Pulteney Street SurveySpring 2019
Hobart Hockey Makes It Into The Frozen Four
Statesmen Wrap 17th Consecutive Winning Season
The Hobart hockey team finished another strong year with a 21- 8-2 overall record, matching the program record for wins in a season. The Statesmen advanced to the NCAA tournament for the fifth straight year, reaching the national semifinals for the third time in program history and first time since 2009. The Statesmen were edged by the eventual national champion, Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 5-3 on the Pointers’ home ice.
"We had a great group of Statesmen striving together to get to that ultimate goal," said Coach Mark Taylor, who continues to add to his reputation as the most successful coach in Hobart hockey history.
On Jan 12, 2019, Taylor logged his 300th win as Hobart's head coach with a 5-0 win over Castleton. He has guided the Statesmen to 17 consecutive winning seasons.
Hobart finished the season ranked seventh in the nation in scoring margin (1.74 gpg), ninth in scoring offense (3.90 gpg), 16th in scoring defense (2.16 gpg), 12th in team winning percentage (.710), and 20th on the penalty kill (85.5%). The team was ranked No. 5 in the nation in the final USCHO.com poll and No. 4 in the final D3hockey.com poll. The Statesmen's 121 goals this winter are tied for sixth on the program's single-season list. Hobart had six shutouts -- most in a singleseason in program history.
Hobart was rewarded with a half dozen awards from the NEHC at the end of the season. Jonas Toupal '19 and Jack Macnee '19 represented the Statesmen on the All-NEHC first team, Tanner Shaw '19 earned second team honors and Zach Sternbach '20 received third team honors. Zach Tyson '22 and Liam Lascelle '22 garnered All-Rookie Team recognition.
The Hobart hockey Class of 2019 -- Brandon Bistodeau, Jack Macnee, Matthew Pizzo, Cam Shaheen, Tanner Shaw and Jonas Toupal -- compiled a four-year record of 80-24- 13. Their win total matches the program record for wins by a graduating class set in 2018.
"Playing for Hobart was unlike anything I have experienced before," says Toupal. "There is a very strong sense of a team, a single unit with a single purpose. The team's success is always put in front of individual players' success, which is what made us such a competitive team."
Toupal will attend the University of Pennsylvania next fall in pursuit of a doctorate in earth and environmental science.
"The culture of the program is truly unique -- it's a brotherhood," says Macnee. "The leaders during my years as an underclassman emphasized the importance of embracing and carrying along that culture and that's core to our success."
Macnee hopes to use what he has learned at Hobart as he pursues a professional hockey career after graduation.
The future looks bright for the Statesmen: first-year goalie Liam Lascelle '22 matched the program record for shutouts, finishing the year with four. His 1.64 goals against average was also a program best. Travis Schneider '21 had a team best 16 goals this season and Tyson led the team with 27 points this winter.
"Our team this year had quality of character from top to bottom," says Coach Taylor. "And when I look over the shoulders of our seniors to those coming up behind them, I see the same trend, the same level of quality. We'll keep this going for years to come."