Malinoski Hat Trick Leads #7 Providence Past Vermont Saturday

Hudson Malinoski scored three goals to power the Friars to a 5-3 victory over the Catamounts in Hockey East play.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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In a Hockey East matchup at Gutterson Fieldhouse, No. 7 Providence defeated Vermont 5-3 on Saturday night. Hudson Malinoski led the way for the Friars with a hat trick, scoring three goals in the game. Vermont fought back from an early 3-0 deficit to make it a one-goal game, but Malinoski's third goal proved to be the difference as Providence held on for the victory.

Why it matters

This was an important conference win for Providence, who remains ranked in the top 10 nationally. For Vermont, the loss was disappointing, but the Catamounts showed fight in battling back against one of the better teams in Hockey East.

The details

Providence opened the scoring 6:42 into the first period when Kale McCallum found Malinoski for a tap-in goal. Malinoski then scored twice more in the first to give the Friars a 3-0 lead. Vermont responded with goals from Daniel Sambuco and Blake Steenerson to make it 3-2, but Malinoski completed his hat trick to restore Providence's two-goal advantage. Roger McQueen and Thomas Sinclair scored late goals, but the Friars held on for the 5-3 win.

  • Providence scored the opening goal 6:42 into the first period.
  • Malinoski scored his second and third goals of the game in the first period, with the second coming 3:02 after the first.
  • Sambuco scored for Vermont 62 seconds after Mustard's goal to make it 3-1.
  • Steenerson scored for Vermont 8:17 into the second period to make it 3-2.
  • Malinoski scored his third goal of the game with 7:50 left in the second period.

The players

Hudson Malinoski

A Providence forward who scored a hat trick in the game, netting three goals to lead the Friars to victory.

Steve Wiedler

The head coach of the Vermont Catamounts, who praised his team's fight in battling back against a top-ranked opponent.

Daniel Sambuco

A Vermont player who scored one of the Catamounts' three goals in the game.

Blake Steenerson

A Vermont player who scored one of the Catamounts' three goals in the game.

Thomas Sinclair

A Vermont player who scored one of the Catamounts' three goals and also recorded an assist in the game.

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What they’re saying

“The hardest thing in life is knowing you're on the right path when you're not getting results.”

— Steve Wiedler, Head Coach (newenglandnewspress.com)

What’s next

The Catamounts will travel to Merrimack for a two-game series on February 27th and 28th, while Providence will look to build on this win in their next game.

The takeaway

This game showcased the talent and resilience of both teams, with Providence's offensive firepower proving to be the difference against a Vermont squad that refused to quit. The Catamounts' ability to battle back from a large deficit is a positive sign for their future, even in defeat.