By Warren Kozireski —
The Hobart Statesmen are attempting to develop into simply the fourth program in Division III historical past to win three consecutive nationwide championships after they gained the primary two at school historical past in 2023 and 2024.
Picked within the preseason ballot as #1 within the nation, all they’ve completed since is stay atop that USCHO ballot all season with only one loss and one tie.
The loss got here after working out to a 17-0-0 report to Albertus Magnus in time beyond regulation on Jan. 31. The tie was within the remaining recreation of the common season 0-0 at Babson.
“They know what they’re making an attempt to show; the objective is to continuously get higher,” head coach Mark Taylor mentioned after their first-round playoff victory over Albertus Magnus. “We have now a powerful custom right here of alums which can be behind us and for us and guys take quite a lot of satisfaction in making an attempt to boost the banner a notch greater. That’s how we do it.
“We additionally belief the method and actually respect the sport of hockey. The secret is you must convey it each single night time irrespective of who you’re enjoying and regardless of the rating is.”
Hobart unsurprisingly dominated the New England Hockey Convention (NEHC) successful their fourth consecutive common season title and virtually swept the postseason awards with Participant of the Yr Tanner Daniels, Goaltender of the Yr Damon Beaver and now four-time Coach of the Yr Mark Taylor in addition to taking on 4 of the six slots on the All-Convention First Crew.
Daniels led the league in factors with 13 targets and 15 assists in league play. His 13 targets ranked first within the league whereas his 15 assists ranked tied for third in NEHC motion. Solely 4 of his 13 tallies have been powerplay targets. Daniels additionally led the league with a formidable +26 plus/minus score.
Beaver completed with a 9-1-0 report and led the league in save proportion (.948). General, the junior netminder led all Division III goaltenders with a .955 save proportion and completed second nationally in targets towards common (1.08). Beaver completed the common season with a 12-1-0 report and 6 shutouts, serving to lead the Statesmen to the perfect scoring protection within the nation. He’s tied for fourth in NCAA historical past with 19 profession shutouts.
Moreover Daniels and Beaver, senior ahead Luke Aquaro and graduate scholar defenseman Austin Mourar have been First Crew choices, senior defenseman Cooper Swift was placed on the Second Crew whereas senior ahead Shane Shell and sophomore defenseman Bauer Morrissey (Skaneateles) and Conor Lally have been Third Crew picks.
Add that the playoff victory March 1 marked the Statemen’s 50 consecutive victory at The Cooler in Geneva.
“I really like the followers right here. We don’t have 8,000 individuals right here, however now we have individuals right here when it’s fairly chilly and other people right here when it was freezing in right here when it had no sides on it. They maintain us and we need to care of them. 50 means rather a lot as a result of they have been right here within the fourth time beyond regulation when the scholars have been on break. The 50 is for them.”
Hobart defeated Adrian in time beyond regulation to win the 2023 nationwide championship and shut out Trinity in 2024. It doesn’t matter what occurs this coming weekend within the NEHC semi-finals and finals, they’ll obtain a bid to the NCAA match making an attempt to hitch Wisconsin-Stevens Pont (1989, 1990, 1991) and Middlebury twice (1995-99, 5 years and 2004, 2004, 2006) to win three consecutive titles.
(Photograph by Koz, NY Hockey OnLine)
