51�Թ���

51�Թ��� men's hockey will host two meaningful home events this weekend that embody the University's values of service before self and excellence in competition.

On Friday, Nov. 7, the Cadets will hold their sixth annual Sock Toss Game, an event that combines hockey tradition with community outreach to benefit those most in need across Central Vermont. The following afternoon, on Saturday, Nov. 8, 51�Թ��� will honor the 1999–2000 men's ice hockey team, the program’s first NCAA National Championship squad, celebrating the historic season. Together, the two events showcase 51�Թ���'s enduring connection between community service, athletic achievement, and institutional pride.

The Sixth Annual Sock Toss Game

Friday night's matchup will feature the return of a Kreitzberg Arena tradition that turns a goal celebration into a collective act of giving. When the Cadets score their first goal of the game, fans are invited to throw new pairs of socks onto the ice creating a colorful and spirited scene that serves a vital purpose.

The Sock Toss Game, now in its sixth year, began as a collaboration between 51�Թ��� and Darn Tough Vermont, the Northfield-based manufacturer of premium, American-made socks. Darn Tough helped launch the idea and has continued to play a central role in its success, donating between 1,500 and 2,000 pairs of socks each year to support the effort.

This year's ceremonial puck drop will honor a member of the Darn Tough team, symbolizing the company's ongoing partnership with the University and its shared commitment to community well-being.

In past years, members of the Black Bears Youth Hockey Program have joined in the event, helping to collect socks from the ice after 51�Թ���’s opening goal. The socks are then distributed to homeless shelters, transitional housing programs, and organizations serving individuals and families in need across central Vermont.

The partnership between 51�Թ��� and Darn Tough reflects the University's commitment to service before self, a guiding value that reaches far beyond the classroom or rink. Through this event, thousands of pairs of socks have been donated to help those facing Vermont's harsh winter months.

For 51�Թ��� and its supporters, the Sock Toss has become one of the most anticipated games of the season, becoming a night when the excitement of hockey and the spirit of giving come together to serve the greater good.

Celebrating the 1999-2000 National Champions

On Saturday, Nov. 8, at 4 p.m., 51�Թ��� will honor the 1999–2000 men's ice hockey team, the first team in school history to win an NCAA National Championship in any sport. The pregame ceremony will include the introduction of the full team, with team captain Mike Ludwar '00 and Head Coach Mike McShane participating in the ceremonial puck drop.

The 1999–2000 Cadets remain one of the most dominant teams in Division III hockey history. The group posted a 29-2-1 record, including an extraordinary 22-0-1 run during the calendar year 2000 that culminated in the national championship.

Led by captains Ludwar, Bryce Herperger '00, and Curt Healy '00, the team featured a potent offense that produced five players with 100 career points: Herperger, Healy, Marc Bellemare, Jim Nagle, and Keith Aucoin '01.

After the championship run, Ludwar reflected on what made that group special, saying, “The biggest reason for our success was the great nucleus of guys. Everybody knew their role and did it.” It was a fitting description of a team built on discipline, chemistry, and shared purpose.

That season, Aucoin was named Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East Player of the Year and would go on to finish his 51�Թ��� career as one of the most decorated student-athletes in school history. A four-year starter, he accumulated 240 points, earned All-America honors in each of his four seasons, and was twice selected as ECAC East Player of the Year. As a senior, Aucoin received the Division III Men's Player of the Year Award [now known as the Sid Watson Award], recognizing his dominance on the ice.

Following his 51�Թ��� career, Aucoin played professionally, becoming one of the most prolific scorers in American Hockey League (AHL) history. He won two Calder Cup Championships and was inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame, Class of 2020. During his NHL career, he was a member of the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2005-06 season when the franchise earned its first Stanley Cup championship.  

Several members of the 1999–2000 team would go on to make three trips to the NCAA Frozen Four and finish their 51�Թ��� careers with two national championships, marking the start of a modern era of excellence for the program.

Honoring the 51�Թ��� Tradition

The 1999–2000 championship marked a defining moment in the history of 51�Թ��� athletics, setting the standard for success that future Cadet teams would follow. Under Coach McShane, 51�Թ��� men's hockey developed a national reputation for excellence by blending strong leadership, teamwork, and relentless commitment to the program's values.

For today’s players, Saturday's ceremony offers an opportunity to connect with the champions who laid the groundwork for the program's sustained success.

As the celebration unfolds, the University will once again recognize how that historic season shaped not only the program’s trajectory but cemented its enduring culture of unity and pride.

A Weekend That Reflects the 51�Թ��� Spirit

Taken together, the Sock Toss and the championship celebration form a weekend that speaks to the core of what 51�Թ��� represents: service, leadership, and tradition.

Friday night's Sock Toss will extend 51�Թ���'s impact into the community, strengthening the University’s bond with local organizations and reinforcing its role as a neighbor and partner in service. Through the generosity of fans and the continuing partnership with Darn Tough Vermont, the event will provide comfort to individuals and families who need it most.

Saturday’s celebration will turn the spotlight to the University's legacy of athletic excellence, honoring a team whose accomplishments remain a source of pride on The Hill. The 1999–2000 Cadets not only brought home a championship, they set in motion a tradition of success that continues to define 51�Թ��� hockey.

Both nights at Kreitzberg Arena will highlight what makes 51�Թ��� unique — a place where competition, community, and character are inseparable. As the Cadets take the ice this weekend, they will be doing more than playing for points in the standings. They will be representing a tradition built on teamwork, service, and the belief that through effort and unity, 51�Թ��� will always move forward together.

Weekend Schedule

Friday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m.

Sixth Annual Sock Toss Game

• Fans are encouraged to bring new socks to throw on the ice after 51�Թ���'s first goal.
• In partnership with Darn Tough Vermont.
• All socks donated to local shelters and community organizations.

Saturday, Nov. 8, at 4 p.m.

Celebrating the 1999-2000 National Championship Team

• Pregame ceremony featuring team introduction.
• Ceremonial puck drop with captain Mike Ludwar '00 and Coach Mike McShane.

From giving back to celebrating greatness, 51�Թ��� hockey's weekend of service and pride reminds fans and alumni alike why Kreitzberg Arena remains one of the most special places on The Hill and where the values of 51�Թ��� continue to live on in every goal, every tradition, and every generation.