The top-ranked Hobart College hockey team and 13th-ranked Norwich University battled to a 1-1 tie at Kreitzberg Arena this evening. Hobart is now 14-2-1 overall with an 8-1-1 mark in conference play.
Junior Shane Shell scored for the Statesmen. Sophomore Damon Beaver played all 65 minutes in goal. He made a career-high 37 saves in the tie. Twenty-four of those saves came in the third period and in overtime to preserve the draw.
Holden Doggett scored for the Cadets (9-4-3, 6-2-3). Sami Molu made 26 saves in 65 minutes of work in goal for Norwich.
KEY STATS
- Norwich finished the game with a 38-27 edge in shots on goal, including a 10-3 edge in the overtime session.
- Hobart was 0-for-2 on the power play and Norwich was 0-for-1 with the man advantage. The Cadets’ power-play opportunity came in the overtime session.
- The Statesmen have killed all 46 of its opponents’ power-play opportunities to start the season.
SCORING SUMMARY
- Hobart opened the scoring at the 17:25 mark of the second period. Shane shell blasted a shot from the right faceoff circle past Molu for his second goal of the year. Senior Jonah Alexander was awarded an assist on the goal.
- Norwich tied the game 37 seconds into the third period. Doggett chipped a shot from the slot past Beaver. His fourth goal of the season was assisted by Cooper Bertrand and Colin Elliott.
LEAVE IT TO BEAVER
- Following the Doggett goal, Beaver was lights out, stopping the final 13 shots of the final frame. He made several highlight real stops including a glove save On Patrick O’Neal early in the third period.
- Beaver also stopped a pair of Clark Kerner shots late in the period.
- In overtime with Norwich on the power play, Beaver made five saves, including two on Johnny Johnson.
- With 32 seconds left in the extra session Beaver robbed Bryan O’Mara of breakaway. Beaver’s sprawling save kept it a 1-1 game.
UP NEXT
Hobart will be back in action next weekend, Jan. 19-20, when it returns to The Cooler for a pair of NEHC games. The Statesmen will take on Babson on Friday and 7 p.m. and the University of Southern Maine on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].