Article and photos courtesy of Hobart College Athletics Communications.

GENEVA, N.Y.—For the second straight year the Mariano Cup will reside in the Hobart hockey team's locker room. The top-ranked Statesmen defeated ninth-ranked Skidmore 5-0 in the championship game of the New England Hockey Conference at The Cooler this evening. It was Hobart's third NEHC title in six seasons in the league.
 
With the win, Hobart (25-2-1) earned the NEHC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The entire tournament field will be released on Monday, March 4 with the NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Selection Show on NCAA.com at 10 a.m.
 
Sophomore Forward Tanner Hartman was one of three Statesmen to record multi-point games. He had two goals. Senior Artem Buzoverya added a goal and an assist and senior defenseman Jared Patterson had two assists. Sophomore Damon Beaver played all 60 minutes in goal. He made 21 saves as he earned his sixth shutout of the season.
 
Tate Brandon played all 60 minutes in goal for Skidmore (19-7-2). He made 51 saves.
 
STREAKING

• With tonight's win, Hobart has now won 36 straight games at The Cooler. That matches the longest home win streak in NCAA Division III History. St. Norbert won 36 straight home games from 2001-2004.
• The win also extended Hobart's win streak to 11 games. That is the third longest winning streak in program history. Hobart is unbeaten in its last 22 games. The Statesmen are 21-0-1 during that stretch.

 
RECORD WATCH

• With five goals and six assists tonight Hobart has now recorded 152 goals, 264 assists and 416 points this season. The 264 assists are a new single-season record.

 
KEY STATS

• Hobart finished the game with a 56-21 advantage in shots on goal.
• Neither team converted on the power play. Skidmore was 0-for-3 on the man advantage and the Statesmen were 0-for-1.
• Hobart's opponents are now 3-for-86 on the power play this season.

 
 
SCORING SUMMARY

• Hobart opened the scoring with six seconds remaining in the first period. After Buzoverya's initial shot was stopped, Hartman swept the loose puck into the back of the net. Sophomore Ignat Belov added an assist on the goal.
• Sophomore Kahlil Fontana gave Hobart a 2-0 lead 33 seconds into the second period. He redirected a shot from Tanner Daniels past Brandon for his ninth goal of the year. Patterson notched an assist on the goal.
• Hartman put the game out of reach with a shorthanded goal. He raced the length of the ice and lifted a backhanded shot off the crossbar and into the net. His 19th goal of the season was an unassisted tally.
• Buzoverya put the game out of reach 26 seconds into the final frame. His eighth goal of the season was assisted by Belov and Patterson.
• Duclair rounded out the scoring with an empty-net goal late in the third period. His 14th goal of the year was unassisted

 
ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

• Artem Buzoverya was named to the NEHC All-Tournament Team and was the Most Valuable Player.
• Forwards Tanner Hartman and Chris Duclair, defenseman Jared Patterson and Goalie Damon Beaver joined him on the all-tournament team.
• Skidmore was represented by Danny Magnuson and Jaden York.