The Fog Cup was decided Nov. 15, when Fredonia visited Hobart in a non-conference game.
Unusually warm weather coupled with very high humidity and an outdoor rink all worked together to cause extensive fog both on the ice and around the glass surrounding the playing surface. Hobart prevailed in the eerie contest, 4-1.
“We played into the whole Bruins-Edmonton game thing to our players,” said Hobart coach Mark Taylor, recalling a 1990 Stanley Cup finals game where the fog was so think that fans and TV viewers literally could not see the players on the ice.
This game wasn’t that bad, but there were times when the goalies couldn’t see each other, especially in the third period.
Fredonia enjoyed a distinct territorial advantage throughout this game, outshooting Hobart, 46-24. But Statesmen netminder Adam Lavelle was stellar in net, turning away 45 of the 46 shots.
“Adam was key for us in this game,” said Taylor. “He has been playing great over the last few games.”
“Their goalie played well, and has been playing well for them,” said Fredonia coach Jeff Meredith.
The first period was scoreless for most of it, even with Fredonia mounting extensive pressure and having three odd-man rushes in the period. But it was Hobart who drew first blood with a late goal at the 19:36 mark. R.C. Schmidt sent a wrister high in to the net for the tally.
“We have been making a habit lately of letting in late-period goals, game after game,” said Meredith.
The two teams traded goals midway through the second period, and then lightening struck again against Fredonia. Hobart scored its third goal of the game with only 2:02 left in the second period, and carried the momentum of the late goal in to the locker room.
“Scoring late goals was one of our game objectives,” said Taylor. “We want to win the plus-minus battle, both at the beginning and at the end of each period.”
That objective paid off in this game, as three of the four Hobart goals were scored with two minutes or less left in a period. Freshman Kevin Coakley notched two goals in the game, with sophomore Chris Doolan chipping in one goal and two assists.
