ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's ice hockey team has a busy weekend ahead, as it challenges both Nazareth College and No. 7/7-ranked Utica College to United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) bouts at the Murray Athletic Center on Friday and Saturday, January 26-27. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
Elmira defeated King's (Pa.) by a 6-1 final score on Saturday in Pittston, Pennsylvania.
Matthew Cuce '20 was the star of the evening, as he found the back of the net three times for his first career hat trick. Four other EC skaters finished the evening with multi-point outings, as
Anthony Parrucci '19 and
Aleksi Ojala '21 each scored a goal and handed out an assist, while
Nick Ford '20 and
Connor Powell '20 dished out two assists apiece.
TOP OF THE CHARTS
Elmira's top line of Ford, Powell and Cuce has been fantastic all season and that greatness becomes even more apparent when you look at the UCHC individual stat leaders. The trio ranks first, second and third in points, while all three also rank among the top-five in goals and assists. In addition to placing all three linemates on top of the conference points, goals and assists leaders, Ford and
Spencer MacLean '21 are tied for the league lead with three game-winning goals this season. Powell also paces the UCHC in power-play points this season with 13 (4g-9a-13p).
SCOUTING NAZARETH
The Golden Flyers skate into today's bout as losers of three straight after facing some tough competition in recent weeks, which includes losses to nationally-ranked Oswego State (5-1) and Utica (5-2). This recent turbulence has resulted in an 8-8-2 overall record and a 5-3-1 standing in the UCHC, which is tied for fourth in the conference. A reason for these struggles may be traced back to Naz's offensive woes, as it ranks seventh in the nine-team league in goals per game (2.67). In charge of igniting this stagnant offense is freshman forward Ray Falso, who paces the team in points (15) and assists (9). Falso has been one of the most effective rookies in the conference, as he is just one point shy of the league-lead in freshman scoring. Upperclassmen Oliver Janzen and David Powlowski are the Golden Flyers' best scorers, as they each have found the back of the net a team-leading seven times. Janzen has done a majority of his damage on the extra-man advantage, as he has four power-play goals this year.
SCOUTING UTICA
The Pioneers are playing as one of the best teams in all of Division III, as they have won 10 of their last 12 games. This impressive streak has resulted in a 13-3-1 overall record for Utica and a 7-2-0 mark in the UCHC, which places them first in the conference standings. In their most recent bout, the Pioneers tied No. 5/5 Oswego State, 3-3, at the Adirondack Bank Center on January 20. Utica holds the distinction of ranking first in the league in both goals scored (4.53) and goals allowed per game (1.88). Leading this defensive success is sophomore goalie Patrik Virtanen, who paces the UCHC in goals-against average (2.06) and save percentage (.930). The Vantaa, Finland, native has been credited with nine of Utica's wins, including the team's last three victories. Offensively, senior forward Roman Ammirato has been one of the most lethal attackers in the country, as he ranks third in Division III in goals per game (0.88). Most of Ammirato's damage has been done on the power play, as he is tied for the national lead with eight extra-man goals this year.
UP NEXT
The Soaring Eagles will continue their four-game homestand on Friday, February 2, with a tilt against Neumann University. The UCHC bout is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Murray Athletic Center.
