By Emma Lucas ’23
Staff Writer
On Saturday March 12, the Hobart ice hockey team took to the ice for the first round of NCAA against the Elmira Soaring Eagles. The following Saturday, March 19, the Hobart Statesmen traveled to Adrian, MI for quarter final play, falling short against the Adrian College Bulldogs.
The Geneva Ice Rink was packed full of students and parents watching the Statesmen skating to a 4-2 victory over Elmira. The scoring was opened by senior Blake Coffey at the 7:50 mark of the first period, followed by senior Zach Tyson six minutes later, leading the Statesmen 2-0 in at the end of the first period. First-year Luke Aquaro scored the Statesmen their third goal in the first 22 seconds of the second period, followed by sophomore Artem Buzoverya in the 8:49 minute. The third period was scoreless for both teams. Elmira scored both of its goals in the second period. Hobart goalie senior Liam Lascelle saw action all 60 minutes of the game, with a total of 25 saves.
This match-up was exciting and dominated by the Statesmen from the first whistle. The Hobart Statesmen were cheered to victory by 850 guests at the rink to see seventh-ranked Hobart and tenth-ranked Elmira. Entering the game, the Statesmen were 19-5-2 overall and Elmira was 18-6-2. Talking with students, they were excited for the game because it gave them something to do on a cold Saturday evening.
One student-attendee commented, “[ice] hockey is my favorite sport and I wanted to support the school.” The air was filled with cheers and happy yells as the end of the game grew near and Elmira pulled their goalie for a man-up advantage while the Statesmen held themselves together limiting Elmira to just two shots on goal, saved by Lascelle.
Against the Adrian College Bulldogs, seniors Jake Gresh and Aaron Maguyon, junior Brenden Howell, and first-year Matthew Iasenza scored four goals for the Statesmen. Lascelle played 40 minutes in goal with senior Joseph Halstrom entering in the third period. Top ranked Adrian College went on to win the NCAA tournament with wins over Augsburg University in the semifinals and SUNY Geneseo in the finals out in Lake Placid, NY. The Bulldogs concluded their 2021-22 season with an overall record of 31-1-0. The Statesmen finished their season with a 20-6-2 record overall and 13-2-2 in conference play.
Congratulations to the Hobart Hockey senior class for finishing with an overall record of 61-19-7, 36-11-6 in the NEHC, and three appearances in the NCAA tournament!