Score: No. 7 Hobart College 3, Elmira College 1
Records: Hobart (17-4-4, 9-4-1 ECAC West), Elmira (8-16-1, 3-11-0 ECAC West)
Location: First Arena - Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's ice hockey team concluded the 2016-17 season with a 3-1 loss at the hands of seventh-ranked Hobart College on Sunday evening at First Arena.

Before tonight's contest, the Soaring Eagles honored both Eddie Nolan '17 and Sal Magliocco '17 as their two members of the graduating class of 2017. In a pregame ceremony, Elmira recognized Nolan and Magliocco's hard work and dedication while on the hockey team.

The game started off at a stalemate, as the programs entered the first intermission tied at 0-0. Despite the lack of scoring, both teams had their chances, with the Statesmen getting 15 shots in the period and the Soaring Eagles firing 10. Sophomore goalie Charl Pretorius '19 was strong in the opening period, stopping all 15 of Hobart's shots on goal.

The Statesmen opened the scoring at the 12:31 mark of the second when Cam Shaheen broke away from an Elmira defender and beat Pretorius for a short-handed tally. Jack Macnee was credited with an assist on the goal.

To compound the problem Harry Kramer '20 was called for a slash after the score. Add a Noah Anderson '19 infraction for interference 16 seconds later, EC was faced with being two skaters down. Hobart cashed in on the opportunity with a Jack Macnee goal, which was assisted by Julien Denicourt and Tyler Wolf at the 14:21 mark of the second period.

Going into the third period, the Soaring Eagles had to figure out how to get out of a two-goal hole. Nick Ford '20 started the comeback attempt with a tally 4:54 into the period. Ford was the recipient of some beautiful passing from Kramer and Connor Powell '20 in front of the Hobart net, as Ford received the pass and buried the puck above Frank Oplinger's shoulder.

The Soaring Eagles desperately tried to find the tying score but were only able to put six shots on goal in the third. Nick Bingaman put the game out of reach at the 18:39 mark of the final period, with a power-play goal, following an Elmira penalty.

EC had one more opportunity in the final 56 seconds with an extra-skater advantage. Unfortunately for the Soaring Eagles, they were unable to get off a good attempt. From there the Statesmen skated out the rest of the clock to secure the win to conclude the season.

Turning Point
The biggest disparity in tonight's contest was the difference in the penalties. The Soaring Eagles were called for 15 infractions for a total of 46 penalty minutes, while Hobart was called for 10 penalties for a total of 55 penalty minutes. EC's penalty problem gave the Statesmen 12 power-plays, which they cashed in for two of their three goals.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Hobart outshot Elmira, 46-to-24.
• All four goals were scored on special teams; Hobart's first goal was shorthanded and the final three tallies were on the power play.
• Elmira finished 1-for-6 on the power play.
• The Statesmen converted 2-of-12 man-up opportunities.
• Both teams combined for 101 penalty minutes.
• While EC had more infractions (15-to-10), Hobart accumulated more penalty minutes (55-to-46).
• Ford scored the lone goal of the night for the Soaring Eagles.
• Fellow freshmen Kramer and Powell assisted on the goal.
• Macnee led the Statesmen with two points with one goal and one assist.
• Bingaman and Shaheen each scored once for Hobart.
• Pretorius made no fewer than 12 saves in a period and finished the game with 43 stops.
• Oplinger needed 23 saves to earn the victory.

 
News and Notes

• The Soaring Eagles end the 2016-17 campaign with an 8-16-1 overall record and a 3-11-0 mark inside ECAC West play.
• EC was 6-8-0 in home games this season.
• Elmira is 58-27-2 against Hobart in the all-time series.
• Powell ends his rookie year as the team's leading scorer with 27 points, the most by a Soaring Eagle since the 2014-15 season and the most by an EC freshman since Pierre Rivard '04 amassed 33 in his debut season in 2000-01.
• Powell is tied for second in the ECAC West in freshman scoring, seventh in points, eighth in goals (13), and tied for 10th in power-play points (12).
• Pretorius topped Saturday's save total versus Hobart and recorded a new career high with 43 stops on Sunday.
• Elmira's 46 penalty minutes are the most by the team since receiving 48 on December 10th against Trinity (CT).