Hobart's Beaver nabs USCHO Player of the Year Honors
Hobart Sports Information Department
Hobart hockey senior goalie Damon Beaver was named the USCHO D II-III Men's Ice Hockey Player of the Year today. Beaver is the first Statesman to receive this award.
The honor adds to an already impressive haul for Beaver this season. Last week, the Whitby, Ontario, native brought home the Sid Watson Award as the best NCAA Division II-III men's hockey player in the country. He was also an AHCA All-America East first team selection and was named to the All-USCHO first team. Beaver was the 2026 SUNYAC Herb Hammond Player of the Year and the SUNYAC Goaltender of the Year. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the SUNYAC Tournament.
Beaver played in 21 games during his senior season, posting a 20-1-0 record. He finished the year with a 0.99 GAA, a .951 save percentage and seven shutouts. He allowed just 20 goals on the season. Beaver was first in the nation in winning percentage (.962), GAA, save percentage and shutouts. Beaver made 20-plus saves in a game 10 times this season. His 20 wins set the Hobart single-season record and his seven shutouts matched his own program record.
One of the best goalies in program history, Beaver played in 79 career games, posting a record of 73-5-1 with 26 shutouts. He allowed just 81 goals, compiling a 1.02 GAA and a .955 save percentage. Beaver broke the Hobart career records for wins, shutouts and save percentage. He is second on Hobart's career GAA list. In NCAA Division III history, Beaver holds the record for career shutouts and is fifth in wins.
Beaver completely rewrote Hobart's records book over the last four years. He has four of the top five single-season wins marks. He won 18 games in his first two years and 17 games as a junior. Beaver has four of the top five single-season save percentage marks (minimum 300 saves), four of the top seven GAA marks and had a program record seven shutouts in a season three times.
A three-time national champion, Beaver was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team three times, including being named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player as a first-year. He was the USCHO and the NEHC Rookie of the Year in 2023. As a sophomore, Beaver was named to the All-USCHO second team and the All-NEHC second team. During his junior year, he was tabbed the NEHC Goaltender of the Year and picked up his first All-America honor.
Hobart went 30-1-0 this season, finishing the year with a program record for wins in a season. The Statesmen advanced to the national title game for the fourth straight year, but were edged in overtime 2-1 by Hamilton.
