ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's ice hockey team unveiled its 2019-20 schedule on Wednesday afternoon.

The Soaring Eagles start their 11th season under the direction of Head Coach Aaron Saul '98 on Friday, November 1, with a 7:00 p.m. showdown against the Statesman of Hobart at the Murray Athletic Center. EC heads up Route 14 the following evening to close out the two-game series against Hobart.

Elmira opens United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) play on Friday, November 8, when the Soaring Eagles travel to Pittston, Pennsylvania, to battle King's (Pa.). The following afternoon EC will take second-year UCHC foe, Wilkes.

EC returns home for a pair of UCHC contests against Neumann (Nov. 15) and reigning conference champion Manhattanville (Nov. 16), before heading north to take on Nazareth (Nov. 22) and Utica (Nov. 23). The Purple and Gold play their final contest of 2019 on December 7, when Lebanon Valley visits the Murray Athletic Center for a 7:00 p.m. bout.

The Soaring Eagles ring in the New Year on Friday, January 3, when they open the W.B. Mason Winter Classic at Plattsburgh State with a tilt against Endicott. The final round of the two-day affair will take place on Saturday, January 4, when EC takes on Wentworth or Plattsburgh State.

Elmira remains on the road to open up a challenging two-game stretch on Saturday, January 11, when it challenges the Lakers of Oswego State, who reached the quarterfinals of the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Three days later, EC returns to Pine Valley, New York to host the reigning State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Champion and NCAA Semifinalist, SUNY Geneseo.

Elmira opens a string of four conference contests at home against Chatham (Jan. 17), Stevenson (Jan. 18), King's (Pa.) (Jan. 24), and Wilkes (Jan. 25). A pair of road contests await the Purple and Gold as the calendar switches to February with a bout against Manhattanville, set for January 31, and a matchup against Neumann, on February 1.
The following weekend, EC welcomes the Pioneers of Utica and the Golden Flyers of Nazareth to the Murray Athletic Center for a pair of contests on Friday, February 7, and Saturday, February 8, respectively.

The Soaring Eagles will make a quick trip to Lebanon, Pennsylvania, on Friday,  February 14, to take on the Dutchmen of Lebanon Valley. The following evening, Elmira returns home for its non-conference finale as EC extends its long-time series against the Red Dragons of SUNY Cortland.

Elmira will close out the regular season with a pair of contests on the road against Stevenson (Feb. 21) and Chatham (Feb. 22).

The UCHC Championships are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, February 25, with the quarterfinal round. The semi-final round begins on Friday, January 28, with the deciding game of the mini-series scheduled for Saturday, January 29. The battle for the UCHC title begins on Friday, March 2, with the decisive second game taking place the following evening on Saturday, March 3.

Schedule Highlights

• The Soaring Eagles will play 12 games at home and 13 on the road.
• EC will open the regular season at home against Hobart for the third consecutive season.
• The Purple and Gold's non-conference opponents posted a combined .643 winning percentage in the 2018-19 season.
• Elmira will face eight opponents that qualified for their respective conference tournaments last season, with the possibility of facing nine if the Soaring Eagles meet Plattsburgh State in the second round of the W.B. Mason Classic.
• EC will battle four teams that qualified for the 2018 NCAA Tournament; Hobart, Manhattanville, Oswego State, and SUNY Geneseo.
• The Soaring Eagles will play five teams that ended the 2017-18 season ranked among the best in the nation, highlighted by SUNY Geneseo, who checked in at No. 3/3 in the final editions of the national polls.

Games to Watch
Elmira vs. Hobart – Friday, November 1 (7:00 p.m.)
The Soaring Eagles renew their rivalry with Route 14 neighbors Hobart to open the campaign for the third consecutive season. The Statesman represent a stiff challenge for the Purple and Gold, as the regional powerhouse made a run to the semifinals of the 2018 NCAA Tournament. EC will look to recapture its magic from the 2017-18 campaign, when the Purple and Gold upset then No. 9/10-ranked Hobart with a 3-2 overtime victory.

Elmira vs. Manhattanville – Saturday, November 16 (7:00 p.m.)
In their fourth UCHC matchup of the season, the Soaring Eagles will meet the Valiants of Manhattanville in a rematch of the 2017-18 UCHC Semifinals. EC split the regular-season series with the Valiants last season and are out to avenge their playoff loss by knocking off the reigning conference champion.

Elmira vs. SUNY Geneseo – Tuesday, January 14 (7:00 p.m.)
The Purple and Gold have a rare midweek matchup on the docket when SUNY Geneseo comes to the Murray Athletic Center. The Knights are fresh off of a SUNYAC Championship and a trip to the NCAA semifinals. With a 10-2-1 record against the Knights since 2006, a win over their intrastate foe is well within reach for the Purple and Gold Another victory over Geneseo would reassert the Soaring Eagles on the national stage while adding a dose of momentum heading into the second half of the conference schedule.

Elmira at Chatham – Saturday, February 22 (7:00 p.m.)
EC wraps up the regular season with a contest that could have serious implications for the UCHC playoff picture. The Cougars proved to be tough out for UCHC opponents a year ago and represent a final challenge for the Soaring Eagles on their journey to the playoffs. A road win will clinch much-needed points in the conference standings, as EC will look secure another first round bye.