GENEVA, N.Y.—For the second game in a row and third time this season, the Hobart College hockey team played through overtime to end in a tie. The No. 8 Statesmen battled Trinity to a 4-4 draw tonight in a non-league game in The Cooler.
Hobart is now 7-2-3 this season, while the Bantams are 4-3-1. It’s the third straight overtime game for the Statesmen and fourth overtime game this year. Four different players scored for Hobart and eight different Statesmen tallied a point. Ryan Cole and Ethan Holdaway each logged two assists for Trinity.
Both teams notched a goal in the first period. Trinity struck first 10:29 in. Brandon Cole found the back of the net after passes from Nick Johnson and Holdaway. Just 3:01 later, senior Bo Webster (Aurora, Ontario) evened the score for the Statesmen. His third goal of the year came off a shot from the left side on a Hobart power play. It was set up by sophomore Tanner Shaw (Toronto, Ontario) and first-year Zach Sternbach (Loudonville, N.Y.).
The Bantams built a 4-2 lead early in the second period. Ryan Pfeffer scored just 2:40 in. He batted the puck out of the air at the right post and into the back of the net. Anthony Sabitsky and Ryan Cole were credited with the assists. At 9:06 on a Trinity power play, Ryan Cole blasted a shot from the blue line that was tipped in by Tyler Whitney.
The Statesmen responded with back-to-back short-handed tallies to tie the game up at 3-3. At 10:07 and on the penalty kill, junior Ben Grenier (Newport Beach, Calif.) went to ice the puck from the top of the circle in his own zone, and his clearing attempt found the back of the net to make it 4-3. It was his third goal this season. Next it was senior Nick Bingaman’s (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) turn to notch a short-handed goal. Bingaman and sophomore Brandon Bistodeau (Rogers, Minn.) broke away for a 2-on-1, and scored on the give-and-go. Bingaman leads Hobart with nine goals this season.
Trinity took back the lead early in the third period. Liam Feeney capitalized on another Bantam power play after passes from Mark Kowlton and Charlie Zuccarini. Trinity finished the night 2-for-5 on the power play. With 8:41 left in regulation, sophomore Jonas Toupal (Vcelna, Czech Republic) tied the game up at 4-4 for Hobart. His blast from the top of the left circle went just inside the right post, and came after a feed from sophomore Matt Pizzo (Thorold, Ontario). It was Toupal’s second goal this winter.
Despite posting a 4-0 advantage in shots in the overtime period, the Statesmen were unable to find the game winner. Hobart logged a 35-29 edge in shots in the game. The Statesmen finished 1-for-5 on the power play. First-year Alexander Connal (Simsbury, Conn.) played all 65 minutes and made 25 saves for Hobart. Alex Morin made 31 stops in all 65 minutes for Trinity.
Hobart will be back in action after the holiday break. The Statesmen host Salve Regina for another non-league game on Friday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. The Bantams play another non-league contest tomorrow, Dec. 10 at Elmira at 5 p.m.
