MILTON, Mass. - The #7 Curry College men's ice hockey team heads Saturday to Geneva, N.Y. to take on #2 Hobart in the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals.
What's On the Line
The winner of Saturday's game will advance to the Semifinals of the NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championship against the winner of the Norwich vs. Endicott Quarterfinal at a site that is to be determined.
How They Got Here
One of three at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament, the Colonels defeated NESCAC Champion Bowdoin College 1-0 in an overtime thriller in the NCAA First Round at the Canton Ice House for the first NCAA Tournament win in program history. It is just the third time in Curry history that a Colonel team has earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, joining the 2003-04 men's ice hockey team and the 2008 football team.
Hobart won the NEHC in convincing fashion, defeating Babson 5-1 in the conference title game on March 4. The Statesman have a record of 26-2-0 this season, and have won nine consecutive games dating back to January 27.
Players to Watch
Netminder Reid Cooper (Corman Park, Saskatchewan) was named the CCC's Goaltender and Co-Player of the Year last week. Cooper currently ranks second in the CCC with a save percentage of .938 with a goals against average of 1.84. He has won 20 games on the season, good for third in the NCAA.
Hobart has primary used two netminders interchangeably this season, with Damon Beaver and Mavrick Goyer. Beaver has appeared in 17 games with a .956 save percentage and 1.00 goals against average, while Goyer has a .932 save percentage and 1.41 goals against in 11 games.
Curry senior Mark Zhukov (St. Petersburg, Russia) is averaging over a point and a half per game this season, with 13 goals and 24 assists for 37 points in 21 games played. Six of his 13 goals have come on the power play this season.
Classmate Nick Favaro (Vaughan, Ontario) is the anchor of Curry's vaunted power play, which ranks sixth in the nation at 27.2 percent. With eight goals and 25 assists for 33 points this season, Favaro is ranks third in the nation in scoring among defensemen.
Freshman Gage Dill (Estero, Fla.) was named CCC Rookie of the Year last season, and is tied for the team with 15 goals on the season. Dill has also accumulated 14 assists for 29 points, ranking fourth on the Colonels.
Hobart's leading scorer is sophomore Luke Aquaro, who has notched 19 goals and 16 assists for 35 points this season. In the NEHC Final, Aquaro scored two goals to lead his team to the automatic bid.
Junior Jonah Alexander is Hobart's second-leading scorer with 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points, while Shane Shell ranks third with 22 points on three goals and 19 assists.
From the Coach's Desk
"This group is a lot of fun to coach," said Curry head coach Peter Roundy. "They enjoy coming to the rink everyday and they put the work in. We are excited to still be playing and have prepared all week for a talented and deep Hobart team. We have proven all season long that we belong amongst the best team in the country and are eager for the opportunity to compete and earn a spot in the Frozen Four."
How to Watch
Saturday's NCAA Championship contest between the Colonels and the Statesman will take place at the Cooler, located at 666 S. Exchange Street in Geneva, N.Y. Tickets will be $6 for adults, $4 for students and seniors, and $3 for kids. If you are not able to attend the game, live statistics and video will be available at curryathletics.com.
#BleedPurple
