ELMIRA, N.Y. – First-year head coach Jake Bobrowski has released the 2022 Elmira College Women’s Ice Hockey schedule, which includes 12 games at home, with a December 31 contest against Hamilton played at First Arena in Downtown Elmira.
In their first season in the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC), the Soaring Eagles were able to continue their winning ways, capturing both the NEHC Regular Season and Tournament titles, along with a trip to the Frozen Four hosted by Middlebury College back in March.
Along with team success a year ago, the Soaring Eagles placed seven individuals on NEHC All-Conference teams, 12 on the All-Academic squad, along with three (Leonie-Louise Kuehberger ’25, Jenny Heath ’22, and Eliza Beaudin ’22) on CCM/ACHA All-American teams. Along with Beaudin, who captured CoSIDA Academic All-American and Empire 8 Co-Woman of the Year honors, Sydney Harris ’21 signed a professional contract with the Finnish Club, RoKi Naiset.
Elmira kicks off the 2022 season with a rematch from its season-opener in 2021 when it faces Utica on home ice (Oct. 28). Last season, the Soaring Eagles skated to a 5-1 victory against the Pioneers as Mary McCafferty ’22 netted a pair of goals.
From there, EC heads right into NEHC play with a pair of road games against Southern Maine (Nov. 4), and Salem State (Nov. 5). During their first season in NEHC play, the Soaring Eagles were able to outscore both the Huskies and Vikings 28-1 over five games which included the conference quarterfinals against Salem State.
The Purple & Gold return home on November 11 for a Route 14 matchup against William Smith before returning the trip just a day later (Nov. 12) against the Herons. Elmira posted a 3-2 overtime win against the opposition in its first matchup a season ago before winning 10-0 inside the Murray Athletic Center the next night. The two teams met in the NEHC semifinals on February 26, with EC picking up a 4-0 victory.
Elmira plays its first full weekend inside the MAC on November 18-19 with matchups against UMass Boston and Johnson & Wales, respectively.
After playing six of the first seven games with NEHC implications, the Soaring Eagles head to the campus of SUNY Plattsburgh for the Panther/Cardinal Classic (Nov. 26-27). On Saturday, the Soaring Eagles will see a rematch of the NCAA Semifinals from a season ago when taking on the Panthers from Middlebury College. A day later, Elmira will be slated to play either Wisconsin-River Falls or Plattsburgh St. in either the consolation or championship round. Last season, the Soaring Eagles fell to Middlebury 2-1 in the opening round, before defeating the #1 nationally-ranked Cardinals in the consolation matchup.
The middle part of Elmira’s longest road trip of the season (six games) places the Soaring Eagles back in the New England region for a pair of games against Plymouth State (Dec. 2) and Castleton (Dec. 3). The Soaring Eagles defeated the Spartans in the conference finals last season, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Prior to the holiday break, Elmira heads to Northfield, Vermont for the Norwich East-West Hockey Classic (Dec. 10-11). In the opener, EC is set to face Plattsburgh State before taking on either Norwich or Adrian in the consolation or championship round. A season ago, the Cardinals defeated the Purple & Gold 4-3 in the classic before posting a 2-2 tie against the #8 ranked Bulldogs.
Elmira ends December and begins the new year with its longest homestand of the season, starting with a December 31 matchup against Hamilton College at First Arena. All time, the Soaring Eagles have posted an 11-0 record against the Continentals dating back to 2003. From there, EC hosts Norwich (Jan. 6), New England College (Jan.7), Salem State (Jan. 13), Southern Maine (Jan. 14), and wraps up its homestand with a rematch of the NCAA Tournament First Round against Nazareth (Jan. 21).
Four of the final six regular season games will be played on the road, beginning with a trip to Providence, Rhode Island to take on Johnson & Wales (Jan. 27). A day later, EC takes on UMass Boston (Jan. 28).
The final home weekend of the year for the Purple & Gold features games against Castleton (Feb. 4), along with Plymouth State (Feb. 5). The February 5 game against the Panthers serves as the Class of 2023 Recognition Day. From there, EC takes one final trip to the New England Region, wrapping up the regular season against New England College (Feb. 11) and Norwich (Feb. 12).
The New England Hockey Conference Tournament begins on February 18 with the Semifinal Round and concludes with the championship on March 4.
To see the full 2022-23 schedule along with promotional events, click here.
