ELMIRA, N.Y. – Entering his 15th year behind the bench, Elmira College men’s ice hockey head coach Aaron Saul ’98 has announced the Soaring Eagles’ 2023-24 season schedule. The Soaring Eagles will play 11 contests at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena and 14 on the road. Elmira will look to make its third consecutive appearance in the New England Hockey Conference Tournament since joining the league in 2021-22.
The Soaring Eagles officially open the season on the road with a non-conference contest on October 27 against the Nazareth Golden Flyers. Elmira is 18-6-1 all-time against the Golden Flyers after recording a 3-1 victory last season at home.
Elmira opens the home portion of its schedule with a non-conference tilt at the Murray Athletic Ice Arena on October 28 against Oswego State at 7:00 p.m. One of the program’s oldest head-to-head matchups, the all-time series favors the Lakers (47-46-6) as they defeated the Purple & Gold on the road last season 5-2.
The NEHC schedule for the Soaring Eagles opens with two contests at home against New England College on November 3 at 7:00 p.m. and Norwich on November 4 at 4:00 p.m. Elmira is 10-4-1 all-time against NEC and 2-6-1 against Norwich. The Soaring Eagles then hit the road for back-to-back NEHC contests on November 10 against Babson and November 11 against Southern Maine.
Elmira welcomes Lebanon Valley to the MAC for a non-conference matchup on November 15 at 7:00 p.m. before embarking on a three-game road trip to close the month. The Purple & Gold travel to Geneseo State for a 4:00 p.m. faceoff on November 21 before taking part in the Utica Thanksgiving Showcase on November 24-25. Elmira will matchup for a second time against Oswego State on day one of the showcase before facing either Saint John’s University or Utica on day two.
The Soaring Eagles will play just three times during December as the Purple & Gold return to NEHC action at home with contests on December 1 against Johnson & Wales (RI) and again on December 2 against UMass Boston. The Purple & Gold will hit the road on December 9 for a matchup against SUNY Brockport to close the 2023 calendar year.
The 2024 portion of Elmira’s schedule opens with four consecutive contests on the road against NEHC opponents. Elmira will travel to face Castleton on January 5 and then Skidmore on January 6. The contest against Skidmore will be the first meeting between the two sides since Elmira dropped a 4-3 decision in overtime against the Thoroughbreds last season in the NEHC Quarterfinals. The road trip continues the following weekend as the Purple & Gold face Norwich on January 12 and New England College on January 13.
Three consecutive home contests for the Soaring Eagles opens with a matchup against Southern Maine on January 19 followed by a contest against Babson on January 20. The following weekend the Purple & Gold hosts a home-and-home series against the defending national champion Hobart Statesmen. Elmira will face Hobart on January 26 at the MAC at 7:00 p.m. before making the trip to Geneva on January 27 for a 4:00 p.m. faceoff. Elmira is 61-33-3 all-time against the Statesmen and recorded a 7-5 victory at home last season as part of Athletics Alumni Weekend.
The final month of the regular season for the Soaring Eagles opens with two contests on the road against UMass Boston (February 2) and Johnson & Wales (RI) (February 3). The Soaring Eagles wrap up the regular season at home by welcoming Skidmore to the MAC on February 9 and Castleton on February 10.
Playoffs for the NEHC will be held on February 17 (Quarterfinals), February 24 (Semifinals), and March 2 (Finals). The winner of the NEHC Tournament receives an automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA DIII Men’s Ice Hockey Championships.
For the full 2023-24 men’s ice hockey schedule, click here.
