WUG pre-event series set

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The 2011 U.S. Men's National University Team will travel to Vermont from Dec. 27-29 to play games against NCAA opponents Castleton State College, Saint Michael's College and the University of Vermont.

The games are part of Team USA's preparations for the 2011 Winter World University Games, which will take place Jan. 27-Feb. 6, in Erzurum, Turkey.

The U.S. will face NCAA Division III Castleton State College on Dec. 27 in Rutland, Vt., before traveling to South Burlington, Vt., to face NCAA Division II Saint Michael's College on Dec. 28.

Team USA will play its final pre-tournament game against NCAA Division I University of Vermont on Dec. 29, in Burlington, Vt.

The 2011 Winter World University Games is a biannual multi-sport event organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The international competition is staged in both the summer and the winter, similar to the Olympic Games. For more information on the 2011 Winter World University Games, click here.

Eric Curtis - Broome County Barons

Eric Cutis, a 2010 graduate from Castleton State College men's ice hockey team now plays for the Broome County Barons.  He joins Kirk Bolduc and Evan Romeo in the FHL League.  To follow Eric, check out the website Broom County Barons.

Evan Romeo - 1000 Islands Privateers

The Privateers recently signed Evan Romeo and are looking for him to continue his strong collegiate record. Evan recently graduated from Castleton State College in Vermont where he played varsity all four years. Evan excelled in the offensive, showing skill as a distributor and finisher. His top production came in his sophomore year, when he tallied 14 goals and 9 assists in 26 games. Coach Elberty is impressed with the skills Evan brings to the team: “We’re excited to have him in camp. He’s a hard-working forward and a high-energy skater. He contributes at both ends of the ice.”  To follow Evan check out the website 1000 Island Privateers. 

Kirk Bolduc - Rome Frenzy

Kirk Bolduc, a 2010 graduate from the Castleton State College men's ice hockey team joins Rome Frenzy in Rome, N.Y.  The first game for Kirk will be tonight against teammate Evan Romeo who plays for 1000 Islands.  To follow Kirk check out the website for Rome Frenzy Hockey.

Coach's Corner- Meet Coach Todd

Coach Alex Todd began his hockey career in Rice Lake, Wisconsin where he learned the game and played until his junior year of high school then he left to play his senior season in Dubuque Iowa, in the USHL. After the USHL coach Todd played four years at Union College in the Division I ECAC Hockey League.
Upon graduation Coach Todd signed a professional contract with the Fresno Falcons in the West Coast Hockey League.  Coach Todd played for the Falcons from 2001-2003. In his rookie campaign, Coach Todd picked up where he left off at Union with a stand-out rookie season, earning Rookie of the Year honors for the Falcons, as well as being voted onto the league’s All-Rookie Team. The ideal end of his rookie season came when he helped Fresno earn the league’s playoff title and were named Taylor Cup Champions. 

Coach Todd’s coaching career began at Utica College in Utica, New York. After a successful first year in college hockey as a coach in which Utica won the ECAC West Title in 2004-05, he began working with USA hockey and its summer development programs. To date, Coach Todd has assisted with USA hockey player development camps in the Central States District, and was the camp director for the 2006 Mid America Bantam Camp.

In the summer of 2005, Coach Todd was named head coach at Castleton, inheriting a team that had gone 0-44 in its two seasons of existence. In Coach Todd’s second season, the team continued their improvement with a final record of 17-6-4 (most wins in program history), getting the school’s first ever national ranking as high as #8 in the country. The 2007-08 team started slow but finished on a program record 10-game unbeaten streak and earned its first ever home playoff game. The 2008-09 season marked the final season of coach Todd’s first full recruiting class. The Spartans made a successful trip to Germany and Austria for preseason, earning a 3-1 mark overseas. The Spartans finished the year with a 15-9-2 record hosting an ECAC East Quarterfinal game for the second year in a row.

Coach Todd’s first five years have been marked by many firsts for Castleton and the men’s hockey program including a home record of 33-26-8 over the last five years and an overall record of 58-57-16 in the same time.

Coach Todd’s goals heading into the 2010-11 season coach Todd is looking to improve again, with a large and talented freshmen class ready to take Castleton to the next level and a core of returners, the Spartans will be very competitive in the ECAC East and look to establish themselves further in the league playoffs and maintain their presence on the national stage.

Travis Martell - Knoxville IceBears

Travis Martell, a 2008 graduate from Castleton State College men's ice hockey team now plays for the Knoxville Icebreakers. In the picture is Harvard.  The players, mascots and staff members are dedicated to giving back to the Knoxville community. Check out our calendar of events for upcoming community appearances! Visit Young Williams Animal Center for details on how to adopt your next pet!  Check out the Knoxville IceBears and follow Travis this season!

Jared Lavender - Missouri Mavericks

Jared Lavender, a 2009 graduate from the Castleton Men's Ice Hockey team is playing for the Missouri Mavericks in the CHL.  The Mavericks opened up the season on October 15th and 16th.  To follow Jared and the team please visit the website Missouri Mavericks .

Sixth Annual Castleton Men's Hockey Skate-a-Thon

The Castleton Men's Hockey team will host their sixth annual Skate-a-Thon at Spartan Arena.  The event will take place Saturday, October 23, 2010 from 7:00pm-9:00pm.  Come skate with the Men's ice hockey team and help raise money for the local youth kids involved in hockey around the area.

Castleton's Inaugural Alumni Events

The Castleton State College men’s ice hockey team will be hosting a pair of alumni events this coming season, its seventh in existence. Head Coach Alex Todd, as well as former players Jeff Lazeren ’09 and Joe McIntyre ’08 will be involved in the initial organization of the events aimed at connecting past players with the current team. The first event will be the inaugural Alumni Game on November 13, 2010 at 6:00 p.m., just prior to the sixth annual Green vs. White Scrimmage and Skills Contest. Fans and alumni are also encouraged to attend the fourth annual Men’s Hockey Kick-Off Dinner, on November 6, where the 2010-11 men’s hockey team will be introduce. The second event of the season will take place on January 29th at 2:00 p.m., prior to Castleton’s game versus Connecticut College, with an alumni dinner scheduled to follow. Future plans also include summer events, alumni games and more, with anticipation of the 10th anniversary of Spartan Hockey during the 2013-2014 season. Castleton alumni who spent at least one season with the team are invited to be a part of the Hockey Alumni Association, and are encouraged to fill out the alumni form here. Alumni are also asked to contact or stop in to see Coach Todd with suggestions, or to volunteer to help organize future events. For more information on the Castleton Hockey Alumni Association contact Coach Todd  at alex.todd@castleton.edu. Or, feel free to contact Jeff Lazeren at Jeffrey.lazeren@yahoo.com) or Joe McIntyre at jmcintyre@uvac.swim.org).

Castleton State College Men's Hockey Exhibition

Come see some great exhibition hockey as the Castleton Spartans take on the best club hockey players in the country! The National University team will be making three stops in Vermont, taking on the Catamounts of UVM, the Purple Knights at St. Michael's College and your very own Castleton Spartans, before they head to Erzurum, Turkey to compete in the Winter World University Games in February of 2011.  This game will take place Monday, December 27, 2010 at 7:00pm at Spartan Arena in Rutland, Vermont.

SPARTAN CAPTAINS 2010-2011

Lindsey Gullett, Coach Alex Todd & Stuart Stefan