Hobart College first-year Alexander Connal (Simsbury, Conn.) was tabbed the ECAC West Men’s Hockey Goalie of the Week. In addition, the Statesmen remained at No. 8 in both the D3hockey.com and the USCHO.com polls this week.
It’s the second week in a row a Statesman has claimed the Goalie of the Week award, as junior goaltender Frank Oplinger garnered the honor last week.
Connal played all 65 minutes in Hobart’s 4-4 tie with Trinity (Conn.) on Friday night. He finished with 25 saves and remained unbeaten in goal with a 4-0-2 record this season. Connal leads the ECAC West in both goals against average (2.11) and save percentage (.929). He’s 22nd in the nation in goals against average and 23rd in save percentage. Connal also sits atop the league and is tied for fifth in Division III in win percentage (.833).
The Statesmen are 7-2-3 overall and 4-2-0 in the ECAC West. Senior Bobby Sokol (Belle Vernon, Pa.) leads the team with 11 points on six goals and five assists. Classmate Nick Bingaman (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) has notched a team-high nine goals, which are tied for second in the ECAC West, and added an assist. Hobart ranks first in the ECAC West in scoring defense allowing an average of 2.67 goals per game. In addition, the Statesmen rank first in the conference and eighth in the nation on the penalty kill (88.5%).
Hobart will return to action after the semester break when it hosts Salve Regina and the University of New England for non-league games on Jan. 13 and 14, respectively. Friday’s game begins at 7 p.m., and Saturday’s game will start at 4 p.m.
