UTICA, N.Y. – Matching up for the first time since the 2020-21 season, the Elmira College men’s ice hockey program recorded a 5-2 victory against third-ranked Utica University to capture the Utica University Thanksgiving Showcase Championship on Saturday at the Adirondack Bank Center.
For their efforts throughout the two-day tournament, Mitch Haight ’24, Chance Gorman ’24, Janis Vizbelis ’24, Kyle Curtin ’26, and Shawn Kennedy ’24 were all named to the All-Tournament team. Kennedy was honored with the Tournament Most Valuable Player award for the Soaring Eagles.
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: RV Elmira 5, No. 3 Utica 2
LOCATION: Utica, New York | Adirondack Bank Center
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (8-2-0, 2-2-0 NEHC), Utica (6-1-3, 5-0-1 UCHC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Following a scoreless first period of action between the Soaring Eagles and Pioneers, both sides would combine for five goals in the second period.
- Utica opened the scoring in the contest as Dante Spagnuolo found the back of the net at the 10:19 mark to give the Pioneers a 1-0 advantage.
- Elmira followed with a pair of goals to gain a 2-1 edge as Kerfalla Toure ’26 netted the equalizer at the 10:41 mark, while Vizbelis followed with the go-ahead tally at the 11:21 mark of the second period.
- The Pioneers capitalized with a power-play goal at the 12:52 mark as Brian Scoville knotted the score 2-2.
- Applying late pressure in the second period, a drive to the net by Kennedy would see the Soaring Eagles take a 3-2 advantage over the Pioneers with less than a second left to play on the scoreboard.
- Elmira opened the third period on the power play and would strike just 26 seconds into action as Bailey Krawczyk ’24 gave the Purple & Gold a 4-2 advantage over the Pioneers.
- Utica would opt to pull the goalkeeper with less than three minutes left in the contest as Gorman would skate in and hit the empty net for the Soaring Eagles to cap the scoring at 5-2 and secure the victory.
- In net for the Soaring Eagles, Curtin improved to 7-2-0 on the season as he stopped 37 shots. Curtin recorded 14 saves for the Purple & Gold in both the first and second periods while adding nine saves in the third period.
UP NEXT: The Soaring Eagles return home on December 1-2 with a pair of NEHC contests against Johnson & Wales University and UMass Boston. The Soaring Eagles will hold their annual Teddy Bear Toss on December 2nd against UMass Boston at 4:00 P.M.
