UTICA, N.Y. — The exciting 2017-18 season for the Elmira College men’s ice hockey team came to a close today, as the Soaring Eagles fell to No. 10/9-ranked Utica College, 8-3, in the title game of the inaugural United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) Tournament at the Adirondack Bank Center. The runner-up result for EC is the team’s best finish in a campaign since 2013-14.
The difference in today’s contest came down to power-plays, as the Pioneers cashed in on five of their seven extra-man advantages, while Elmira went 2-for-3 on the evening. This factor exhibited itself in the first 6:40 of the contest, as Gregg Burmaster put Utica up 1-0 with a power-play goal. Extra-man strikes from Daniel Fritz and Roman Ammirato over the next 10 minutes put the Soaring Eagles down 3-0 heading into the first intermission.
Utica continued to pour it on in the second period, as Mikhail Bushinski’s eventual game-winner and a tally from Kyle Lajeunesse gave the home team a sizable 5-0 advantage.
Elmira jumpstarted its offense in the second period with a power-play goal from Anthony Parrucci ’20 at the 8:09 mark. Both Connor Powell ’20 and Nick Ford ’20 earned assists on the play.
Ford would put the Soaring Eagles down 5-2 with a power-play goal of his own about eight-and-a-half minutes later. Ryan Blais ’21 dished out the primary assist on the tally, while Powell earned the secondary helper.
The second-period push by the Purple and Gold proved to not be enough, however, as three straight tallies by the Pioneers put the EC margin to six, 8-2, with just 4:47 left in the tilt. A Patrick Schmelzinger ’20 goal with under three minutes left in the bout resulted in an 8-3 setback for the Soaring Eagles. Spencer Carter ’20 and Adam Eby ’21 both recorded assists on the play.
NEWS AND NOTES
Elmira was named the runner-up in the first-ever UCHC Tournament.
EC ends the 2017-18 campaign with a 15-10-3 overall record.
The Soaring Eagles’ loss today was their first in three tries to Utica this season.
Despite the setback tonight, the Purple and Gold still own a 27-18-6 advantage over its long-time conference rival.
Elmira ends the year 5-3-0 against nationally-ranked opponents.
EC’s eight goals allowed tonight are the most it has given up this year.
The Soaring Eagles tallied a power-play goal in four of the last five games.
Ford concludes the season tied for the national lead in points with 50 (25g-25a).
Ford became the first Soaring Eagle in over 20 seasons to tally 50 points in a campaign.
Powell ends the year tied with Utica’s Dalton Carter for the conference lead in assists with 28.
Blais finished with 22 points (2g-20a) on the year, the most by an EC defender since former All-American Karl Linden ’11 logged 29 points (7g-22a) as a sophomore in 2008-09.
Schmelzinger’s goal is the first of his sophomore season.
Carter’s assist was his first of the postseason.
Gennaro Anzevino ’21 ends the year with a team-high nine wins.
The loss today ended a six-game unbeaten streak for the rookie.
