Friday, January 8, 2016
UVM to Honor St. Louis
Sold-out crowd set to salute the Catamounts’ all-time leading scorer.
A sold-out crowd at Gutterson Fieldhouse will welcome Vermont’s all-time leading scorer Martin St. Louis Friday night as the Catamounts honor one of college hockey’s greats in a pregame ceremony prior to their meeting with Dartmouth.
St. Louis, a three-time All-American and three-time Hobey Baker Award finalist, retired last summer after a remarkable playing career. He won the Stanley Cup and Olympic gold while recording more than 1,000 career points in the NHL.
St. Louis has always remained close to his alma mater. In 2012 he received the school’s Alumni Achievement Award.
“I feel great. I didn’t expect this,” St. Louis told Ted Ryan of the Burlington Free Press.
“UVM has always treated me well and the fact they are doing this is going to be a great experience for me and my family,” said St. Louis, who will be accompanied by his wife, Heather, whom he met at UVM, and sons Ryan, Lucas and Mason as well as his father, Normand.
“My kids are old enough to play hockey and the chance for them to be there in The Gut to see a game is great,” he said.
St. Louis recalled the support of UVM fans, saying, “I feel blessed and fortunate to have so many fans from Vermont.” He said he hoped The Gut would be rocking Friday the same as it was during his playing days.
As for his own team, Sneddon said, “It’s an honor to have (Marty) in the building. It’s been awhile since he’s been able to come to a game because of his schedule. We’ve had the opportunity to have him up here in the summer and a lot of our guys who stay in the summer have had the chance to meet him.
“We’ve got a chance to honor a guy who is arguably one of the best college hockey players ever, one of the great NHL players and on top of all that, a fantastic guy, a fantastic person,” Sneddon said. “I think it will be a real special night and we’re going to try our best to make it a very memorable night for him.”
Fans at Friday’s game will receive a commemorative poster. Souvenier pucks and commemorative St. Louis jerseys are available for sale. The game will be streamed online and fans are invited to take part in the conversation around the celebrations with the hashtag #MSLnight.