Release and photograph courtesy of Hobart Athletics Communication.

GENEVA, N.Y. - The top-ranked Hobart College hockey team continues its national title defense on Saturday, March 16, when it welcomes 12th-ranked Curry to The Cooler for an NCAA quarterfinal contest. Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
Tickets will be $6 for adults, $4 for students with ID and $3 for children ages 3-11, children 2 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. All tickets must be purchased at the door and sales will be cash only. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
 
The Statesmen enter the weekend with a 25-2-1 overall record. Hobart earned a first-round bye in the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Hockey Championship.
 
Hobart shut out Skidmore 5-0 in the NEHC Championship to claim the league's automatic bid, Tanner Hartman netted two and Damon Beaver stopped all 21 shots he faced against the Thoroughbreds.
 
Curry enters the weekend at 21-5-1 after defeating No. 9 Geneseo 3-0 in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Colonels were led by Gage Dill and Tao Ishizuka who had a goal and an assist each against the Knights. Shane Soderwall stopped all 35 shots he faced in the shutouts.
 
This will be the second straight year that Hobart and Curry will meet at The Cooler in the quarterfinals. Last season, the Colonels scored first, but the Statesmen rattled off five unanswered goals as Hobart won 5-1 to advance to the national semifinals. Brenden Howell '23 led the way for Hobart, recording a goal and an assists. Beaver made 17 saves in 60 minutes of work.
 
Fans who cannot make the trip to Geneva can follow all the action with HWS All-Access and Live Stats. The game will also be broadcast on WHWS-FM (105.7 in Geneva).
 
Here is a quick look at the teams.
 
Hobart
Location: Geneva, N.Y.
Mascot: Statesmen 
Overall Record: 25-2-1
Record at home: 16-0-0
New England Hockey Conference Record: 16-2-0
USCHO Poll: 1st
How they reached the NCAA tournament: Automatic bid
NCAA tournament record: 9-10 (13th appearance)
Head Coach: Mark Taylor (24th year, 403-176-55)
Goals Scored: 152
Goals Allowed: 26
Point Leaders: Tanner Hartman (44), Ignat Belov (37), Artem Buzoverya (31)
Goal Leaders: Hartman (19), Belov (16), Luke Aquaro (16)
Assist Leaders: Hartman (25), Buzoverya (23), Bauer Morrissey (22)
Goalie: Damon Beaver (0.94 GAA, .963 SV%, 15-1-1, 6 SHO)
 
Curry
Location: Milton, Mass.
Mascot: Colonels
Overall Record: 21-5-1
Record on the road: 12-2-0
Commonwealth Coast Conference Record: 15-3-0
USCHO Poll: 12th
How they reached the NCAA tournament: At large bid
NCAA tournament record: 2-4-0 (5th appearance)
Head Coach: Peter Roundy (3rd season, 59-20-4)
Goals Scored: 89
Goals Allowed: 53
Point Leaders: Gage Dill (29), Eelis Laaksonen (28), Tao Ishizuka (24)
Goal Leaders: Laaksonen (12), Dill (11), Ishizuka (10), Killian Rowlee (10)
Assist Leaders: Dill (18), Laaksonen (16), Matt Connor (14). Ishizuka (14)
Goalie: Shane Soderwall (1.57 GAA, .946 SV%, 15-3-0, 4 SHO)