The top-ranked Hobart hockey team will be back in action this weekend when it takes on seventh-ranked Utica in a home-and-home series in a rematch of last March's national championship game. The Statesmen travel to Utica on Thursday, Nov. 6, for a 7 p.m. faceoff at the Adirondack Bank Center. Two days later, the teams will meet at The Cooler at 4 p.m.
 
The former ECAC West rivals last met on March 30, at the Utica University Nexus Center. The Statesmen defeated the Pioneers 2-1 in overtime. Kahlil Fontana scored with 1:38 left in overtime to help Hobart claim the national championship.

This season, Hobart is 2-0-0 after sweeping Elmira over the weekend. The Statesmen outscored the Soaring Eagles 9-1 in the two games.
 
Utica enters the weekend with a record of 0-2-0. The Pioneers were swept by then No. 10 Adrian last weekend.
 
Tickets for tomorrow's game at the Adirondack Bank Center can be purchased online or at the door. Tickets for regular season contests at The Cooler cost $5 and will go on sale 60 minutes before opening faceoff. Children 12 and under are free as are HWS students, faculty and staff who present a valid HWS One Card.   
 
MEDIA COVERAGE

• Live Stats / Video (Thursday)
• Live Stats / Video (Saturday)

 
ABOUT THE STATESMEN

• Sophomores Tamas Toth (1g, 2a) and Arvega Hovsepyan (3a) share the team lead after recording three points each last weekend.
• Senior Kahlil Fontana leads the team with two goals. 
• A total of 16 Statesmen recorded a point on opening weekend.
• Senior Damon Beaver and Mavrick Goyer each started one game in goal against Elmira. Goyer recorded a 19-save shutout on Saturday.

  
ABOUT THE PIONEERS

• Gabriel Lundberg leads Utica with two goals.
• Sal Cerrato and Davis Goukler each have two assists on the season.
• Kyle Curtin and Frank Murphy both started one game last weekend. Curtin made 26 saves on Friday night, and Murphy made 24 stops in his collegiate debut against Adrian.

SERIES HISTORY

• This weekend will be the 50th and 51st meeting between the Statesmen and the Pioneers.
• Hobart leads the all-time series 25-19-5. The Statesmen are 13-8-3 at home and 11-11-2 in Utica.
• Hobart and Utica have met on championship weekend in each of the last two seasons. In 2024 Hobart won 3-1 in a semifinal contest in Hartford, Connecticut.