The Hobart College hockey team will host two ECAC West games against Neumann in The Cooler this weekend. The battle for first place in the conference begins tonight with the opening faceoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.  The teams will then meet again on Saturday, Jan. 31, also at 7:30 p.m.
 
Currently the Knights sit in first in the ECAC West with 11 points. Neumann is 5-2-1 in conference play. The Statesmen (12-6-0, 5-3-0) are right behind them with 10 points. Nazareth is tied for second place with 10 points.
 
The Statesmen, who topped Neumann earlier this season 6-3 in Aston, Pa., lead the league in scoring offense averaging 4.17 goals per game. Junior forward Bo Webster has posted a team-high 20 points on six goals and 14 assists. Senior forward Brad McBride has registered a team-high 11 goals and added six assists for 17 points. Junior forward Mac Olson has also chipped in 17 points on eight goals and nine assists.
 
Junior Lino Chimienti and first-year Frank Oplinger have split time in goal. Chimienti has a 6-4-0 record, a 3.12 goals against average and a .904 save percentage. Oplinger is sporting a 2.72 goals against average and a .916 save percentage to go along with a 5-2-0 record.
 
Neumann brings a 9-5-4 overall record into tonight's game. The Knights are coming off a weekend where they downed Utica 9-0 last Friday and then tied the Pioneers 5-5 on Saturday. Neumann leads the league in scoring defense, allowing an average of 2.28 goals per game. Shayne Morrissey leads the team with 18 points on six goals and 12 assists. Ryan Luiten has produced five goals and seven assists for 12 points. Jory Mullin has notched a team-high seven goals and added three assists for 10 points. Ben Curley has played the majority of minutes in goal, posting an 8-5-3 record. He has recorded a 2.19 goals against average and a .924 save percentage.
 
Fans unable to make it to The Cooler can follow along online with Live Stats, Radio and All-Access Video.