ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Summer is here to stay for a few months in the Southern Tier, but that does not mean it is too early to start thinking about the upcoming ice hockey season. Head Coach of the Elmira College men's ice hockey team, Aaron Saul '98, has released the 25-game regular season schedule for the upcoming 2016-17 campaign, which features 15 home contests that will be played at EC's Murray Athletic Center in Pine Valley, New York. 
 
A quick glance at this year's schedule shows a handful of new opponents added to the docket for the Soaring Eagles, including a renewed rivalry with SUNYAC foe Oswego State. Elmira opens the year with a home-and-home series with the Lakers, beginning with a road tilt on Friday, October 28th, before facing off the following night at the MAC.
 
Also new to the schedule are the newest members of the ECAC West Conference, Stevenson University and Lebanon Valley College. Both teams will host a game on their home ice and will also make the trek out to Pine Valley for a conference bout.
 
Other new additions to the 2016-17 slate are Nichols College, a team EC will meet for the first time in its 43-year history, and SUNY Cortland, a program Elmira has a rich history against but has not faced since the 2013-14 season.
 
Schedule Highlights

• Elmira's regular season schedule features 25 games (15 home; 10 away).
• The 15 regular-season home games are the most the team has played in over 19 seasons.  
• Seven of the 15 home contests will be against ECAC West opponents.
• The 2016-17 home opener is set for Saturday, October 29th against Oswego State at 7:00 p.m.
• Five of the first six contests of the year take place on the road.
• Elmira opens ECAC West play on Friday, November 4th on the road against Stevenson at 7:00 p.m.
• EC's first home conference game is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start on Friday, November 18th against Utica.
• Elmira's non-conference opponents combined for a 120-94-28 record (.554).
• Non-conference opponent breakdown: SUNYAC (4), NESCAC (2), ECAC Northeast (2), CCC (1).

 
Games to Watch
Elmira vs. Oswego State – Saturday, October 29th
One of Elmira's oldest rivalries is renewed in 2016-17, as the Soaring Eagles square off with perennial power Oswego State of the SUNYAC. Elmira and Oswego had met each and every season in EC's 43-year history, with the exception of last year in which the two teams did not play one another. This season's matchup is an intriguing one, as both teams look to bounce back from sub-par showings a year ago. For Elmira fans, this Saturday night home opener will be their first chance to see the new crop of Elmira skaters.
 
Elmira vs. Nichols – Saturday & Sunday, November 26th & 27th
In a rare Saturday/Sunday series, Elmira hosts Nichols for the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Nichols has sponsored men's ice hockey since the 1938-39 season, while Elmira's program has existed since its 1973-74 club season. Nichols is coming off a 17-10-0 showing from a year ago and has won at least 16 games in each of the last three seasons. The Bison posted a 5-1 record against common opponents in 2015-16 and reached the ECAC Northeast Semifinals.
 
Elmira at SUNY Geneseo – Saturday, January 7th
Elmira's first road contest of the New Year should be a doozy to say the least, as the Soaring Eagles travel to face the reigning SUNYAC champs and NCAA Semifinalist, SUNY Geneseo. The Knights are coming off their second 20-win season in the last three campaigns, but their success has meant little over the years to Elmira, who has skated away victorious in four consecutive meetings. However, EC's current win streak will be put to the test in this road tilt, as Geneseo defended its home ice to near perfection last season with a 12-1-3 showing. Much of Geneseo's success at home can be attributed to its high-flying offense that scored 76 of its season's 122 goals and outscored opponents at home by an average of 2.0 goals per game.
 
Elmira vs. Nazareth – Saturday, February 4th
In one of the biggest home events of the year, this Saturday matinee is one that all EC hockey fans should have circled on their calendars. Elmira hosts Nazareth during EC's annual Athletics Alumni Weekend, an event that welcomes back former athletes from over the years to the Murray Athletic Center for a full day of festivities. Year after year, the Saturday night hockey game during AAW has provided fans with some of the highest level of entertainment, including last season's thrilling 4-3 overtime win over the Golden Flyers thanks to some late magic by Jeremy Marginsky '18.
 
All-Time Series
Cortland: 39-0-0
Curry: 4-0-0
Geneseo: 39-9-1
Hobart: 58-24-2
Lebanon Valley: 20-1-0
Manhattanville: 25-23-6
Nazareth: 8-3-1
Neumann: 27-17-3
Nichols: 0-0-0
Oswego: 44-42-6
Potsdam: 42-8-1
Salve Regina: 1-1-0
Stevenson: 0-0-0
Trinity (CT): 3-3-0
Utica: 25-15-6
Wesleyan (CT): 3-1-0
 
Last Meeting
Cortland: Jan. 14, 2014 – W, 7-5
Curry: Jan. 16, 2016 – W, 4-1
Geneseo: Jan. 9, 2016 – W, 5-1
Hobart: Feb. 20, 2016 – L, 2-5
Lebanon Valley: Jan. 23, 2010 – W, 6-3
Manhattanville: Feb. 16, 2016 – L, 2-5
Nazareth: Feb. 6, 2016 – W, 4-3 OT
Neumann: Jan. 30, 2016 – L, 3-5
Nichols: First meeting
Oswego: Jan. 16, 2015 – T, 2-2 OT
Potsdam: Dec. 8, 2015 – W, 5-3
Salve Regina: Jan. 15, 2016 – L, 1-3
Stevenson: First meeting
Trinity (CT): Dec. 12, 2015 – L, 1-2 OT
Utica: Feb. 24, 2016 – L, 3-5
Wesleyan (CT): Dec. 11, 2015 – W, 6-1