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Pine Valley, NY -- Same teams, same location, different result. The Elmira College men's ice hockey team saw a familiar foe on the opposite side of the ice as the Soaring Eagles hosted Hobart College for the third time eight days. After the Statesmen edged EC in overtime in both games at the Murray Athletic Center last weekend, the Purple and Gold got their revenge when it mattered most, scoring three goals in the final period to down Hobart 5-3 in the ECAC West Semifinals. Brian Depp '16 was the man of the hour, netting his first career hat trick in the win, which included the game-winning goal with 6:24 to play.

With the victory, the Soaring Eagles advance to the ECAC West Championship game for the first time since the 2010-11 season. EC also defeated Hobart in the semifinals of that ECAC West tournament, by a near identical 5-2 score, and then followed it up with a 5-1 win over Neumann University for Elmira's ninth ECAC West Championship. Tonight's game was the fifth time that EC and Hobart had met in the ECAC West semifinals, with the Soaring Eagles winning all five. If history holds true, there is a good chance that Elmira will hoist the trophy next weekend as three out of the previous four times that the Purple and Gold have defeated the Statesmen in the semifinals, they have gone on to win the ECAC West Championship.

Meeting for the fourth time this season, and the third time in eight days, tonight's game was played at a very physical level, as expected.  In the first period alone, eight penalties were called between the two teams, including one major and a game-misconduct. There were a total of 23 penalties whistled between the two teams for a total of 84 penalty minutes.

Despite the ample power play opportunities, neither team would score on their man-up situations in the first period.  However, it would be Elmira who would throw the first punch, metaphorically, as the Soaring Eagles scored the game's opening goal at the 11:58 mark of the first period.  Scoring the EC goal was Elmira's Depp, who roofed a shot in the slot through traffic to beat the Hobart goalie for the score.  Assisting on the goal was Alexander Taulien '17 and Jesper Strale '14.

The real "fun" started with 3:38 to play in the first period when Hobart was whistled for a boarding penalty. The game had been physical up to that point, but that penalty triggered a stretch of six infractions called in just 2:38 of game time, including a five minute major on Taulien.

The Soaring Eagles went on the extended penalty kill holding on to their one-goal advantage. A flurry of penalties just 27 seconds into the major put Hobart on a 5-on-3 situation. The Statesmen had a few quality looks at the net, but the EC defense held strong as shots were being blocked and deflected by the Elmira skaters. The penalty kill unit did its job, keeping the Soaring Eagles in front 1-0 as the first period came to a close.

EC quickly killed off the remaining time on the five minute major and immediately went on the offensive. The Soaring Eagles caught a break after Carl Belizario was whistled for a hooking penalty, putting Elmira's sixth-ranked power play unit on the ice. Hobart had held off the Purple and Gold for much of the power play, but with about 30 seconds left on the penalty, Josh Burnell '15 started the break. The captain carried the puck into the offensive zone and passed the puck off to Greg Whittle '16 on the left-hand side. Whittle quickly fired a pass across the ice to a streaking Jarryd ten Vaanholt '16 who one-timed a shot from the slot which beat the Hobart goalie, giving Elmira a 2-0 lead.

The Statesmen answered right back, cutting the lead to one just 33 seconds later. That goal would start a run of three Hobart goals, the latter two coming on the power play, which would put the Statesmen ahead, 3-2. Hobart would outshoot the Soaring Eagles 26-5 in the second period as EC went into the locker rooms trailing by one goal.

After being called for 10 penalties in the first two periods, EC did not have one infraction called on them in the final 20 minutes of play. Whatever Head Coach Aaron Saul '98 stressed to his team in the second intermission paid off as the third period saw a much more composed and focused Elmira team.

The emphasis on team play paid-off as the Soaring Eagles were able to tie the game just 2:22 into the third period, allowing the large crowd on hand to get back into the game. Rob Simpson '16 would be the beneficiary of an Andrew Ciampicini '16 pass as the defender was stationed just in front of the blue line. Simpson, who was all by himself, took one touch of the puck and fired a slap shot at the net. The puck continued to rise as it flew through the air and raced over Lino Chimienti's shoulder, crossing the goal line just below the crossbar. Eddie Nolan '17 also picked up an assist on the goal.

EC continued to press for the go-ahead goal, putting shot after shot on Chimienti, but unfortunately for Elmira, their shots were just off the mark. Despite their missed opportunities, it seemed like it was just a matter of time until the Soaring Eagles broke-through for the score.

The difference in the game came with less than seven minutes in regulation when the Purple and Gold broke out on a 3-on-2. Strale received a pass near center ice and proceeded to carry it down the left side, allowing his teammates to fill their lanes. Strale passed it to Dylan Herold '14 who had filled in the left slot area on the break. Herold quickly sent a backhanded pass across the face of the Hobart defender to Depp who had positioned himself in the right slot. Depp fired the one-timer at the empty half of the net, beating an out-of-position Chimienti for the go-ahead goal.

All EC had to do now was hold on to the one-goal lead with just over six minutes to play. The Soaring Eagles limited Hobart's chances down the stretch as they allowed just three shots on goal in the final 6:24. All five of Elmira's skaters sacrificed their bodies to keep shots away from their net, but for the ones that got through, goalie Ryan deMelo '15 was there to make the important saves. After giving the Purple and Gold the 4-3 lead, it was only fitting that the defensive play of the night came from none other than Depp himself.

Hobart pulled their goalie with 1:03 to play, putting an extra skater on the ice. With less than 25 seconds to play, Hobart's Terrence O'Neill attempted to dump the puck down behind the net, but Depp got a stick on it, leaving the puck just a few feet from Burnell. Burnell gathered and passed the puck ahead to Depp who skated into the offensive zone and punched home the empty netter, clinching the 5-3 victory.

The Purple and Gold will play in the ECAC West Championship game next weekend against either the top-seeded Utica College Pioneers or the fourth-seeded Manhattanville College Valiants. Those two teams will square-off tomorrow, March 2nd to determine who will advance. If Utica wins, EC will travel to Utica next Sunday, March 9th, if Manhattanville pulls off the upset, Elmira will host the championship game on Saturday, March 8th.