Skidmore to Host Babson in Feb. 24 ECAC East Hockey Quarterfinal

February 19, 2007

The Skidmore hockey team will host Babson College in an Eastern College Athletic Conference East Quarterfinal game at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at the Saratoga Springs City Rink. This is the first time the Thoroughbreds will host an ECAC East playoff game since joining the league in the 1998-99 season.

Tickets ($5 general admission and $3 for students with I.D.) go on sale at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Sports and Recreation Center front desk. Sale times will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Any remaining tickets will be available beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday at the rink.

The Thoroughbreds are seeded third in the eight-team event with a 12-5-2 ECAC East record and 16-7-2 overall mark, while Babson (11-7-1, 15-9-1) is seeded sixth.

Defending ECAC East champion Norwich (14-5, 19-6) is the top seed and will host number eight UMass-Boston (3-16, 5-19-1). Second seed New England College (13-5-1, 15-9-1) will host number seven Salem State (5-14, 9-16) and number four Southern Maine (12-5-2, 15-8-2) will host number five Castleton State (11-4-4, 16-5-4).

The top remaining seed will host the ECAC East semifinals Friday, March 2, and championship game Saturday, March 3. The winner earns the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III championships.

The Thoroughbreds are enjoying their first winning season in the East and their best season since 1995-96, when they ended with a record of 17-7-1. Skidmore beat Babson 5-0 on Jan. 26 at the Saratoga Springs Rink.

Senior Rob Hutchison leads Skidmore in scoring with 10 goals and 19 assists for 29 points. Freshman Matt Czerkowicz is right behind him with 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points. Freshman goalie D. J. Delbouono has a school-record three shutouts, a 2.42 goals against average, and .925 save percentage.

Babson went 5-1-1 over the final seven games of the regular season, including a 3-1 win over New England College, a 5-0 shutout over Williams and a 2-2 tie with Middlebury.  Sophomore Brad Baldelli leads the Beavers in scoring with 15 goals and 16 assists for 31 points. Sophomore goalie Skylar Nipps has a 2.60 goals against average and .901 save percentage in 19 games.