March 3, 2003

GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart College ice hockey team clinched the fourth spot in the ECAC West playoffs this past weekend despite losing to sixth-ranked RIT. The Statesmen finish the year with nine points in conference play (4-5-1), two points ahead of fifth place Utica.

Hobart will face off against top-seeded RIT on March 7, at Frank Ritter Arena with the puck dropping at 7 p.m. Ticket prices are $6 for adults and $4 for students and children.

This will be the second time the two teams have met in as many weeks, and the third time the Tigers and Statesmen will play this season. RIT improved to 2-0 against Hobart this season with a 6-3 victory last weekend. The score was not indicative of the game as the Statesmen led the entire first period and were within one until the Tigers scored two empty net goals in the final minute to cement the victory.

Sporting a 14-9-2 overall record, Hobart Head Coach Mark Taylor has led the team to its first winning season since 1992-93 and needs just one win to tie the 1978-79 team’s record 15 victories.

Pacing Hobart on offense is sophomore Craig Levey (Mississauga, Ontario) with 18 goals and 14 assists, while first-year Colby McVey (Chicago, Ill.) has contributed 10 goals and 14 helpers this season.

Defensively the Statesmen are much improved from a year ago, giving up just 78 goals this season compared to 114 last year. Between the pipes sophomore goalie Adam Lavelle (Chelmsford, Mass.) earned his 24th career victory this season to become the all-time winningest goalie in Hobart history, while moving into third on the career saves list with 1,354. He sports a 3.04 goals against average and a .887 save percentage in over 1,400 minutes of action this season.