The Hobart College ice hockey team moved up to No. 12 in this week’s D3hockey.com Poll. The Statesmen were also ranked No. 13 by USHCO.com. In addition, junior Brad Robbins (Murrieta, Calif.) was tabbed the ECAC West Player of the Week and first-year Frank Oplinger (Sewickley, Pa.) was named the Goalie of the Week.
Robbins shared a team-high with two points in a 2-0-0 weekend for the No. 15 Statesmen, helping them capture the 2014-15 ECAC West Regular Season Title. On Friday, Hh scored the game-winning goal for Hobart 1:51 into OT to secure a 1-0 victory over the Valiants. Robbins added an assist on the Statesmen’s third goal in a 3-0 victory on Saturday night. Robbins has posted eight goals and seven assists for 15 points this season. Four of his goals and five of his points have come in the last four games. Robbins is tied for 10th in the ECAC West with three power-play goals and tied for 14th in power-play points with six.
Oplinger stopped all 44 shots he faced over the weekend, earning his first two collegiate shutouts. He played all 61:51 in goal on Friday night and made 26 saves. On Saturday, Oplinger stopped all 18 shots. It’s the first time Hobart has posted back-to-back shutouts since 2009. Oplinger is sporting a 2.07 goals against average, a .934 save percentage and an 11-2-0 record in goal this year. He leads the league in goals against average, save percentage and win percentage (.846).
The Statesmen, who have won their last seven games in a row, sit atop the league and rank 11th in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 3.96 goals per game. Hobart ranks first in the ECAC West in scoring defense, allowing an average of 2.54 goals per game and second on the power play (23.3 percent).
The Statesmen (18-6-0, 11-3-0) will play their final regular season game on Friday, Feb. 20, when they travel to take on Elmira for an ECAC West contest at 7 p.m.
