Vermont

Goal barrage highlights the 2025 Rotary All Star Classic at Essex

Published

12 months ago

March 23, 2025

Goal barrage highlights the 2025 Rotary All Star Classic at Essex

A combined 18 goals were scored over two games during the 39th Rotary All Star Classic at Essex Skating Facility on Saturday.

Harris swept both matchups, with the girls winning 7-3 followed by a 5-3 result in the boys contest featuring the state’s top high school hockey players from this year’s senior class.

Laine Thayer of Spaulding was the team MVP for the Harris girls squad; Rice’s Finley Strong earned top honors for the Austin girls.

The MVPs on the boys side were Tyler Russo of Rice (Harris) and South Burlington’s Lucas Van Mullen (Austin).

Game details from Saturday’s doubleheader:

Girls game: Harris 7, Austin 3

Harris: Taylor Senecal 3G, 1A. Laine Thayer 2G. Ellie Parker 1G, 2A. Addie Parent 1G, 1A. Erin Jackson 10 saves, Riley Quesnel 8 saves.

Austin: Meghan Rivard 1G. Annabelle Lekstutis 1G. Rebecca Penney 1G. Holley MacLellan 1A. Lindsay Boyden 1A. Finley Strong 1A. Cassidy Skoda 1A. Leah Boyd 13 saves, Ruby Hubbell 14 saves.

Note: Austin built a 3-1 with 3:38 left in the first period before Harris fired in six unanswered goals starting with Thayer’s tally with five seconds left in the opening frame. Senecal leveled the score in the first minute of the second period and Parker tallied the go-ahead goal at 8:49.

Boys game: Harris 5, Austin 3

Harris: Tyler Russo 2G. AJ Dennett 1G, 1A. Owen McGunnigle 1G. Shyam Meyette 1G. Sayre Fisher 1A. Brendan Patterson 1A. Nolan Morlock 1A. Sam Collins 13 saves, Torren Burt 15 saves.

Austin: Carson Lewis 1G. Lucas Van Mullen 1G. Carel Paquin 1G. Maddox Heise 2A. Alex Dick 1A. Carel Paquin 1A. Phoenix Wells 9 saves, Owen Cheney 5 saves, Noah Bruttomesso 7 saves.

Note: Russo scored the first of two unassisted goals for a 3-1 lead at 10:13 of the second period. Harris extended its margin to 5-1 on Russo’s second tally midway through the third.

Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.

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Vermont

Girls Vermont Varsity Insider Athlete of the Week winner powered by Delta Dental

Published

59 minutes ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

Girls Vermont Varsity Insider Athlete of the Week winner powered by Delta Dental

The votes have been tallied and the girls winner of the Vermont Varsity Insider Athlete of the Week powered by Delta Dental is … Callie Spaulding of Windsor basketball.

Spaulding collected 51.55% of the 43,310 total votes cast in the girls contest. The junior was nominated after helping Windsor advance to the Division III semifinals for the 10th consecutive year with double-digit outings in a pair of playoff contests. Spaulding chipped in 10 points and three assists during the playdowns and was one of four Yellow Jackets to score double digits (11 points) in their quarterfinal victory over Enosburg.

The online voting at burlingtonfreepress.com began Monday, March 2, and closed at 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 5.

Check burlingtonfreepress.com for the next ballot, which will be published on Monday, March 9.

Delta Dental Girls Athlete of the Week winners in 2025-26 school year

Winter season

Feb. 23-March 1: Callie Spaulding, Windsor basketball

Feb. 16-22: Lydia Ruggles, St. Johnsbury gymnastics

Feb. 9-15: Mae Oakley, Burr and Burton, Alpine skiing

Feb. 2-8: Chloe Moodie, Peoples basketball

Jan. 26-Feb. 1: Marlie Bushey, Milton basketball

Jan. 19-25: Brinley Gandin, Rutland basketball

Jan. 12-18: Grace Bourn, Rivendell basketball

Jan. 5-11: Patricia Stabach, Stowe indoor track and field

Dec. 29-Jan. 4: Hannah Drury, U-32 hockey

Dec. 22-28: Brooke Osgood, Oxbow basketball

Dec. 15-21: Kayla Cisse, South Burlington basketball

Dec. 12-14: Harlow Hier, Colchester basketball

Fall season

Oct. 27-Nov. 2: Eme Silverman, Poultney soccer

Oct. 20-26: Veronica Moore, Bellows Falls field hockey

Oct. 13-19: Ava Francis, Vergennes soccer

Oct. 6-12: Savannah Monahan, Milton soccer

Sept. 29-Oct. 5: Rachel Scherer, North Country soccer

Sept. 22-28: Trista Favreau-Ward, Missisquoi field hockey

Sept. 15-21: Reese Gregory, Essex volleyball

Sept. 8-14: Isabelle Gouin, Hazen soccer

Aug. 29-Sept. 7: Avery Hansen, Lake Region soccer

Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.

Contact Judith Altneu at JAltneu@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.

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Vermont

Friends, family rally behind Vermont veteran charged with domestic terrorism

Published

13 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

Friends, family rally behind Vermont veteran charged with domestic terrorism

NEWPORT, Vt. (WCAX) – Friends and family of a Vermont veteran charged with domestic terrorism rallied in Newport Thursday, saying the charges stem from a mental health crisis and are unwarranted.

Vermont State Police say Joseph “J.J.” Millett, 38, of Newport, called a veterans crisis line in February, making suicidal statements and threatening a mass-casualty event.

Court records say Millett had guns and wrote what investigators call a manifesto. He turned himself in, and state police say they disarmed him at the barracks. He pleaded not guilty and was never formally arrested or placed in jail. He is currently in a treatment facility.

Supporters say the threats were the result of new medication and a mental health crisis. “But all the way to domestic terrorism for a man that fought overseas — he wasn’t a terrorist. He’s been fighting terrorists half his life,” said Chad Abbott, a friend who served with Millett overseas.

Abbott said he believes the charges could have unintended consequences for veterans seeking help. “These hotlines that they put out for us is to kind of get us the help we need. And now, none of us are going to want to call that,” he said.

Millett’s sister, Courtney Morin, said her brother served in the Vermont Guard for nearly 10 years and has struggled with mental health since returning home. “He suffers from depression, anxiety — he has PTSD. So, he’s actually been seeking help for his mental health for probably as long as he’s been home,” Morin said.

Orleans County State’s Attorney Farzana Leyva said the charge is warranted and that Millett was not calling for help when he contacted the crisis line. “He called the crisis helpline to make the threats. I think we have to be very clear about that. Those were threats. He did not call the crisis helpline for help. He called anonymously,” Leyva said.

She said the evidence — including repeated threats — Millett’s access to guns, and a manifesto justifies the charge and protects the public. “My priority is public safety, which is the highest priority that I have right now,” Leyva said.

Morin said she believes her brother was trying to get help. “I think he was seeking help. I mean, it’s all a trail of him seeking help, being on different meds. You know, we’re not in his head. We don’t know what he’s dealing with. And especially if you’re dealing with it alone,” Morin said.

Millett continues to receive treatment and is due back in court later this month.

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Vermont

Vermont high school playoff scores, results, stats for Thursday, March 5

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Vermont high school playoff scores, results, stats for Thursday, March 5

The 2025-2026 Vermont high school winter season has begun. See below for scores, schedules and game details (statistical leaders, game notes) from basketball, hockey, gymnastics, wrestling, Nordic/Alpine skiing and other winter sports.

TO REPORT SCORES

Coaches or team representatives are asked to report results ASAP after games by emailing sports@burlingtonfreepress.com. Please submit with a name/contact number.

▶ Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.

▶ Contact Judith Altneu at JAltneu@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.