Hobart and William Smith Colleges

March 30, 2026

Dear Members of the HWS Community,

As I reflect on this remarkable year for Hobart hockey, I am reminded that the measure of a team is not found in a single moment, but in the character it demonstrates over the course of a season.

Under the leadership of Head Coach Mark Taylor, our Statesmen continue to set the standard for excellence in collegiate hockey. Coach Taylor’s recognition as the 2026 CCM/American Hockey Coaches Association Division III Men’s Coach of the Year is a fitting tribute to a season defined by resilience, preparation, character and belief.

This year’s team embodied those values at every turn. Their success was matched by extraordinary individual achievement. Damon Beaver ’26 was named the recipient of the 2026 Sid Watson Award, given annually to the best NCAA Division II-III men’s ice hockey player in the country, becoming the first Statesman to earn this prestigious honor. Six members were named to the 2025-26 CCM/American Hockey Coaches Association All-America teams: Beaver, Kahlil Fontana '26, Conor Lally '27 and Arvega Hovsepyan '28 on the East First Team, Tanner Daniels '26 on the Second Team and Bauer Morrissey '27 on the Third Team.

Their commitment to academic excellence was especially noteworthy, with five players earning a 4.0 GPA over the last two semesters. Alongside other HWS student-athletes, earlier this semester they were recognized at an event hosted by the Committee on Athletics. I am grateful to Faculty Athletic Fellows Professor Julie Kingery and Professor Emeritus John Halfman for their continued support and encouragement of the team.

What endures is the pride this team has brought to our campus and the Geneva community. They have represented Hobart and William Smith with distinction, strengthened a legacy of excellence and inspired all of us who have had the privilege to watch them compete. I am particularly grateful for their engagement with Geneva’s youth and how they model sportsmanship and civic engagement.  

To our seniors, thank you for your leadership and for the standard you leave behind. To our returning players, the future of Hobart hockey remains bright, and we look forward to next season. And to Coach Taylor and his staff, thank you for continuing to build something truly special in Geneva.

I invite you to join us tomorrow, Tuesday, March 31, at noon in the Scandling Campus Center as the campus gathers to celebrate this exceptional team.

Sincerely,

Mark D. Gearan
President