WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — The Elmira College men’s ice hockey team used a pair of late power-play goals and a career-high 46 saves from Chris Janzen ’21 to seal a 4-3 win over Wilkes University on Friday night.
It marks the third consecutive victory for the Soaring Eagles (5-2-1, 4-1-1 UCHC), who have earned all three wins on the road. Friday’s game was also Elmira’s second one-goal victory in the past nine days.
EC trailed 3-2 at the 4:32 mark in the third period, when Wilkes (3-3-0, 3-3-0 UCHC) junior Scott Mueller found the back of the net for the first time this season. Elmira needed only 1:14 to respond, as Janis Vizbelis ’24 leveled the score at three apiece. Nicholas Domitrovic ’24 and Jake Russo ’23 were each credited with assists on the tying goal.
In the 3-on-3 overtime period, the Colonels were taxed with a minor penalty for too many men, and the infraction allowed the Soaring Eagles to add an extra skater to the ice. After the power-play unit settled in the zone, Domitrovic ripped a shot from the left faceoff dot that was deflected into the corner by goalie Michael Paterson-Jones. Domitrovic then won the battle along the boards and passed the puck back towards the blue line to fellow freshman Amedeo Mastrangeli ’24. When Mastrangeli returned the puck to Domitrovic at the top of the faceoff circle, Ottawa, Ontario, native faked a one-timer, toe-dragged into the slot, and beat Paterson-Jones five-hole for the victory.
In goal, Janzen withstood heavy fire from the Colonels, who logged the most shots by an Elmira opponent this season with 49. Janzen stood tall, finishing with a career-high 46 saves while improving to 4-2-1 on the year.
In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Aaron Saul ’98 on the power-play unit coming to life with the game-tying and winning goals on Friday…
“We have been working hard on it all season and had great chances over the last few games. It was good to see them go in and help us win the game tonight.”
Coach Saul when asked about Elmira’s three-game road win streak…
“We are just taking it one game at a time. We have been working hard to be better after the loss to Utica two weeks ago.”
News and Notes
- Elmira improved to 5-2-1 overall and 4-1-1 against UCHC opponents.
- The Soaring Eagles are 3-1-0 on the road in 2021, having won three consecutive games at Nazareth (4-3), Lebanon Valley (4-2), and tonight at Wilkes (4-3, OT).
- EC tied a single-game season-high with two power-play goals.
- Domitrovic led all Soaring Eagles with two points (1g-1a), and his game-winning goal was his team-leading fifth tally of the season.
- Domitrovic has a goal in three consecutive games, while Vizbelis has netted a goal in back-to-back contests.
- Russo’s assist on the tying goal was his team-leading seventh helper of the year. The St. Louis, Missouri, native paces all EC skaters with nine points (2g-7a).
- Janzen turned away a season- and career-high 46 shots on goal, one more than the 45 saves he made in a 4-2 win over No. 2 SUNY Geneseo last season (January 14, 2020).
Up Next
Elmira will look to bring its road magic back to the friendly confines of the Murray Athletic Center on Saturday, March 20. The Soaring Eagles host the Colonels at 7:00 p.m. on Class of 2021 Recognition Night.
