The fifth-ranked Hobart College hockey team will be back in action Jan. 1-2, when it travels to Middlebury, Vermont, for the 2022 Friends of Panther Hockey Classic. The Statesmen will open the tournament against Fitchburg State on New Year's Day. Faceoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Middlebury's Kenyon Arena.
 
The host, Middlebury, will take on St. Michael's at 1 p.m. The winners will advance to the championship game on Sunday, Jan. 2, at 5 p.m. The consolation game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
 
Due to COVID policies, spectators are not permitted at indoor Middlebury College Athletics events. Fans can follow all of the weekend's action with live video and statistics on athletics.middlebury.edu.
 
Hobart wrapped up 2021 with an 8-2-1 overall record. The Statesmen are 5-0-1 in New England Hockey Conference play and sit atop the conference standings. Hobart's offense was firing on all cylinders in the first half of the season. Through 11 games, the Statesmen lead the nation in scoring offense (5.64 gpg), assists (117) and points (179). Hobart is second in the nation in power-play percentage (.360) and scoring margin (+3.55). In addition, the Statesmen are 10th in winning percentage (.773), 13th in scoring defense (2.09) and 21st in penalty killing percentage (.870).
 
Hobart has relied on its depth this season with 28 players recording at least one point and six skaters hitting double figures. The Statesmen are led by Aaron Maguyon, Zach Tyson and Jonah Alexander who have 13 points each. Maguyon leads the team with nine goals. Cooper Swift has been the playmaker on the blue line for the Statesmen recording a team-best 12 assists. Liam Lascelle and Joe Halstrom have split time in goal this season. Lascelle is 4-1-0 with a 2.41 goals against average and a .897 save percentage. Halstrom is 3-1-1 overall with a 1.89 GAA and a .918 save percentage.
 
The Falcons bring a 6-4-0 overall record into the tournament. Fitchburg was defeated by New England College 5-2 on Dec. 7 to close out 2021. The Falcons are 10th in the nation in power-play percentage (.286) and 27th in scoring offense (3.40). Rece Bergman leads the team with 16 points on four goals and 12 assists. Hunter Fortin has a team-best seven goals. Brian McGrath has played a majority of the minutes in goal. He is 4-3-0 with a 2.43 GAA and a .936 save percentage. McGrath is 12th in the nation in save percentage.
 
The contest will be the fifth meeting all-time between Hobart and Fitchburg. The Falcons lead the all-time series 4-0-0. It will be the first meeting since 1982.
 
Middlebury is 0-2-0 to start the season. Both of the Panthers games in 2021 were one-goal games. They are fourth in the nation in power-play percentage. Middlebury is led by Antoine Belisle, who has assisted three of the Panthers' four goals this season. Four different players have scored a goal. Adam Wisco has played every minute in goal, posting a 3.08 GAA and a .887 save percentage.
 
Division II St. Michael's brings a 1-5-0 overall record into the tournament. The Purple Knights were edged by Castleton 4-2 to close out the 2021 portion of its schedule. Thomas Flack (1g, 3a), Sel Narby (1g, 3a) and Cameron Stewart (2g, 2a) share the team lead with four points each. Marshall Murphy and Hugo Turcotte have split time in goal this season. Murphy is 1-2-0 with a 3.38 GAA and a .890 save percentage. Turcotte is 0-3-0  with a 3.40 GAA and a .906 save percentage.