The Vermont Coyotes are off to a 2-0 start and are already making waves in the national power rankings during their first season in American Basketball Association action.
Saturday’s 123-81 victory over the New Hampshire Kings kept the Barre-based franchise undefeated entering a busy stretch ahead. Vermont’s Malcolm Moye contributed 31 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Teammate Dylan Hunter added 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and three blocks after scoring 43 points in the team’s season-opening 125-103 victory against the Boston Sharks.
Lyndonville native Trevor Brink has also stepped up for the Coyotes, who will host the Long Island Strong Arm Ballers on Saturday before welcoming the Bridgeport Kings on Sunday.
“It’s a great opportunity to play in front of friends and family again,” Brink said. “The Vermont Coyotes have put together a great group of guys. We are unselfish: We want to see each other succeed. Putting on that jersey is about more than just basketball: It’s about what it means to be a professional athlete, to compete for fans and the community of Barre and Vermont as a whole.”
Coyotes assistant Coach Joe Ulrich has had a hand in building the team since recruiting the first player. He also helped prepare the starting roster for their first two games.
“We set out a plan to recruit high-character players that would make the community proud,” Ulrich said. “It was a priority of ours to make sure that families could come and enjoy the games and have players that people could look up to. We are so excited to have everyone come out to the Aud and watch high-level basketball with local Vermont players and talented recruits.
The Coyotes continue to recruit locally and nationally and are 15th out of over 100 teams in the ABA power rankings. Vermont’s roster includes Jackson McCoy, who played for U-32 High School before competing for the University of New England. Brink is a 6-foot guard who played for Vermont Academy and Hartwick College.
South Burlington’s Calder Horowitz-McCadden competed for CVU, Central Maine Community College and VTSU-Lyndon. Colchester’s Liam Walsh is a 6-foot-5, 225-pound forward who was a standout for Stowe High School.
Barre’s Jaren Jeffcoat is a 6-foot-3, 225-pound point guard who played NCAA basketball for Norwich University, where he was a 1,000-point scorer. Morrisville’s Brendan Corriveau is a 6-foot, 210-pound guard who excelled for both Burlington High School and VTSU-Lyndon. Fayston’s Will Ewald is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound forward who was a captain at Harwood High School when the Highlanders advanced to the Barre Aud in 2012.
