Mason Family Hobart Head Hockey Coach Mark Taylor recently announced his leadership group for the 2023-24 season. Seniors Artem Buzoverya, Jared Patterson and Matthieu Wuth will serve as captains while senior Jonah Alexander and junior Luke Aquaro will serve as assistant captains.
“It seems a repetitive comment year after year, but I am excited with this leadership group and more than confident in this group,” Taylor said. “Certainly, they’ve already proven their leadership qualities in their time here so they are worthy of responsibility. Plus, they know they have a deep group of program carriers with them.”
Buzoverya, a native of Kharkiv, Ukraine, is back for his fourth year as a forward for the Statesmen. An assistant captain in 2022-23, he played in all 31 games at center. He finished the season with 17 points on four goals and 13 assists. Buzoverya logged an assist in all three New England Hockey Conference tournament games and two of the three NCAA tournament games. He was Hobart’s top man in the faceoff circle, winning 378 faceoffs, including a season-high 19 in the national championship game against Adrian. In 59 career games, he has 39 points on 12 goals and 27 assists.
In the classroom, Buzoverya has been just as successful. He has represented the Statesmen as an AHCA All-American Scholar three times and earned NEHC All-Academic praise twice. He was also a recipient of Hobart’s Arnold Memorial Scholar0Athlete Award.
Patterson and Wuth anchored Hobart’s defense that ranked No. 1 in the nation last season. The Statesmen allowed a mere 1.19 goals per game on their way to capturing the first national championship in program history. Hobart allowed a mere 37 goals last year, the fewest in program history. The 1.19 GAA lowered the program record by nearly half a goal per game.
Patterson, a native of Greely, Ontario, has played four years on the blue line for the Statesmen. An assistant captain last season, Patterson played in all 31 games, producing 13 points on a goal and 12 assists. He finished fourth on the team with 24 blocked shots, including three blocked shots in the national championship game. Patterson recorded a season-high two assists three times last year. Patterson has played in 51 career games, recording 18 points on a goal and 17 assists.
Patterson also excels in the classroom. He is a two-time NEHC All-Academic pick and a two-time AHCA All-American Scholar.
Wuth, a native of Westminster, Colorado, is also in his fourth year as a defender for Hobart. He was also an assistant captain on Hobart’s run to the national title. Wuth played in 29 games, recording eight points on two goals and six assists. He finished the year third on the team with 25 blocked shots. Wuth was named to the NEHC All-Tournament team. He had eight blocked shots in the tournament including five in the championship game against Babson. In the national semifinals against Endicott, Wuth recorded a season-high two assists. He has appeared in 44 career games. He has 13 points on nine goals and four assists.
Wuth is a two-time AHCA All-American Scholar and a two-time NEHC All-Academic selection.
A native of Toronto, Ontario, Alexander is in his third season as a forward for the Statesmen. A CCM/AHCA All-America East second team selection, Alexander, played in 30 games and shared the team lead with 20 assists last year. He was second on the team with 35 points and 15 goals. The first team All-NEHC selection, was second in the league in points per game (1.13), sixth in goals per game (0.5), and sixth in assists per game (0.63). Alexander had a goal an and assist in Hobart’s victory over Babson in the NEHC Championship game. He also set up Hobart’s first goal in the national championship game. Alexander has played in 55 career games, recording 56 points on 21 goals and 35 assists.
Alexander was named a third team College Sports Communicators Academic All-American last year and is a two-time AHCA All-American Scholar.
The reigning NEHC Player of the Year, Aquaro, is a native of Yardley, Pennsylvania. He appeared in 27 games, recording a team-high 21 goals and 39 points. He was first in the nation with a Hobart season record seven game-winning goals, ranked fourth in the nation in goals per game (0.78), 12th in points per game and 15th in power-play goals (6). Aquaro was the runner-up for the Sid Watson Award given to the national play of the year and was a first team CCM/AHCA All-America East selection. He recorded at least one point in all three NCAA tournament games, including a goal and an assist in the national championship game, on his way to earning a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament team. Aquaro also won a silver medal with the USA hockey team at the World University games last winter. He has played in 53 career games, recording 71 points on 37 goals and 34 assists.
For his efforts in the classroom, Aquaro was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-Americ All-America At-Large First Team and is a two-time AHCA All-American Scholar.
Hobart will open the 2023-24 season on Oct. 27 with a non-conference matchup at Oswego State. Hobart will welcome Norwich to The Cooler on Nov. 4 for its home and NEHC opener.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].