Beverly, MA – The Adrian College NCAA men’s hockey team faced Hobart College in the Division III National Championship on Sunday night. The Bulldogs were looking to become the fourth program in NCAA Division III history to win back-to-back championships. Unfortunately for Adrian, they were unable to do so as they fell 3-2 in overtime to Hobart.
The Statesmen jumped out and took a 2-0 lead in the first period. Under a minute after Hobart’s second goal, Ty Enns scored on a power play to make it 2-1. The second period was a hard-fought battle with the Bulldogs starting to swing the momentum. After a scoreless second period and a scoreless first half of the third, the Bulldogs tied the game.
Mathew Rehding sent a pass through the Hobart defense, right onto the stick of Matus Spodniak, who one-timed it past the goaltender. Spodniak became the first Adrian 30-goal scorer since Shawn Skelly in 2008.
It took more than regulation to determine a winner as Adrian headed into their third overtime game in the NCAA Tournament this season. All of AC’s NCAA postseason games went to OT this year. The Bulldogs controlled most of overtime, but Hobart found a chance off of a blocked shot by Adrian to score the game winner and defeat the Bulldogs.
2023 marked the fifth Frozen Four appearance for Adrian and the third National Championship game appearance. The program is now 1-2 in Championship games. Adrian finishes the year with a 25-5-2 record.