The second-ranked Hobart College hockey team returns to the Cooler this weekend, Jan. 27-28, for two key New England Hockey Conference contests. The Statesmen will host UMass Boston Friday at 7 p.m. and Johnson and Wales University Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
The Statesmen enter the weekend with a 17-2-0 overall record and a 10-2-0 mark in NEHC play. Hobart is second in the conference standings with 30 points. The Statesmen are one point behind Norwich but have a game in hand on the Cadets. Hobart and Norwich have both already locked up a spot in the conference tournament. The Statesmen split games with Elmira last weekend with the home team winning both games.
 
The Beacons are 9-10-0 overall and are 6-6-0 in the NEHC. UMass Boston has won three straight games and is tied for fourth in the conference standings. The Wildcats are 2-16-1 overall with a 1-11-0 mark in conference games. They are 10th in the NEHC standings.
 
Fans who can't make the trip to The Cooler can follow the action with HWS All-Access and Live Stats. The game will be broadcast on WHWS-FM (105.7 in Geneva).
 
ABOUT THE STATESMEN

• Junior Jonah Alexander leads the team with 20 points and 12 assists.
• Sophomore Luke Aquaro leads the team with 10 goals and is second with 18 points.
• Seven other players join them in double digits in points.
• First-years Damon Beaver and Mavrick Goyer have split minutes in goal this season. Beaver is 9-2-0 with a nation's best 1.12 GAA and a .951 save percentage. He leads the nation with five shutouts. Goyer is 8-0-0 with a 1.21 GAA and a .939 save percentage.

 
ABOUT THE BEACONS

• Mike Manzo leads UMass Boston with 11 assists and 15 points.
• Evan Googins is the leading scorer with seven goals. He is second on the team with 12 points.
• Sam Best has played a majority of the minutes in goal. He is 7-7-0 with a 2.48 GAA and a .915 save percentage.

 
SERIES HISTORY

• Friday will be the 17th meeting between the Statesmen and Beacons.
• Hobart holds a 7-6-3 edge in the series, including a 3-2-2 mark at The Cooler.
• The Statesmen are unbeaten in their last seven games against UMass Boston, including a 3-0 win in Boston in November. Aquaro scored two goals in the victory.

 
ABOUT THE WILDCATS

• Brendan Shandley (7g, 4a) and Brendan Doyle (6g, 5a) share the team lead with 11 points each. Shandley's seven goals lead the team.
• Kodi Legassie leads the Wildcats with six assists.
• Jacob Perin has played most of the minutes in goal for Johnson & Wales. He is 2-15-1 with a 4.08 GAA and a .898 save percentage.