Mark Taylor

March 8, 2004

GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart College ice hockey team reached yet another milestone on Sunday, earning its first berth to the NCAA Tournament. The ECAC West Champions will travel to play the ECAC East Champions, Norwich University on March 13, at 7 p.m., at Kreitzberg Arena.

“Being such a young team, I thought we might be a year away from accomplishing this said Head Coach Mark Taylor. “We’ve told the guys all season that they have to go after Championships and that’s exactly what they did.”

“We’re excited to be playing and look forward to the challenge.”

Tickets for the contest are $8 for adults and $5 for youth. Hobart will be given an limited number of presale tickets that will go on sale at 2 p.m., on March 10, and can be purchased by calling (315) 781-3077. Fans also can purchase tickets from the Norwich ticket office at (802) 485-2500.

Hobart captured its first-ever ECAC West Tournament Championship on Saturday with a 3-1 win over ninth-ranked RIT to earn the lone Pool B bid. Beating the Tigers twice in a season for the first time in history, the Statesmen pushed their overall record to 15-7-5 and tied the 1978-79 squad’s mark for wins in a season.

Hobart was led all weekend by the stellar goaltending of junior Adam Lavelle (Chelmsford, Mass.). The ECAC West Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Lavelle made 56 saves in the two games and posted a .949 save percentage and 1.50 goals against average. For the season, he is sporting an .887 save percentage and 3.39 goals against average.

Heading the offensive charge throughout the season has been junior Craig Levey (Mississauga, Ontario) with 16 goals and 17 assists for 33 points. Sophomore Will Brame (West Hartford, Conn.) has contributed 21 points, including a pair of goals and an assist, this past weekend.

The defending national champions, Norwich will be yet another test for the Statesmen. The third-ranked Cadets are making their eighth tournament appearance and are paced on offense by junior forward Kurtis McLean’s 32 goals and 20 assists.