The Skidmore College men's hockey team is traveling to Hobart to take on Norwich in the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) Semifinal on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. at "The Cooler" in Geneva.
 
NEW ENGLAND HOCKEY CONFERENCE SEMIFINAL
#2 Norwich University Cadets (14-9-3) vs. #4 Skidmore College Thoroughbreds (14-12)
 
GAME COVERAGE
Live Video
Live Stats
Digital Program
 
ABOUT SKIDMORE
The Thoroughbreds used the heroics of Cooper Rice last week in the quarterfinals against Salve Regina. His third goal of the game in overtime lifted the team to a dramatic 4-3 win over the Seahawks at home. Oscar Worob also scored for Skidmore in the opening round, and Joshua Seeley made 26 saves. The Thoroughbreds are looking to make it to their third championship game in the last four years. Skidmore will make its fourth-straight semifinal appearance on Saturday. Also coming in hot, the Thoroughbreds have won seven out of their last nine now with a season record of 14-12. Skidmore is ranked third in the NEHC with a 24.4-percent power play which ranks 19^th in Division III. The Thoroughbreds are 23^rd nationally with a 3.38 scoring average. Evan Brown leads the team with 10 goals and 17 points, while Danny Magnuson shares the team lead with him with 17 helpers. Joshua Seeley is 12-6 with a 2.46 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage.
 
ABOUT NORWICH
The Cadets advanced to the semis for the second time since 2020 with a 3-2 victory over Elmira on Saturday. Clark Kerner, Bryan O'Mara, and Johnny Johnson scored, and Sami Molu made 27 saves for the Cadets in the win. Norwich enters the semifinal round winners of six of its last eight contests stretching its overall record to 14-9-3. The Cadets are second in the NEHC and 18^th in Division III allowing just 2.36 goals per game. The Norwich power play is at 23.3 percent, which is fourth in the conference and 22^nd in the nation. Kerner is the team's leading scorer with 10 goals and 13 assists. Molu is 13-9-3 with a 2.27 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.
 
ABOUT HOBART
Hobart's last loss on home ice came just over three years ago against Skidmore in the NEHC Semifinal. The Statemen have won each of their last 50 games at The Cooler. The two-time defending national champions are 24-1-1 on the season. Hobart advanced with a 3-1 win over Albertus Magnus last weekend. Hobart is first in scoring defense (1.00), first in scoring margin (3.35), first in winning percentage (.942), and third in assists (201). Tanner Daniels, the NEHC Player of the Year, has 16 goals and 20 assists. Damon Beaver and Mavrick Goyer are a combined 24-1-1 with a 0.996 goals-against average and a .954 save percentage in net for the Statesmen.  
 
ABOUT NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE
The Pilgrims upset Babson on the road last week, 2-0, to make it to the semifinals. NEC is 11-14-1 on the season with big wins over Norwich, Skidmore and Elmira before the playoff road win at Babson. Hobart swept NEC 6-0 and 3-1 three weeks ago in Geneva. The Pilgrims have three players with 10 or more goals, but Jesper Tarkiainen (5-15—20) leads the team in points. NEHC Rookie of the Year Anthony Beauleu is 11-12-1 with a 2.38 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage.
 
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
The season series between Skidmore and Norwich was a split after the teams played two weeks ago in Saratoga Springs. Skidmore won the first game, 5-3, before the Cadets climbed up to the two seed with a 4-2 victory the next day. Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Skidmore is 2-3-3 against Norwich. Norwich leads the series dating back to 2000, 30-5-7. The last playoff meeting between Skidmore and Norwich was all the way back in 2014; Norwich won 6-0 in an ECAC East quarterfinal at Kreitzberg Arena.
 
NEXT
Saturday's winner will take on the winner of the other semifinal (#1 Hobart vs. #6 New England College) on Sunday at 3 p.m. for the conference crown. The champion will claim the NEHC's NCAA automatic bid.