For the second straight week, the Hobart College hockey team was ranked fifth in the USCHO.com poll The Statesmen will continue their four-game homestand this weekend, Jan. 14-15, when they welcome sixth-ranked Babson and Southern Maine to The Cooler. Hobart is scheduled to face the Beavers at 7 p.m. on Friday and the Huskies at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
In addition, captain Aaron Maguyon was named to the New England Hockey Conference weekly honor roll for the second time this season. The Margate City, New Jersey, native had a goal and an assist in a 2-0-0 weekend for the Statesmen. Maguyon scored the game-winning goal 45 seconds into overtime as Hobart knocked off then eighth-ranked Norwich 4-3 on Friday afternoon. The next day he set up Zach Tyson’s game-winning goal against New England College, which was receiving votes in last week’s poll. Hobart beat the Pilgrims 2-1.
The Statesmen are 11-2-1 overall this season with a 7-0-1 mark in conference play. Hobart sits atop the NEHC standings with 20 points, four clear of No. 10 Elmira and UMass Boston, which is receiving votes in this week’s poll.
The Statesmen enter the weekend ranked second in the nation in scoring offense (5.14), scoring margin (+3.14), assists (129) and points (201). In addition, Hobart is sixth in winning percentage (.821), eighth in power play percentage (.288), 11th in scoring defense (2.00) and 18th in penalty kill percentage (.869).
Individually, the Statesmen are led by Luke Aquaro, who has 17 points on 10 goals and seven assists. Maguyon has a team-best 11 goals and Cooper Swift leads the team with 13 assists. Maguyon is third in the nation with three game-winning goals and fourth in the nation with five power-play goals. Swift is 11th in the nation, averaging an assist per game.
Liam Lascelle and Joe Halstrom have split time in goal this season. Lascelle is 5-1-0 with a 2.18 goals against average and a .905 save percentage. Halstrom is 5-1-1 with a 1.92 GAA and a .912 save percentage.
Babson enters the week with an 8-1-2 overall record and a 4-1-2 mark in conference play. The Beavers are currently fourth in the conference standings with 14 points. And have not played since a 6-4 victory over Norwich on Dec. 4. Ryan Black leads the team with 15 points on eight goals and seven assists. Mike Egan (6g, 7a) and Thomas Kramer (6g, 7a) are right behind him with 13 points each. Brad Arvanitis has played a majority of the minutes in goal. He is 3-1-2 with a .922 save percentage and a 2.52 GAA.
Friday’s game will be the 22nd meeting between Hobart and Babson. The Beavers lead the all-time series 10-6-5, but the Statesmen hold a slight 3-2-3 edge at The Cooler. The teams skated to a 2-2 tie at the Babson Skating Center on Nov. 6.
Southern Maine is 4-6-1 overall with a 2-4-1 mark in conference play. The Huskies enter the week in eighth in the conference standings and will be at Elmira on Friday night. Austin Marini leads the team with nine points on four goals and five assists. Bobby Kinsey III is right behind him with six points on two goals and four assists. Anthony D’Aloisio is 2-5-1 in goal with a 4.05 GAA and a .898 save percentage.
Saturday’s game will be the 10th meeting between Hobart and Southern Maine. The Statesmen lead the all-time series 8-1-0, including a 4-0-0 mark in Geneva. Hobart won 6-1 in Gorham, Maine, on Nov. 5.
All spectators are asked to monitor their health and stay home if experiencing any COVID symptoms. Spectators are required to wear a properly fitting mask while inside The Cooler. Fans who cannot make the trip to Geneva, New York, can follow all the action with Live Stats and HWS All-Access video.
(Hobart Men’s Hockey Photo)