Elmira College (9-8-2, 2-6-1 ECAC West) vs. Nazareth College (6-10-4, 3-6-1 ECAC West)
Friday, February 5, 2016 | 7:00 P.M. | Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena – Pine Valley, NY
Saturday, February 6, 2016 | 7:00 P.M. | Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena – Pine Valley, NY
 
Live Coverage | Twitter: @ECSoaringEagles | Game Notes
 
Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College men's ice hockey team will look to make a jump in the ECAC West standings this weekend when it welcomes Nazareth College for a crucial two-game set at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena on Friday, February 5^th, and Saturday, February 6^th. Saturday will mark the team's annual Wounded Warrior Game. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on both days.
 
Wounded Warrior Details
The Elmira men will continue its long standing recognition and support of veterans of our nation's armed forces when it hosts its annual Wounded Warrior Game on Saturday, February 6^th. For more details and how you can get involved in this great cause, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Last Time Out
The ECAC West struggles continued for the Elmira men this past weekend, as the Soaring Eagles went 0-1-1 in a two-game set at Neumann University. Although the results were not what EC was hoping for, the team can certainly build on the two performances. After a slow start on Friday, which witnessed the Soaring Eagles fall into a 2-0 deficit, Elmira dominated the final 40 minutes of regulation and would  tie the game with 1:38 remaining on a goal by Jarryd ten Vaanholt '16. EC finished with 46 shots on goal in the contest, 10 of which coming in overtime, but the game concluded in a 2-2 tie. Saturday's script was somewhat flipped, as Elmira jumped out to an early two-goal lead; however, the Knights tallied three goals in the middle period to take a 4-3 lead into the third. Neumann netminder Mitch Weibe stole the show from there, turning 46 of Elmira's 49 shots on goal in the game, including an astonishing 24 in the final 20 minutes, to help the Knights hang on for the 5-3 win.
 
Shot Volume
Despite securing just one of a potential four points in the conference standings this past weekend, Elmira has to feel good about the brand of hockey it played in the two contests. The Soaring Eagles dominated possession over vast stretches of both games, which allowed the Purple and Gold to rack up big shot totals in each contest. EC fired a season-high 46 shots in the 2-2 tie on Friday, while it followed that up by again resetting the high-water mark with a 49 shot effort on Saturday. At that rate of shot production, scoring chances are sure to be abundant for Elmira down the stretch.
 
Sumi Heating Up
Forward Tommy Sumi '16 has been quitely having a strong season for the Soaring Eagles. Although slightly below his scoring clip from last season, the senior sniper looks to be heating up at the right time. He will carry a three-game point streak into the weekend set against Nazareth, after netting a goal and tallying an assist this past weekend against the Knights. On the year, Sumi ranks third on the team with 17 points on seven goals and 10 assists.
 
Shinkaruk Held Scoreless
This past weekend was an odd one for Elmira's leading scorer Connor Shinkaruk '16. The Langley, BC, native had been a torrid scoring run since the middle of November; however, he was held off the score sheet in both games this past weekend, despite registering 11 shots on goal in the two games against Neumann. To put the Knights' feat in better perspective, Shinkaruk had only been held off the score sheet just two other times coming into the two-game set. Despite the off weekend, the EC senior remains near the top of the nation in goal scoring, tied for third in total goals (17) and tied for second in goals per game (0.94).
 
Marginsky Finds Twine
Second-year forward Jeremy Marginsky '18 got off to a torrid start to his sophomore campaign, netting five goals over his first nine games. The production has been sparse since that point; however, the Auburn, NY, native had a solid weekend series against the Knights. He chipped in an assist on Friday and snapped an eight-game goalless drought with a first period marker on Saturday. It marked the third time this season in which Marginsky has tallied points in back-to-back games.
 
Energizing the Power Play
The Elmira power play struggled to gain traction in the weekend set against Neumann, going 0-for-10 combined over the two games. The Soaring Eagles will look to get the man-advantage unit going against a Nazareth team that ranks near the bottom of NCAA Division III in penalty-kill efficiency. The Golden Flyers have conceded 21 power-play goals this season, one of which coming in Elmira's 5-2 victory earlier this season.
 
Last Matchup
Elmira will be looking for the season sweep of the Golden Flyers this coming weekend, as the team took the opening matchup between the two programs by a 5-2 count in Rochester, NY, earlier this season on November 14th. Tied 1-1 entering the third period, EC struck for four goals in the final 20 minutes to run away with its first victory of the 2015-16 campaign. Shinkaruk's shorthanded goal at 2:38 of the period, just 58 seconds after Jeremy Marginsky '18 broke the deadlock, proved to be the game-winner. Sumi and Brian Depp '16 sealed the game with late goals to provide insurance.
 
All-Time Series
Elmira and Nazareth have met 10 times since the Golden Flyers introduced their varsity men's ice hockey program in 2012-13. The Soaring Eagles won the first six meetings between the two sides, before Nazareth went 2-0-1 against EC last season. Elmira snapped the mini-skid with a 5-2 victory over the Golden Flyers earlier this season.
 
Scouting the Golden Flyers
It has been a rocky 2015-16 season for Nazareth, as the team enters the weekend set with a 6-10-4 overall record and 3-6-1 mark in ECAC West play. The Golden Flyers had been in a bit of a swoon; however, they rallied for a big series split at home against Manhattanville College this past weekend to keep home-ice for the ECAC West Tournament within their sights. Road ice has not been as kind to Nazareth, as it has posted just a 2-4-1 mark in true road games this season, which includes four straight losses heading into the weekend set with the Soaring Eagles. The offense has been a team-effort this season, as the Golden Flyers boast only four skaters with double-digit points. Junior Dominik Gabaj paces the squad with 18 points on six goals and 12 assists. Sophomore John Power has been a nice compliment with 14 points on six goals and eight helpers. The second-year forward netted a goal against Elmira in the previous matchup this season. Nazareth has struggled on the defensive end this season, ranking 52nd in the nation in goals allowed per game (3.40). Senior Ed Zdolshek has seen the majority of time in the Golden Flyers' cage, posting a .910 save percentage and 3.00 goals against average.
 
Looking Ahead
The Soaring Eagles return to action next weekend when it plays its final two regular-season home games against Utica College at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 12^th, and Saturday, February 13^th. EC will celebrate Senior Recognition Day for Saturday's contest with the Pioneers.