The Hobart Statesmen and William Smith Herons represent Hobart and William Smith Colleges in a wide array of intercollegiate athletics. Among these, the Hobart Statesmen ice hockey team stands out, boasting a history marked by dedication, growth, and ultimately, championship glory.
Originally known as the Hobart Deacons, Hobart's athletic teams adopted the "Statesmen" moniker in 1936. This change followed the football team's season opener against Amherst College, where The New York Times referred to the team as "the statesmen from Geneva," and the name has endured ever since.
The colleges compete in NCAA Division III, with the exception of men's lacrosse, which competes in the Division I Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10).
The Statesmen ice hockey team is currently led by Coach Mark Taylor. Since the 2000-2001 season, Coach Taylor has led the Statesmen to a 435-177-56 record and a .693 win percentage (as of 4/1/2025), and eleven 20-plus-win seasons.
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Hobart's first official club hockey team emerged around 1962-63. According to recollections from team members, they were "a bunch of guys with equipment at the bottom of duffle bags," many of whom hadn't played much since high school. Despite the challenges, they competed against teams like Syracuse, Ithaca, and RIT, demonstrating spirit and desire.
With funding from the Board of Control, Hobart’s first official club team began play under Coach Charles Boswell II ’50, GP’20.
The team gained momentum over the years. "For the first time ever, the [hockey] team has been granted some financial assistance by the Hobart Athletic Department".
In their first season of varsity competition the Statesmen skaters finished with a 15-16-1 slate. Coach Bill Turner’s squad recorded victories over such established programs at RIT, Geneseo and Lehigh. Bill Bergan ’86 is named team MVP.
The Statesmen appear in their first of 12 NCAA tournaments. Hobart wins their second consecutive NEHC regular season title, second NEHC tournament title and first ever NCAA DIII national title.
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The pinnacle of the program's success came in 2023 when the Statesmen won their first NCAA Division III Ice Hockey Championship, defeating the defending champions from Adrian College 3-2 in overtime.
Rivalries
Hobart's archrival in football is Union College in Schenectady, New York.
Record Against Opponents
Here's a glimpse at Hobart's historical performance against various opponents:
| Opponent | Overall Record |
|---|---|
| Adrian College | 1-1 |
| Albertus Magnus College | 2-1 |
| American International College | 1-1 |
| Amherst College | 4-1 |
| Babson College | 11-12-6 |
| Binghamton University | 11-0 |
| Buffalo State | 28-8-4 |
| Canisius University | 15-27-1 |
| Colby College | 1-1 |
| Connecticut College | 1-2 |
| Cortland | 32-21-3 |
| Curry College | 12-0 |
| Elmira College | 39-61-3 |
| Endicott College | 1-1 |
| Erie Community College | 0-2 |
| Fredonia | 10-12-3 |
| Hamilton College | 5-14-1 |
| Holy Cross | 4-4 |
| Iona University | 3-3 |
| Johnson & Wales University | 10-0 |
| Lebanon Valley College | 19-3-1 |
| Lehigh University | 8-0 |
| Manhattanville University | 26-24-6 |
| Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | 1-1 |
| Mercyhurst University | 2-18 |
| Middlebury College | 4-3-1 |
| Nazareth University | 12-2-1 |
| Neumann University | 34-13-6 |
| New England College | 15-2-1 |
| Niagara University | 2-4 |
| Nichols College | 7-0 |
| Norwich University | 11-8-2 |
| Oswego State | 12-36-3 |
| Plattsburgh State | 2-7-1 |
| Ramapo College | 1-1 |
| RIT | 7-52-1 |
| Salem State University | 0-2 |
| Salve Regina | 9-0 |
| Skidmore College | 24-4-1 |
| Southern New Hampshire University | 3-1 |
| St. Bonaventure University | 17-5-1 |
| St. John Fisher University | 1-0-1 |
| St. John's University | 4-0 |
This table provides a comprehensive overview of the Hobart Statesmen's performance against various opponents throughout their history.
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