Article and graphic courtesy of Hobart Athletics Communication

GENEVA, N.Y.—The top-ranked Hobart hockey team defeated the University of Southern Maine 4-1 in a New England Hockey Conference semifinal game at The Cooler this evening.  With the win, the Statesmen are now 24-2-1 overall this season.
 
Junior Cooper Swift led the Statesmen with two assists. In total, 11 different skaters found their way onto the scoresheet. Sophomore Damon Beaver played all 60 minutes in goal and made 21 saves as he picked up his 14th win of the season. He also had an assist.
 
Mason Palmer played just under 59 minutes in goal. He made 52 saves. The Huskies finish the season at 10-14-3.
 
STREAKING

• Tonight's victory extended Hobart's unbeaten streak to 21 games. The Statesmen are 20-0-1 during that stretch.
• This is Hobart's second 10 game winning streak this season and the fifth in program history. Hobart has won 10 or more games in a row four times over the past two seasons.
• Tonight's win was the Statesmen's 35th straight win at The Cooler.

 
RECORD WATCH

• With 12 points tonight, Hobart now has 405 this season. It is just the second time in program history the Statesmen have recorded 400 points in a season.
• With eight assists tonight, the Statesmen now have 258 on the year, one behind the program record.

 
KEY STATS

• Hobart finished the game with a 56-22 advantage in shots on goal.

• The Statesmen were 2-for-4 on the power play and the Huskies were 0-for-1 with the extra skater.  Opponents are now 3-for-83 with the man advantage against Hobart this season.

 
SCORING SUMMARY

• First-year Chris Duclair opened the scoring 57 seconds into the game. He carried the puck through the neutral zone and snapped a shot from a tight angle past Palmer for his 13th goal of the season. First-year Bauer Morrissey and Beaver were credited with assists on the power-play tally.
• Hobart took a two-goal lead just before the midway point of the game. Junior Shane Shell jumped on a rebound in the high slot and fired a shot just under the crossbar. His sixth goal of the season was assisted by seniors Matthieu Wuth and Jonah Alexander.
• Senior Austin Mourar put the game out of reach with his seventh goal of the season. He blasted a shot from the left faceoff circle past Palmer. The power-play goal was assisted by Swift and sophomore Tanner Daniels.
• Cole Ouellette broke up the shutout bid with just under two minutes remaining in the game. He poked a loose puck past Beaver for his first goal of the season. Jeff Pollara and Marcus Torgner had assists on the goal.
• Sophomore Tanner Hartman iced the game with an empty-net goal at the 19:52 mark of the third period. His team-leading 17th goal of the season was assisted by senior Artem Buzoverya and Swift.

FINAL: @HobartHockey 4, Southern Maine 1
On to the @NEHockeyConf Championship next Saturday at The Cooler!
�� Duclair
�� Shell
�� Mourar
�� Hartman ��⬇
Beaver 21 svs#GoStatesmen #d3hky pic.twitter.com/GOtQMDZcnn

— HWS Athletics (@HWSAthletics) February 25, 2024
 

UP NEXT
Hobart will be back in action next Saturday, March 2, when it welcomes Skidmore to the The Cooler for the NEHC Championship game. The Thoroughbreds beat Elmira 4-1 in the other semifinal. Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.