The top-ranked Hobart hockey team returns to The Cooler this weekend, Feb. 9-10, to conclude the regular season. On Friday night, the Statesmen will host Vermont State Castleton University at 7 p.m. The next day, Hobart will take on 13th-ranked Skidmore at 4 p.m. This weekend is also Hobart Hockey's alumni weekend.
The Statesmen own a 20-2-1 overall record with a 14-1-1 mark in league play. Hobart wrapped up the regular season crown with two wins last weekend and a Skidmore loss to Southern Maine. The Statesmen have 43 points in the league standings. Hobart has won six in a row and is unbeaten its last 17 outings (16-0-1). Most recently the Statesmen skated to a 6-1 win at UMass Boston
The Spartans are 7-16-0 overall with a 4-12-0 record in conference play. Castleton is 8th in the NEHC with 12 points. The Spartans have lost six straight games but can clinch the final playoff spot with two points or a Johnson and Wales loss this weekend.
The Thoroughbreds enter the weekend at 16-5-2 overall and 11-4-1 in league play. Skidmore is second in the NEHC with 34 points. The Thoroughbreds can finish anywhere from second to fourth in the league standings depending on results this weekend. Skidmore will be at fifth-ranked Elmira on Friday night.
COVERAGE
ABOUT THE STATESMEN
- Tanner Hartman leads Hobart with 20 assists and 34 points.
- He is tied with Ignat Belov for the team lead with 14 goals. Belov is second on the team with 31 points.
- Damon Beaver and Mavrick Goyer have split time in goal for the Statesmen. Beaver is 11-1-0 with a 0.99 GAA and a .961 save percentage. Goyer is 8-1-0 with a 0.67 GAA and a .958 save percentage.
NATIONAL NUMBERS
- Hobart enters the weekend ranked first in the nation in scoring offense (5.39), scoring defense (0.87), scoring margin (+4.52), winning percentage (.891) and penalty-killing percentage (.986). Hobart is fourth in power play percentage (.292).
- Individually, Beaver and Goyer are ranked in the top three in the nation in GAA, save percentage, winning percentage and shutouts.
- Hartman is fourth in game-winning goals (4), fifth in points per game (1.48) and 11th in assists per game (0.87).
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
- Andrew Stefura leads Castleton with 15 goals and 25 points.
- Bryce Irwin leads the team with 15 assists and is second with 21 points.
- Dominic Rodrigue has played the majority of time in net for the Spartans. He is 4-9-0 with a 4.18 GAA and a .887 save percentage.
SERIES HISTORY
- Friday's game will be the 14th meeting between the Statesmen and the Spartans.
- Hobart leads the series 13-0-0, including a mark of 6-0-0 in Geneva.
- On Jan. 6, 2024, the Statesmen shutout the Spartans 12-0. Kahlil Fontana and Ignat Belov each recorded hat tricks. Jonah Alexander had four assists. Mavrick Goyer stopped all 11 shots he faced, recording the shutout.
ABOUT THE THOROUGHBREDS
- Skidmore is led by Kaeden Patrick. He has 12 goals and 23 points.
- Everett Wardle has a team-high 16 goals this season and is second with 22 points.
- Tate Brandon has played the majority of the time in net for the Thoroughbreds. He enters the weekend with a 16-3-2 record a GAA of 1.60 and a .940 save percentage.
SERIES HISTORY
- This Saturday will be the 25th meeting between the Statesmen and the Thoroughbreds.
- Hobart leads the all-time series 19-4-1, including a 11-2-0 advantage in Geneva.
- On Jan. 5, 2024, the Statesmen defeated the Thoroughbreds 5-3. Five different Statesmen scored while Conor Lally and Hartman had two assists each. Beaver made 21 saves.
