The Hobart College ice hockey team was voted No. 4 in the East Region in the NCAA’s first regional rankings. The Statesmen also came in at No. 7 in the nation in this week’s USCHO.com and D3hockey.com polls.
The NCAA regional rankings are used to determine both NCAA tournament bids and seedings. This week’s rankings are the first of four sets that the NCAA will release to the public.
The Statesmen are 15-4-4 overall and 7-4-1 in conference play going into the final weekend of the regular season. Hobart will travel to take on Elmira on Friday at 7 p.m. and then host the Soaring Eagles on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Senior Nick Bingaman leads the Statesmen with 23 points on 15 goals and eight assists. Sophomore Jonas Toupal is right behind him with 20 points on 10 goals and 10 assists. Sophomore Tanner Shaw has dished out a team-high 14 assists. Junior Frank Oplinger has seen the most time in goal. He’s sporting a 2.75 goals against average and a .913 save percentage as well as a 6-4-2 record.
The Statesmen lead the ECAC West in scoring defense (2.52 ga/gm) and on the penalty kill (86.4%). Hobart ranks 12th in Division III on the penalty kill and 20th in scoring defense. In addition, the Statesmen rank 16th in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 3.83 goals per game, and are tied for seventh in team winning percentage (.739).
Fans unable to make this weekend’s games can follow along with Live Stats and Video provided by Elmira on Friday night and Live Stats and All-Access Video for Saturday’s contest.
