Hobart College Head Hockey Coach Mark Taylor announced that seniors Jack Macnee, Tanner Shaw, and Jonas Toupal will serve as captains for the 2018-19 season. Macnee and Shaw were assistant captains last year.
“It seems like I say I am excited about our leadership group every year and frankly, I better be if we want to retain our level of success of the past few seasons,” coach Taylor said. “I have real confidence in this group, and it’s not just the individuals that will be singled out in this release, but we have good numbers right next to them that just enlarges our core.”
“On and off the ice, these three represent our program and culture on the ice and in the classroom. They all bring their own strengths in leadership but share the common required traits of good teammates and leaders.”
Macnee, a native of Ridgewood, N.J., returns for his fourth year on the Statesmen defense. He played in 22 games as a first-year, 28 games as a sophomore, and 25 games last year when he was named to the All-NEHC third team. Macnee played a key role in the Statesmen unit that led the NEHC in scoring defense (1.90 g/gm). He has three career goals and 15 assists.
In the classroom, Macnee has been just as successful. He has represented the Statesmen on the AHCA All-American Scholar, ECAC West All-Academic and the NEHC All-Academic teams. He was also a recipient of the Bob Arnold Scholar-Athlete Award.
Shaw, a native of Toronto, Ontario, returns for his fourth season as a defensive starter for the Statesmen. He has played in 83 career games, logging 13 goals and 35 assists. Shaw anchored the NEHC’s top-ranked Statesmen defense in 2017-18 while finishing second in the league in defensemen scoring (6g, 13a). He has piled up the accolades over the past three season, including a spot on the ECAC West All-Rookie Team (2015-16), the USCHO.com All-Rookie Team (2015-16), All-NEHC First Team (2017-18), and the AHCA All-American East Third Team (2017-18).
Academically, Shaw was named to the ECAC West All-Academic team as a sophomore, and the NEHC All-Academic team a year ago.
Toupal, a forward from Vcelna, Czech Republic, rounds out the group in his first season serving as captain. Much like Macnee and Shaw, Toupal has actively contributed since arriving on campus. He has played in 84 career games, notching 29 goals and 33 assists for 62 points. Toupal compiled a team-leading 15 goals and 32 points last year.
A geoscience major, Toupal has won the Bob Arnold Scholar Athlete Award, the Dr. Arnold Cohen Phi Beta Kappa Book Prize, been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District, and ECAC West All-Academic teams as a sophomore. Last year, he was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District first-team and the NEHC All-Academic team.
“I’ve been lucky as a coach to have been surrounded by some special young men at Hobart,” said Taylor. “They push me to answer the charge and not only keep the team culture and success at a high level but push to make it even better and stronger. Jack, Tanner and Jonas have been key factors of that happening throughout their time here. They are excellent Statesmen in my book.”
Hobart will open the 2018-19 season on Oct. 26 in a non-conference matchup with Elmira College. Hobart will kick off its second season as a member of the NEHC a week later when they travel to Castelton, Vt., to take on Castelton University.
