The Hobart College ice hockey team was selected as one of 11 teams competing in the NCAA Division III Men’s Ice Hockey Championship. The Statesmen received a first round bye and will host a quarterfinal game on Saturday, March. 19.
Check back to hwsathletics.com for an announcement on game time. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for students, $3 for children 3-12 and children two and under are free. Hobart will host the winner of the first round game between Trinity and UMass-Boston. The Bantams and the Beacons will play in Hartford, Conn., on Saturday, March 12.
Seven teams earned automatic bids by winning their conference championship, while four others were awarded at-large selections. The Statesmen earned an at-large bid for what will be their sixth NCAA tournament appearance. Hobart is 21-4-2 this season and is 3-5 all-time in the NCAA tournament, reaching the semifinals in 2006 and 2009. The Statesmen captured their second straight and fourth overall ECAC West Tournament title on Saturday night, when they defeated Utica 5-0.
Senior forward Brad Robbins (Murrieta, Calif.) leads the team with 32 points and 19 goals. Senior forward Mac Olson (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) is right behind him with 27 points on 13 goals and 14 assists. Senior forward Ben Gamache (Longlac, Ontario) has dished out a team-high 19 assists and added seven goals for 26 points.
Senior Lino Chimienti (Montreal, Quebec) and sophomore Frank Oplinger (Sewickley, Pa.) have split time in goal this season. Chimienti is sporting a 1.68 goals against average, a .947 save percentage and an 11-2-2 record. Oplinger has registered a 1.81 goals against average, a .936 save percentage and a 10-2-0 mark in goal.
