Sternbach tabbed Rookie of the Week, Statesmen move up in polls
Hobart College first-year Zach Sternbach (Loudonville, N.Y.) was named the ECAC West Men’s Hockey Rookie of the Week as announced by the conference office this afternoon. In addition, the Statesmen moved up one spot to No. 4 in the USCHO.com poll and up to No. 5 in the D3hockey.com poll.
Sternbach led Hobart with five points on four goals and an assist in a 2-0-0 road weekend. In a 6-2 win over Lebanon Valley, he notched a hat trick and added an assist. Sternbach matched Hobart’s record for goals in a game (3) against the Dutchmen. On Saturday, he scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in a 3-1 win over Stevenson. Sternbach is tied for fifth in the nation in goals per game (1.33) and points per game (1.67).
The Statesmen are 3-0-1 overall and 2-0-0 in the ECAC West. Hobart ranks second in the nation on the penalty kill (96.2%), ninth in scoring defense (1.75 ga/gm), and is tied for 21st in the country in scoring offense (3.75 g/gm). Senior Bobby Sokol (Belle Vernon, Pa.) and Sternbach lead the team with five points on four goals and one assist. Sophomore Brandon Bistodeau (Rogers, Minn.) has dished out a team-high four assists. Junior Frank Oplinger (Sewickley, Pa.) has played the most minutes in goal. He’s sporting a 1.92 goals against average, a .952 save percentage and a 1-0-1 record.
Hobart will be back in action on Friday, Nov. 11, when it travels to take on Manhattanville in another ECAC West game at 7 p.m.
