The Hobart College hockey team remained No. 12 in the nation in the USCHO.com poll and at No. 11 in this week's D3hockey.com poll. The Statesmen round out the regular season with NEHC games at No. 11/12 Norwich on Friday, Feb. 9 and at Castleton on Saturday, Feb. 10.
The Statesmen bring a 13-5-5 overall record and a 10-3-3 mark in conference play into the final weekend of the regular season. Hobart and Norwich are tied to lead the NEHC in scoring defense, allowing an average of 1.87 goals per game. The Statesmen also rank second in the conference in scoring offense, scoring an average of 3.65 goals per game. Norwich sits in first place in the NEHC standings, four points ahead of second place Hobart.
Junior
Jonas Toupal has a team-high 23 points on 13 goals and 10 assists. He ranks fourth in the league in goals and fifth in points. Sophomore
Lawson MacDougall has recorded two goals and a team-high 16 assists for 18 points. MacDougall is fourth in the NEHC in assists. Senior
Frank Oplinger and sophomore
Alexander Connal have split time in goal. Oplinger is sporting a 2.08 goals against average, a .917 save percentage and a 5-2-3 record, while Connal has a 1.68 goals against average, a .931 save percentage and an 8-3-2 record. Connal leads the NEHC in goals against average and win percentage (.692). Oplinger is third in the league in goals against average.
The Cadets are 17-5-1 overall and 13-2-1 in NEHC play. Coby Downs leads the team with nine goals and nine assists for 18 points. Braeden Ostepchuk is sporting a 1.82 goals against average, a .931 save percentage and an 11-5-1 record. He leads the NEHC in save percentage and ranks second in goals against average and win percentage (.676).
Castleton is 7-13-3 this season and 3-12-1 in conference action. The Spartans host Skidmore on Friday night before taking on the Statesmen. Caleb Fizer leads the team with 16 points on six goals and 10 assists. Glenn Wiswell has a team-high seven goals and five assists for 12 points. Ryan Mulder has played the most minutes in goal. He has a 3.19 goals against average, a .890 save percentage and a 6-6-3 record.
Fans unable to make it to the games can follow the action online with Live Stats and Video on Norwich and Castleton's athletics websites.
