Three Hobart hockey players were named to the 2026 Academic All-America® Men's At-Large NCAA Division III teams, selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC), which were announced today. Senior forward Kahlil Fontana and junior defenseman Conor Lally earned first-team honors, while senior goaltender Damon Beaver was named to the second team
 
The trio played a key role in one of the most dominant eras in college hockey. Fontana and Beaver helped the Statesmen compile a 116-6-2 (.944) record over the past four seasons, reaching four consecutive national championship games and winning NCAA titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Hobart also captured four straight conference championships. During Lally's three seasons, the Statesmen have gone 87-4-2, winning two national titles and three conference crowns.
 
Fontana graduated in May with a degree in business management and entrepreneurship. Named the 2026 SUNYAC Men's Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Fontana is a three-time AHCA All-American Scholar and three-time conference all-academic selection. Fontana earned CSC Academic All-District honors following both his junior and senior seasons.
 
On the ice, Fontana scored a team-high 21 goals this season, adding 21 assists for 42 points. He matched the Hobart game record, scoring a career-high four goals in a win over Skidmore this year. Fontana was a 2026 first team All-American and a finalist for the Sid Watson Award, presented to the national player of the year.
 
Fontana played in 116 career games at Hobart, producing 42 goals and 46 assists for 88 points. He scored the game-winning goal in the 2025 national championship game and was the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
 
Lally is an economics major. His resume includes back-to-back conference all-academic awards and 2026 CSC Academic All-District honors.
 
A first team All-American, Lally was third on the team in points with 39 on 14 goals and 25 assists this season. He recorded a season-high three points in a game six times, including three games with three assists. In 31 games this season, Lally and his teammates allowed just 30 goals, leading the nation in scoring defense (0.97). The SUNYAC Defensive Player of the Year anchored a penalty killing unit that ranked fourth in the nation (.906).
 
In three seasons, Lally has played in 90 games, contributing 20 goals and 55 assists for 75 points.
 
Beaver graduated in May with a degree in psychological science. He was a three-time conference all-academic selection and a 2026 CSC Academic All-District honoree.
 
The 2026 Sid Watson Award winner, Beaver was 20-1-0 this season with a 0.99 GAA, a .951 save percentage and seven shutouts. He led the nation in winning percentage, GAA, save percentage and shutouts. Beaver made 30 saves in the SUNYAC Championship game, earning the tournament's MVP award. His lengthy list of accolades also included the Herb Hammond SUNYAC Player of the Year and SUNYAC Goaltender of the Year awards.
 
Across 79 career games, Beaver compiled a record of 73-5-1 with a 1.02 GAA, a .955 save percentage, and 26 shutouts. He holds the Division III record for career shutouts and the Hobart career marks for wins and save percentage. A two-time All-American, Beaver was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team three times, taking home the Most Outstanding Player award in 2023.
 
This is the second time since 2023 that Hobart hockey has placed three players on the Academic All-America teams (2023: Luke Aquaro '25 and Cooper Swift '25 1st team, Jonah Alexander '24 3rd team). Since Matt Garman '06 became Hobart hockey's first Academic All-American in 2006, Statesmen have earned the award 12 times, including 10 since 2023.
 
Hobart and William Smith student-athletes have collected 81 Academic All-America awards since Shawn Fazio '81 became the first in 1979 (baseball).
 
One of the most highly selective academic awards in college sports, CSC sponsors Academic All-America programs for men's soccer, women's soccer, football, women's volleyball, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's swimming & diving, women's swimming & diving, men's tennis, women's tennis, baseball, softball, men's track and field/cross country and women's track and field/cross country. All other championship sports are eligible through the At-Large program.
 
To be nominated for Academic All-America honors, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, be at least a sophomore academically and athletically and be a starter or significant reserve. CSC member institutions can nominate up to six student-athletes for at-large consideration.