From the Finger Lakes Times(6/17/25)
The Hobart hockey-to-France pipeline continues as two more Statesmen are headed overseas to begin their professional careers.
Goaltender Damon Beaver ’26 and forward Kahlil Fontana ’26 have signed with Yetis du Mont-Blanc of France’s Division I Hockey League, allowing the longtime teammates to continue playing together in the French Alps.
“I’m really excited for these two,” Hobart Head Coach Mark Taylor said. “It’s great to get paid to continue to play, to do it in Mont Blanc, in the French Alps, is a bonus, but to do it with a current teammate and best friend will be memories for a lifetime.”
Beaver and Fontana become the third and fourth members of Hobart’s Class of 2026 to sign professional contracts in France. Forward Tanner Daniels signed with Cholet, while Mavrick Goyer will play in Valenciennes. Over the past two years, seven Statesmen have moved on to play professionally in France. Former Hobart standout Zach Tyson ’22, MSM’23, also played for Mont Blanc during the 2023-24 season.
Beaver leaves Hobart following one of the most decorated careers in program history. The 2026 Sid Watson Award winner posted a 20-1 record this season with a 0.99 goals-against average, a .951 save percentage, and seven shutouts. He led the nation in winning percentage, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts.
Over 79 career games, Beaver compiled a 73-5-1 record with 26 shutouts, a 1.02 goals-against average and a .955 save percentage. He set Hobart career records for wins, shutouts and save percentage, while also establishing the NCAA Division III career record for shutouts.
Fontana, a team captain, earned AHCA All-America East First Team honors following his senior season. He led Hobart with 21 goals and finished second on the team with 42 points in 31 games. He matched a program record by scoring four goals in a game during a win over Skidmore and ranked among the nation’s leaders in both goals and points per game.
The 2025 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Fontana, finished his Hobart career with 88 points on 42 goals and 46 assists in 116 games. He was also named the SUNYAC Men’s Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year in April.
Beaver and Fontana were key members of a senior class that set a program record with 116 wins and a .944 winning percentage. During their careers, the Statesmen reached four national championship games, captured three NCAA Division III national titles, and posted a perfect 68-0 record at home in The Cooler.
