Hobart defeats Oswego State in the 2026 SUNYAC Championship (Photo by Kevin Colton – @hwsphotog)
The cream of the crop is beginning to rise following the first round of the NCAA Men’s Championship, as the field narrows and teams continue their pursuit of a national title. Still, one team stands above the rest. The Hobart College Statesmen, an unbeaten 28-0-0 and in search of a fourth straight national championship, take center stage this weekend as they host the St. Norbert College Green Knights at The Cooler this Saturday night.
These two programs have only met once before, a 2006 NCAA semifinal matchup that saw St. Norbert come away with a 5-4 victory before falling to Middlebury in the national championship.
The Statesmen enter this matchup following a first-round bye as the top seed after a dominant regular season & SUNYAC tournament run, not allowing a single goal while scoring 11 across three games in the playoffs. Earlier this season, Hobart set a new college hockey record with 68 consecutive home wins, surpassing Cornell’s previous mark of 63 on February 20 against Oswego State. They now carry a 34-game overall winning streak into the NCAA quarterfinal round.
St. Norbert presents the toughest test Hobart has faced this season and the first true opportunity to see how the Statesmen respond against a battle-tested postseason opponent in the Green Knights as they come of their dramatic 5-4 win over University of New England.
In net, Hobart is anchored by Damon Beaver, who has been dominant his entire college career. In 18 appearances this season, Beaver holds a perfect 18-0-0 record with seven shutouts, a .956 save percentage, and a 0.89 goals-against average. He’s yet to allow a goal in postseason play. As a team, Hobart has allowed fewer than one goal per game, with every goaltender on the roster posting a sub-1.00 GAA and a save percentage above .940.
Offensively, the Statesmen have been just as effective, leading the nation with 151 goals in 28 games. They’re led by Salve Regina transfer Arvega Hovsepyan, who’s recorded a team-high 41 points on 11 goals and 30 assists. Kahlil Fontana has driven the scoring touch, totaling 20 goals and 20 assists and consistently delivering in key moments. We’ll see if Fontana can come up with another Bobby Orr moment as he did in the national championship last season against Utica, scoring a highlight game-winner in overtime. Overall, Hobart’s depth has always been a major factor, with every skater recording at least one point this season.
The Green Knights enter off a 5-4 thriller against the University of New England in the opening round. They earned their NCAA bid through the NCHA automatic qualifier, defeating Aurora 3-1 in the Harris Cup Final and closed the season on an eight-game winning streak after a few bumps in the road this season. Their win over UNE also marked the final game at the Cornerstone Community Center as the program prepares to move into a new multimillion dollar facility next season. If history says anything, St. Norbert is never a team to overlook in March, as they put it themselves: “Death. Taxes. Cogs in March.”
In net, St. Norbert is anchored by Hunter Garvey, who has been a steady presence all season despite his rough start against the Nor’Easters last weekend. In 27 appearances, Garvey holds a 19-5-2 record with a 1.92 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. Offensively, Logan Dombrowsky leads the team with 37 points on 13 goals and 24 assists, while Calvin Hanson paces the team with 16 goals. Like Hobart, St. Norbert has received production throughout its lineup, with every skater recording at least one point this season. The Green Knights also come in with momentum after Jack Christen’s game-winning goal with a mere 13 seconds remaining against UNE after the Nor’Easters tied it up 27 seconds prior.
Both programs carry championship expectations, driven by two of the most accomplished head coaches in Division III hockey.
Hobart is led by Mark Taylor:
- Career Record: 463-177-56 (.705) – 25 seasons
- National Championships (3): 2023, 2024, 2025
- 10 Conference Championships (ECAC West, NEHC, SUNYAC)
- 114-5-2 record since the beginning of 2022-23 season
- 68-game home winning streak (NCAA men’s hockey record – all divisions)
- 11 straight NCAA tournament appearances
- Elmira College ’85
St. Norbert is guided by Tim Coghlin, who recently recorded his 700th career win and owns an all-time record of 704-192-63 (.767)
- Career Record 704-192-63 (.767) – 32 seasons
- National Championships (5): 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018
- 22 NCAA tournament appearances (only missed the tournament six times since 1996-97)
- 12 Frozen Four appearances
- 9 title game appearances (tied for most in D-III history)
- 16 Conference Championships (NCHA)
- Wisconsin-Stevens Point ’89
For both sides, anything short of a national championship falls below the standard, making this quarterfinal matchup undoubtably the most significant games of the weekend, despite there being three other great matchups.
With a trip to the Frozen Four just down the road from Geneva, NY on the line, this matchup feels bigger than a typical quarterfinal. Hobart enters as the three-time defending powerhouse, riding historic win streaks and looking to continue its pursuit of a fourth straight national title. On the other side, St. Norbert brings an unmatched historical postseason pedigree and momentum, fresh off a conference championship and a dramatic opening-round win. It’s a clash between a team that hasn’t been touched all season and one that always thrives in March under Coach Coghlin.
Puck drop is set for 7pm ET Saturday night at The Cooler, where Mark Taylor & Hobart will look to defend home ice and extend its historic run, while Tim Coghlin & his Green Knights look to play spoiler and dethrone the current king of D-III hockey.
