PHOTO GALLERY

GENEVA, N.Y.— Defending national champion Hobart College showed why it is the big favorite to defend its title with a 5-0 win over Skidmore College in the New England Hockey Conference championship game Saturday night. The Thoroughbreds are 19-7-2, while the Statesmen take a 25-2-1 record into the NCAA tournament.

• Tate Brandon did all he could to keep Skidmore in the game with a career-high 51 saves. The senior netminder has set almost every Skidmore season and career goaltending record.

• Brandon stood on his head with 20 straight first period saves before Hobart snuck one past him with off a scramble in front with only 6.4 seconds left. Ingnat Belov collected the loose puck and in front and scored his 17^th of the season from Artem Buzoverya and Tanner Hartman.
• Hobart carried the momentum into the second period, making it 2-0 just 33 seconds in. Kahlil Fontana scored from Tanner Daniels and Jared Patterson. Hartman scored the short-handed at 8:55 for a 3-0 advantage at the second break.
• The Statesmen added an insurance goal 26 seconds into the third and an empty netter at 18:33. Buzoverya scored the fouth goal and Chris Duclair had the empty net score.
• Hobart outshot Skidmore 56-21. Statesman goalie Damon Beaver had 21 saves, 15 in the second period.
• Faceoffs were 36-35 Skidmore. Everett Wardle led the way, going 16-8 to lead all players.
• Danny Magnuson and Jaden York represented the Thoroughbreds on the all-tournament team.
• Skidmore has played in two of the last three NEHC championship games.