On March 26th, the Hobart Statesmen hockey team defeated the Adrian College Bulldogs 3-2 to win their first National Championship. Played at the Raymond J. Bourque Arena, located on the campus of Endicott College, the game went into overtime, where All-Tournament Team Member Wil Crane ’24 was able to score the game winning goal, lifting the Statesmen to the championship title.
“It was pretty calm in the locker room,” shares American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) All-American Jonah Alexander ’24, when asked about the atmosphere during the overtime period. “We’ve been in that spot a few times during the year.”
Entering the game, the Statesmen held a 28-2-0 record, and completed their season undefeated at home, winning the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) Championship. The Statesmen defeated #7 Curry College and #4 Endicott College in the tournament to advance to the title game.
Despite the high pressure, the Statesmen stuck to their usual routine while preparing for the game. “We actually didn’t change anything up,” shares Alexander, when reflecting upon the journey to the Frozen Four. “We kept everything the same, from our meals to pregame stretches… I think we wanted to keep what was working for us.”
In addition to Crane, Austin Mourar ’24 and Luke Aquaro ’25 were named to the All-Tournament Team, and goalie Damon Beaver ’26 was named Most Outstanding Player for the tournament, as well as United States College Hockey Organization (USCHO) and NEHC Rookie of the Year. Beaver recorded 37 saves in the championship game, and finished the season with a 1.04 Goals Against Average (GAA) and .955 save percentage. Additionally, Aquaro was named to the All-USCHO first team, Alexander and Beaver were named to the All-USCHO third team, and defenseman Cooper Swift ’25 was awarded the NCAA Elite 90 Award for his academic and athletic achievements.
Additionally, Head Coach Mark Taylor garnered numerous accolades during his 22nd season. He was named the USCHO, AHCA, and NEHC Coach of the Year, and received the 2023 Edward Jeremiah Award. Taylor also earned a silver medal for his efforts in coaching Team USA in the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games, where he was joined by Statesmen Aquaro and Swift.
Upon arriving back to campus, the team received an escort from the Geneva Fire Department to the Scandling Center, where members of the HWS and Geneva communities greeted them to celebrate their victory.
“When we got to campus and got to see everyone there, it was a really special moment,” shares Alexander. “It felt that everything was worth it. We were really happy we could do that for everybody.”