Hobart and William Smith Colleges

30 January 2013 Hobart Hockey Celebrates 50 Years

The Hobart College hockey team and Head Coach Mark Taylor are excited to welcome back former Statesmen hockey players to this years alumni weekend and celebration of 50 years of Hobart hockey. The alumni game will be played on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 3 p.m., in Geneva, N.Y., followed by an ECAC West contest between the current Statesmen and Elmira at 7 p.m. at The Cooler.

Were looking forward to this being our best alumni weekend ever. Its really special to be able to celebrate 50 years of Hobart hockey, says Taylor, whose team is currently rankedfourth in the nation by D3hockey.com and fifth by USCHO.com. Its a great opportunity to honor the early years and recognize how our program started and how its history has shaped what the program stands for today.

Taylor is only the fourth coach of the Hobart College hockey team since it became a varsity sport. The Statesmen recently earned their 375th win as a varsity program topping Elmira 4-1 on Jan. 25, 2013. Hobart captured two ECAC West Tournament titles (2004, 2012) and earned four NCAA Tournament bids, advancing to the national semifinals in 2006 and 2009. Five Statesmen Adam Lavelle 05, Greg Gallagher 06, Keith Longo 09, Andy Brennan 09 and Matt Wallace 11 have garnered six All-American awards.

The alumni game is an opportunity to catch up with former teammates and relive the old days, says Brian Duffett 90, who played for the Statesmen during the 1986-1990 seasons. Celebrating 50 years of Hobart Hockey is a great accomplishment for a program I had the opportunity to enter mid-way through, says Duffett. Its been an honor to be a part of a program that has grown to be so successful.

Hobart Hockey has come a long way since its early days on Odells pond, says Scott Mason 81, P13 who played the 1977-1981 seasons at The Cooler. Every college program has a story, but it is amazing to look at how this program has endured and succeeded; it gives me a great sense of pride.

Hobart Hockey has always been about the past, present and future, says Ryan Adler 09, founder of Hobart Hockey Helpers. The 50th celebration is a reflection of how far this program has come since its infancy.

Alums are asked to register by Monday, Feb. 11. The price for the event is $30 which includes game ticket, reception, food at the game and the postgame festivities. Registration can be completed online. Please contact Mary-Ann Rolfe (315-781-3774 or rolfe@hws.edu) with any questions.

I am tremendously proud to be associated with the Statesmen Hockey program. Bringing fellow hockey alumni together on campus has always been an annual highlight for me, notes Jared Weeden 91, assistant vice president for alumni relations and annual giving, who played for the Statesmen from 1987 1991. This years 50th celebration will be especially fun and meaningful for current and former players alike.

The alumni game will be played at 3 p.m., followed by a social at Eddie OBriens at 4:30 p.m. The fifth-ranked Statesmen will take on ECAC West rival Elmira at 7 p.m. Following the game, players, alumni, alumnae and parents are invited to gather in the Common Room in the Scandling Campus Center.