The Middlebury men's ice hockey team hosted top-ranked Hobart on Saturday from Chip Kenyon '85 Arena in the first matchup of the 2026 slate for both teams. The Panthers fell by a 7-0 decision.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Luc Malkhassian looked to get the hosts on the board at the 3:13 mark via a wrister off a faceoff. Statesmen goalie Damon Beaver slid to his right to deny the bid.
• The Panthers manufactured a chance about three minutes later. Bobby May raced down the left side of the ice and fired a riser that Beaver smothered.
• Hobart grabbed a 1-0 lead with 8:04 remaining in the first stanza. Tommy McDonough fired a quick pass to a darting Bauer Morrissey, who pushed the puck past goalie Andrew Heinze.
• The Statesmen added to their lead 1:20 later when Josh Doolan deposited a rising shot into the back of the net for a 2-0 advantage.
• Doolan lit the lamp a second time with 3:27 remaining, finding the right side of the net to make it 3-0.
• Hobart added to its lead 3:20 into the second period when Adam Ondris tucked a look inside the left post.
• The Panthers mustered a doorstep bid a minute later. Edward Moskowitz corralled a cross-ice feed from Christian Wood and fired, but a sprawled-out Beaver turned away his chance.
• Hobart tallied the fifth goal of the evening with 13:03 elapsed off the stick of Chris Duclair.
• Immediately after the goal, Dante Palombo and Dimitri Tzaferis combined for three point-blank bids spanning three seconds beginning at the 13:22 mark. Beaver stood tall and stonewalled each chance. 
• The Statesmen added two more goals from Ondris (3:55) and Conor Lally (7:22) in the final stanza to cap the contest.

NOTES

• Heinze and Conor Sullivan combined for 38 saves in the contest.
• The programs met for the ninth time.

The Panthers embark on a six-game road trip beginning Sunday against New England College at 4:00 p.m.