POTSDAM, N.Y.—Defending national champion Hobart College (1-1) overpowered the young SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (0-1) 7-0 on Saturday night in the Bears' season opener. Freshman forward Chris Duclair (Montreal, Quebec/West Kelowna Warriors) and junior forward Luke Aquaro (Yardley, Pa./Jersey Hitmen) each scored twice for Hobart.
 
The Statesmen slowly picked up momentum, probing Potsdam's defense for holes. Hobart finally broke through on the power play at 9:53 as Duclair found the back of the net. At 15:24, Aquaro made it a 2-0 contest. With 1:41 left in the first, freshman forward Mason Mara (Ocoee, Fla./Lone Star Brahmas) extended Hobart's lead to three. Bears junior goalie John Werber (Skillman, N.J./Team Maryland) was solid, stopping 13 shots in the period.
 
The second period featured more Statesmen pressure, but less scoring. Hobart fired 11 more chances on Werber, but only solved him once. Aquaro notched his second at 4:02 and the period ended with the score 4-0.
 
The Bears opened the second period on the power play. They sent five grade-A shots toward the Statesmen's net in the first two minutes. However, Hobart sophomore goalie Maverick Goyer (Ste-Sophie, Quebec/Truro Bearcats) withstood his most serious challenge of the night. Hobart then closed out the contest with three more goals. Freshman forward Logan Gotinsky (Macomb, Mich./Schreveport Mudbugs) struck at 9:05 and Duclair tallied his second while on the power play at 10:56. Sophomore forward Tanner Hartman (Chicago, Ill./New Hampshire Monarchs) scored from the right side of the crease at 14:56.
 
Werber finished with 36 saves for the Bears. Goyer stopped 14 shots to earn the shutout. Hobart was 2-for-3 on the power play and Potsdam was 0-for-3.
 
The Bears are back in action when they head to SUNY Canton on Tuesday night for 7 p.m. contest.