Hobart, who was voted to finish second in the ECAC West preseason coaches poll released this afternoon, wrapped up 2013-14 with a 14-9-4 overall record and a 7-5-3 mark in the ECAC West. The Statesmen ranked as high as eighth in the nation last winter, topping then No. 3 Utica, No. 5 Williams and top-ranked Plattsburgh. Hobart defeated Nazareth 2-1 in its ECAC West tournament opening game. However, after ending the regular season with back-to-back overtime victories at Elmira, the Statesmen were tripped up by the Soaring Eagles in Pine Valley in the tournament semifinal game.
Head Coach Mark Taylor begins his 15th year at the helm of the program with a record of 208-130-36. Having graduated just four players in 2014, Taylor returns 26 from last year’s roster and welcomes seven newcomers. “I’m excited to start the season. The guys have done outstanding in their approach, effort and ownership this preseason,” said Taylor. “I like what I’ve seen on the ice so far and it’s been too long of a wait to start the season.”
FORWARD
The Hobart roster features a great deal of depth at forward. “I have four lines of players I’m excited to see play. I’m excited about players both in and out of the lineup and that’s what good teams have,” said Taylor. The Statesmen roster includes 12 returners from the squad that ranked second in the ECAC West in scoring offense (3.37 g/gm) last winter.
All-ECAC West second team selection and leading scorer from last year, junior Mac Olson (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) will serve as an alternate captain this winter. He played in all 27 games last year and posted 27 points on 15 goals and 12 assists. Another alternate captain and 2014 All-ECAC West honorable mention, Ben Gamache (Longlac, Ontario)will be a key player at forward. In 2013-14, he logged 25 points on 10 goals and 15 assists. Gamache also posted a team-high seven power-play goals. Junior Bo Webster (Aurora, Ontario) ranked third on the team with 23 points last year on six goals and 17 assists.
Seniors Tommaso Taversa (Torino, Italy), Brad McBride (Lone Tree, Colo.) andRobert Sovik (Prague, Czech Republic) bring more experience and are scoring threats. McBride produced 14 points on five goals and nine assists in 25 games as a junior. Traversa logged 12 points on three goals and nine helpers in 22 games and Sovik chipped in 12 points on seven goals and five assists in 21 games.
Sophomores Nick Bingaman (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) and Bobby Sokol (Belle Vernon, Pa.) will look to build on solid rookie seasons. Bingaman played in 24 games and notched 10 points on six goals and four assists. Sokol also played in 24 games as a first-year and tallied seven points on three goals and four assists. In addition, six of Hobart’s seven new faces are forwards.
DEFENSE
Hobart brings back 10 from a defensive unit that posted seven shutouts in 2013-14. The Statesmen finished last season ranked second in the ECAC West in scoring defense (2.85 ga/gm) and first on the penalty kill (83.3%). The Statesmen boast a great deal of experience with five senior defensemen, including three captains in Bronson Kovas (Sault Ste Marie, Ontario), Terrence O’Neill (Kearny, N.J.) and Peter Ryan (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.). Kovacs recorded 14 points on six goals and eight assists in 25 games. An all-league first team selection, O’Neill registered three goals and 10 assists in 21 games and Ryan played in every game and chipped in two goals and two assists. Another all-league first team pick, Ryan Michel (Camillus, N.Y.) returns after playing in 25 games last season. He dished out a team-high 18 assists and added one goal.
Sophomores Jon Neal (Encinitas, Calif.), Connor Simon (Manchester, N.H.), Michael Russo (Burlington, Mass.), Carl Belizario (Dorval, Quebec) and Mitch Beyer (Clifton Park, N.Y.) supply Hobart with depth and each of them had impressive rookie seasons to work from. Belizario played in every game last winter and was named to the ECAC West All-Rookie team after notching 16 points on five goals and 11 assists. Neal also played in every game last season. He added two goals and six assists. Beyer chipped in 10 points on five goals and five assists in 18 games, while Simon saw time in 20 games and handed out two assists.
GOALTENDERS
The Statesmen return junior goalie Lino Chimienti (Montreal, Quebec). “Lino had some big games for us last year,” said Taylor. “I expect him to have more of those and establish that level of play game in and game out. At the same time, we need our other goalies in house to challenge for game time.”
Chimienti finished last season second in the ECAC West in goals against average (2.85) and win percentage (.659). He posted a .912 save percentage and a 13-6-3 record in goal. Sophomore Tim Keegan (Lexington, Mass.) and Gryphon Richardson (Stamford, Conn.) are back for Hobart and first-year Frank Oplinger (Sewickley, Pa.)joins the squad. Keegan played in six games last winter, starting five. He notched a 3.16 goals against average and a .894 save percentage.
SCHEDULE
“Every game matters. We need key performances from everyone in every game,” said Taylor. Hobart begins the year with four straight road games. The Statesmen travel to take on Brockport in their season opener on Friday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m., and then play at Potsdam at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1. The Hobart schedule features four opponents ranked in the top 15 in either the D3hockey.com or USCHO.com preseason polls, and three more who are receiving votes. The Statesmen play their home and ECAC West opener against Nazareth on Friday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. This year Hobart will also take part in the 2015 New Year’s College Holiday Classic in Lake Placid, New York. The Statesmen will face Southern Maine on Jan. 2 at 4 p.m., and then play Middlebury onJan. 3 at 7 p.m.
