The Hobart College hockey team opens the 2013-14 season tonight at The Cooler. The Statesmen, who are ranked No. 9 in USCHO.com's preseason poll and No. 11 by D3hockey.com, host conference foe Manhattanville at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Hobart hosts Neumann for another ECAC West game at 7 p.m. The Knights are ranked No. 14 by USCHO.com and No. 10 by D3hockey.com.

Hobart finished the 2012-13 season with a 19-5-2 overall record and an 11-3-1 mark in the ECAC West, earning a share of the conference regular season title. The Statesmen finished the year seventh in the nation with a .769 winning percentage. Hobart also ranked fifth in scoring defense allowing 1.85 goals per game and 10th in scoring offense averaging 3.85 goals per game. The Statesmen graduated 10 members of the Class of 2013, which included three All-Americans.

"All 10 seniors that graduated played a role in the success of the program, certainly the loss of an All-American level player at forward, defense and goalie means you have some holes to fill, but we have been in this place before," said Head Coach Mark Taylor. "Returners will rise and incoming players will have opportunities to impact the program. That will be our challenge, the loss of a very good graduating class, in our pursuit of winning as many games as possible, winning a conference championship, earning our way into the NCAA tournament and pursing an NCAA championship."

Coach Taylor enters his 14th year at the helm of the Hobart hockey program with a record of 194-121-32. His 2013-14 roster features 21 returners and 12 new faces.

FORWARD

Senior captain Tommy Fiorentino will be a leader for Hobart on the offensive end. He played in 25 games last year and notched 16 points on seven goals and nine assists. The Statesmen return a group of sophomore forwards who are eager to build on solid rookie seasons. Mac Olson ranked second on the team last year with 22 points on eight goals and 14 assists. His efforts earned him the title of ECAC West Rookie of the Year. Classmates Ben Gamache and Bo Webster were also immediate contributors for the Statesmen. Webster produced five goals and 10 assists and Gamache chipped in eight goals and six helpers. Sophomore Alex Quinn is also back after playing in three games last year.

Junior Tommaso Traversa played in 24 games last winter and logged seven goals and 13 assists. Classmates Robert Sovik and Brad McBride will also be scoring threats for the Statesmen. McBride is Hobart's top returning goal scorer with nine last year. He added seven assists for 16 points. Sovik dished out 10 assists and added three goals. Junior Brendan Fitzgerald played in 11 games. He had a goal and an assist. Classmate Peter Quigley and Sean Ruday are also back. Quigley played in four games last winter and Rudy played in two games, earning an assist before being sidelined by an injury.

Seniors Tom Rush, Keith Clarke and Brett Riley bring more experience and leadership at forward. Clarke played in 11 games, notching three goals and three assists, while Riley played in nine games and earned two assists. Rush played in five games last season.

First-years Tyler Hanzlik, Nick Bingaman, Dylan Carter and Bobby Sokol have the ability to step in immediately and contribute at forward for Hobart.

DEFENSE

The Statesmen return a solid core of defensemen for 2013-14. Alternate captains, juniors Bronson Kovacs, Terrence O'Neill and Peter Ryan as well as junior and 2012-13 All-ECAC West selection, Ryan Michel will anchor the Hobart defense.

Kovcas played in 25 games last year. He recorded six goals and four assists and finished the year tied for fifth in the ECAC West with four power-play goals and tied for 15th in defensemen scoring. O'Neill also played in 25 games. He produced three goals and 13 assists and finished tied for sixth in the league in defensemen scoring. Ryan saw time in 14 games and earned an assist. Michel played in 20 games. He ranked second on the team with 16 assists. Michel was fourth in the ECAC West in defensemen scoring, tied for ninth in assists, tied for eighth in power-play points (10) and tied for 23rd in points.

Juniors Ian Coleman and Mike Malady also return. Coleman played in four games last winter and Malady saw time in three. Hobart brings in a talented group of five first-year defenseman in Jon Neal, Connor Simon, Michael Russo, Mitch Beyer and Carl Belizario.

GOALTENDING

This year Hobart will see a new starter in goal. Sophomore Lino Chimienti and first-year Tim Keegan are fighting for the starting spot. Chimienti played in three games in 2012-13. He made a total of 33 saves, 28 of those came in his first collegiate win in goal, a 6-3 victory at Elmira.

SCHEDULE

After hosting Manhattanville and Neumann, the Statesmen will travel to take on Nazareth and No. 6/3 Utica in another weekend of ECAC West contests. To open the new year, Hobart will play in the 2014 Cardinal Classic in Plattsburgh, N.Y. The Statesmen's first game of the tournament will be against No. 15 Williams on Jan. 3at 4 p.m., with the championship and consolation games taking place the next day. The Statesmen schedule also includes games against Geneseo and New England College who are receiving votes in the USCHO.com preseason poll.