The fourth-ranked Hobart College hockey team will host 13th-ranked Nichols College in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Tournament on Wed., March 11, at 7 p.m. Tickets will cost $5 for general admission, and $3 for students with a valid ID. Hobart and William Smith students will get in free, courtesy of the student governments.

Advance sale tickets will be available in Bristol Gym Room 205 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Tues., March 10, and 10 a.m.-noon on Wed., March 11. Credit card orders can be made by calling (315) 781-3077 during sale hours. Only 900 tickets will be sold.

The Statesmen received an at-large bid into the 11-team NCAA tournament after finishing second in the ECAC West Tournament. Hobart carries a 19-6-2 overall mark into its fourth NCAA appearance. This is the first time the Statesmen and Bison will meet since the 1982-83 season, when Hobart prevailed 14-0.

Junior forward Nick DeCroo (Sarver, Pa.) paces Hobart's offense with 29 points, including an ECAC West-high 20 goals, while classmate Bobby Cahill (Farmington Hills, Mich.) has also posted 29 points (9 goals-20 assists). Senior goaltender Keith Longo (Milford, Mass.) has been solid in net for the Statesmen, posting a 16-6-2 record with a .934 save percentage and a 2.27 goals against average. He ranks fourth in the nation in save percentage and 18th in goals against average. Longo is just 13 saves shy of tying the Hobart season record (795).

Nichols earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, defeating Wentworth 4-3 in the ECAC Northeast Tournament Championship on Saturday. The Bison (25-3-0) have posted a program-best 25 wins this winter, including a 16-1-0 mark in league play. Nichols senior Ryan Gervais leads the offense with 38 points (13-25), while sophomore Will Munson is close behind with 36 points (16-20). In goal, senior Keith Fink (12-1-0, .893 Sv%, 2.49 GAA, 2 SO) and first-year Jacob Rinn (9-1-0, .925 Sv%, 1.90 GAA, 1 SO) have split time. Rinn ranks seventh in Division III in goals against average, and 11th in save percentage.

Fans unable to make it to The Cooler on Wednesday can listen to the game live on WEOS-FM (89.7) or follow along online with live stats.