GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart College hockey team captured the third ECAC West tournament title in program history with a 2-1 overtime victory over Neumann University tonight in The Cooler. Senior Sean Rudy (Long Sault, Ontario) scored 11:31 into the overtime period to secure the victory for the Statesmen.
Nationally ranked No. 9/11 and No. 1 seed in the tournament, Hobart improves to 21-6-0 with its 10th straight victory. With tonight’s win, the Statesmen tied the 2008-09 team for the most wins in a season. The Knights, who were the No. 2 seed in the tournament, finished their season with a 14-9-4 overall record.
Rudy was selected the Most Outstanding Player of the ECAC West Tournament. First-year goaltender Frank Oplinger (Sewickley, Pa.), sophomore forward Nick Bingaman (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) and senior defenseman Ryan Michel (Camillus, N.Y.) joined Rudy on the all-tournament team. Forward Mike Davis, defenseman Doug Rose and goaltender Ben Curley represented Neumann on the all-tournament team.
Oplinger played all 71:31 in goal for Hobart and finished with 29 saves. He allowed just two goals in tournament play. Curley played all 71:31 in goal for the Knights and made 66 saves. The Statesmen finished with a 68-30 advantage in shots.
Hobart outshot the Knights 20-5 in the opening period. The Statesmen killed off back-to-back two minute penalties before breaking through at 8:35 into the first period. Bingaman tipped in an initial shot by senior Brad McBride (Lone Tree, Colo.). It was Bingaman’s 11th goal this season.
Rose tied things up for Neumann at 4:52 into the second period. Rose took a pass from Steve Low and carried the puck deep into the zone. He lifted a shot that went off Oplinger’s glove and across the goal line.
The Statesmen logged a 21-7 advantage in shots in the third period, but the Neumann defense held strong. Hobart had a few near misses late, including a shot by Rudy that banged off the post. The overtime period proved to have chances for both teams, but it was Rudy who clinched the victory for Hobart. His shot from the high slot came with 8:29 left in the 20 minutes overtime period. It was his eighth goal of the season. Oplinger denied all seven of the Knight’s shots in overtime.
Hobart finished 0-for-2 on the power play and the Knights were 0-for-3.
The Statesmen will now wait to hear if they will earn a spot the NCAA tournament. The Division III men’s ice hockey selection show will air on NCAA.com on Monday, March 9, at 10:30 a.m.
2015 ECAC Men’s West All-Tournament Team
Forward – Nick Bingaman, Hobart College
Forward – Mike Davis, Neumann University
Defense – Doug Rose, Neumann University
Defense – Ryan Michel, Hobart College
Goaltender – Frank Oplinger, Hobart College
Goaltender – Ben Curley, Neumann University
2015 ECAC Men’s West Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Forward – Sean Rudy, Hobart College
