriers.

The offense has since cooled off, dropping a deuce last weekend to St. Cloud, 7-2 and 4-1

Still, Vermont has returned its top two scorers from a year ago, captain Kevin Karlander and assistant captain Matt Sanders. Karlander notched 22 points last season, while Sanders followed suit with 19.

And senior Andrea Moborg, one of the ECAC's top offensive defensemen, will return as the third-highest point scorer for Vermont.

"Vermont likes to skate offensively which will be a good test for us," Mazzoleni said. "It will make us play better and make an overall commitment to the team defensively."