While Hobart fell just short in achieving a perfect season and their fourth national title in a row in Sunday’s championship game against Hamilton, their stellar senior goaltender, Damon Beaver was the most significant piece in helping take the Statesmen to their first SUNYAC championship, a final No.2 ranking in the country after holding the top spot for the entire season, and a 30-win season and, for all that and more, has been named the USCHO D-III Men’s Ice Hockey Player of the Year.
Beaver played in a total of 21 games for the Statesmen this season recording a 20-1-0 record with seven shutouts. He surpassed the NCAA career record for shutouts reaching a total of 26 with his seven this season. Beaver recorded a microscopic 0.99 goals-against average and .951 save percentage in backstopping Hobart to their fourth consecutive Frozen Four where they downed Wisconsin-Stout, 4-2 in the semifinal round before losing to Hamilton, 2-1 in overtime in the championship game.
Beaver should be used to receiving recognition at this point of the season having been named the SUNYAC Player and Goaltender of the Year along with 1st Team All-SUNYAC honors, a first-team All-American from the AHCA, and most recently, the winner of the Sid Watson Award recognizing the nation’s best player at the D-II/III level.
Beaver surrendered just 20 goals on the season and just five when his team was shorthanded, continuously frustrating opponents throughout the season. Beaver holds the career record in wins at Hobart with 72 in his four years where he was also a three-time NCAA All-Tournament Team member and the NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in Hobart’s 2023 win over Adrian. He now adds the USCHO Player of the Year to his award stockpile as we conclude coverage of the 2025-26 campaign.
Can not close out the year without officially thanking all the coaches, players, SIDs, and institutions for their support over the course of the terrific 2025-26 season. hard to do this job without their considerable involvement and engagement. On to the off-season!