Three members of the top-ranked Hobart hockey team were named finalists for the 2025-26 Sid Watson Award. Seniors Damon Beaver and Kahlil Fontana and junior Conor Lally were among the seven finalists for this year's award, which is presented annually to the best NCAA Division II-III men's ice hockey player in the country. The American Hockey Coaches Association presents the award.
 
Five of this year's seven finalists were named their conference's player of the year, including Beaver, who was the SUNYAC's Herb Hamond Player of the Year and the Goaltender of the Year. Lally was tabbed the SUNYAC's Defensive Player of the Year. The recipient of this year's Sid Watson will be announced during this year's final four.
 
The Watson Award honors the memory of former Bowdoin College Head Coach and Athletic Director Sid Watson. A three-time AHCA Coach of the Year, Watson served Bowdoin for more than 30 years.
 
Hobart has had six finalists for the award in the last four seasons. Beaver, Fontana and Lally join Tanner Daniels (2025), Artem Buzoverya (2024), Luke Aquaro (2023) and Mac Olson (2016) as Hobart's previous finalists for the award. Daniels, Buzoverya and Aquaro were all runners-up for the award the year they were finalists. This is the first time since 2022-23 that a team has had multiple players recognized as finalists in the same season.
 
Beaver, who was also named the SUNYAC Tournament's Most Valuable Player, has played in 18 games this season. He is 18-0-0 with a staggering 0.89 GAA, a .956 save percentage and seven shutouts. Beaver is first in the nation in GAA, winning percentage, save percentage and shutouts. His 18 wins and seven shutouts match the program's single-season records. Beaver has made 20 or more saves eight times this season.
 
One of the best goalies in the country, Beaver is 71-4-1 for his career with a 1.00 GAA and a .956 save percentage. He holds the NCAA Division III Men's Hockey record for career shutouts (26) and holds Hobart's career record for wins, which are the sixth most on the NCAA Division III career list. He was named the 2023 NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player and has been on the NCAA All-Tournament team three times.
 
A shutdown defenseman, Lally plays on Hobart's top defensive pair and is a big part of the reason that the Statesmen have only allowed 25 goals in 28 games and rank first in the nation in scoring defense (0.89). He also plays a key role in the penalty-killing unit that is third in the nation (.910).  A true two-way player and assistant captain, Lally has played in all 28 games this season and has 35 points on 12 goals and 23 assists. He is 14th in the nation in assists per game (0.86) and 22nd in points per game (1.29). Lally also leads the Statesmen with a +45 rating.
 
Lally has played in 87 career games, tallying 18 goals, 54 assists and 72 points. He is a two-time all-conference selection.
 
A captain, Fontana has played in all 28 games this season. He leads the Statesmen with 20 goals and is second on the team with 40 points. A first team All-SUNYAC selection, Fontana enters the weekend ninth in the nation in goals per game (0.71) and game-winning goals (4). He is 13th in points per game (1.43) and 17th in power-play goals (6). Fontana is the 14th player in program history to record 20 goals in a season. He matched Hobart's single-game record with four goals against Skidmore.
 
The 2025 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Fontana has played in 113 career games, posting 41 goals 45 assists and 86 points. His biggest goal coming in overtime of last year's national championship game. He is fifth on Hobart's career games played list.
 
Hobart, which is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the USCHO.com Poll, will begin its quest for a fourth straight national title on Saturday, March 21, when it welcomes second-ranked St. Norbert to The Cooler. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for students with ID and $3 for children ages 3-11, children two and under get in free. HWS students, faculty and staff will be admitted free with a valid OneCard courtesy of HWS Athletics and the SAA. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Doors will open at 6 p.m.