Statesmen Earn NCAA Championship Seat
6 March 2017 Statesmen Earn NCAA Championship Seat
The Hobart College ice hockey team was one of 12 teams selected to compete in the NCAA Division III Mens Ice Hockey Championship. The Statesmen will host Endicott on Saturday, March 11 at 7 p.m. in The Cooler.
It will be the first meeting between the teams. Tickets will be $6 for adults, $4 for students with ID and $3 for children 12 and under. Children 2 and under get in free.
Seven teams earned automatic bids by winning their conference championship, while five others were awarded at-large selections.
The Statesmen (20-4-4) earned an at-large bid for what will be their seventh overall and third straight NCAA tournament appearance. Hobart captured its third straight and fifth overall ECAC West tournament title on Saturday afternoon, when they edged Utica 2-1 in OT. The Statesmen are 3-6 all-time in the NCAA tournament, reaching the semifinals in 2006 and 2009.
Senior Nick Bingaman leads the team with 28 points and 18 goals. Sophomore Jonas Toupal is close behind him with 22 points on 12 goals and 10 assists. Sophomore Tanner Shaw has dished out a team-high 18 assists. Junior goaltender Frank Oplinger has played the most minutes in goal. Hes sporting a 2.34 goals against average, a .924 save percentage and an 11-4-2 record.
Endicott brings a 23-3-2 overall record to Geneva. The Gulls earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, capturing the Commonwealth Coach Conference title with a 5-4 win over the University of New England on Saturday. This will be Endicotts first NCAA tournament appearance. Tommy Besinger leads the team with 48 points on 17 goals and 31 assists. Kevin Aldridge has played the most minutes in goal. Hes sporting a 1.99 goals against average, a .936 save percentage and a 20-3-2 record.
Fans unable to make it to The Cooler can follow the action online with Live Stats and All-Access Video.