NORTHFIELD, Vt.-The Hobart College hockey team used a three-goal third period to secure a 3-0 win over Norwich and the 2018 New England Hockey Conference Tournament title tonight in Northfield, Vt. It’s the fourth straight conference tournament title for the Statesmen.
Hobart earned the NEHC’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The tournament field will be released on Monday, March 5, with the NCAA Division III Men’s Ice Hockey Selection Show on NCAA.com at 10:30 a.m.
It’s the fourth time that Hobart and Norwich met this season. The Statesmen held a 3-0-1 edge in those games. Hobart, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, improves to 18-5-5 this season. The Cadets, the No. 1 seed and No. 11 team in the nation, fall to 19-7-2. The Statesmen are ranked No. 8 in the USHCO.com poll and No. 9 by D3hockey.com.
Senior goalie Frank Oplinger was named the NEHC Tournament MVP, after earning his third shutout of the season, turning aside all 30 shots he faced. It’s Oplinger’s seventh career shutout, which ranks third on Hobart’s career shutout list. First-year Andrew Longo, first-year Mike Faulkner and senior Jordan Haskell also represented the Statesmen on the All-Tournament Team.
The first two periods proved scoreless in a back-and-forth battle. Midway through the first, sophomore Will Harrison clanged a shot off right post. Early in the second, the Cadets had a break away for a one-on-one with Oplinger, but he deflected the shot away with his pads. With 5:35 to go in the second, Harrison stopped a clear out by Norwich to keep the puck in Hobart’s offensive end. Harrison pushed a quick pass to senior Andrew Silard at the left post, but Silard wasn’t able to fully connect for the one-timer and his shot was saved by Norwich goaltender Tom Aubrun.
Oplinger made another stellar save with two minutes left in the middle period. Kale Kane fired the shot on goal from right in front after a feed from Kevin Salvucci from behind the goal, but Oplinger stood tall in goal for Hobart.
At 6:06 into the third, Longo scored what proved to be game winner. His backhanded shot gave the Statesmen a 1-0 lead. Haskell scored with 4:46 left in the third. Harrison passed to Silard. Silard’s initial shot was saved and the rebound bounced to Haskell who gave Hobart the 2-0 lead. Sophomore Lawson MacDougall added an empty net goal with 20 seconds remaining. Junior Jonas Toupal earned the assist on the play.
The Statesmen finished with a 31-30 edge in shots. Hobart went 0-for-3 on the power play. Aubrun finished with 28 saves in goal for Norwich.
Check back to HWSAthletics.com for details on the Statesmen’s NCAA tournament game.
