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The inaugural season for Union men’s hockey was 1903, making it one of the oldest college hockey programs in the nation. Union made the jump to Division I hockey prior to the 1991-92 season. Vermont, on the other hand, introduced men’s hockey in 1963 and moved up to Division I in 1974. Both teams were a part of the ECAC in that first season of Division I hockey for Union. This is when the teams met on the ice for the first time. The Catamounts won the first game in the series 3-1 at home in Burlington. Later that season, Vermont traveled to Schenectady, New York, for the first time.

The Catamounts were victorious on Union’s sheet of ice as well. The final score in the February 7, 1992, game was 5-2 in favor of Vermont, ensuring the season sweep in the first-ever meetings between the schools. By the end of the season, the Dutchmen (as they were known as the time) had finished in last place in the conference with three wins and would miss the ECAC tournament. Not surprising for a team in its first year in highest level of college hockey. Vermont ended up with a winning record of 16-12-3 and lost in the first round of the ECAC tournament as a seven seed to RPI.

Union hosts Vermont this weekend. This will be a non-conference match up as the Catamounts have been members of Hockey East since 2005. The Catamounts lead the all-time series 20-14-2 but the Garnet Chargers (Union’s nickname since 2023) favor an 8-5-2 record when the teams play in Schenectady.

Photo Credit: Concordiensis, February 13, 1992.