The Elmira Soaring Eagles are a Men’s Division III ice hockey team representing Elmira College, located in Elmira, New York from the United Collegiate Hockey Conference. The team is based out of the Murray Athletic Center Arena, which is located in Horseheads, New York, about nine miles from the school’s campus. The men’s program was established at the varsity level for the 1974-75 season, after one season as a club team.
Quick Hits
- School: Elmira College
- Location: Elmira, New York
- School Founded: 1855
- Enrollment: ~786
- Colors: Purple & Gold
- Home Arena: Murray Athletic Center Arena
- Arena Capacity: ~3,200
- Rink Dimensions: 200′ x 85′
- Conference: United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC)
- Head Coach: Aaron Saul
- Conference Titles: 13 (1979 co-champ*, 1980, 1986 co-champ*, 1988, 1991, 1994, 2000 co-champ, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014)
- Conference Tournament Titles: 11 (1978, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1997, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2014, 2021)
Conferences
- ECAC Division II (1974-1985)
- New York Collegiate Hockey Association (1977-1986)
- conference ran within ECAC Division II until 1985, within ECAC West until 1986
- ECAC West (1985-2017)
- United Collegiate Hockey Conference (2017-2021; 2025-present)
- New England Hockey Conference (2021-2025)
Arenas
- Murray Athletic Center Arena (1975-present)
Head Coaches
- Barry Smith (1975-1981) 129-50-3 (.717)
- Brian McCutcheon (1981-1987) 101-62-1 (.619)
- Glenn Thomaris (1987-2001) 271-122-14 (.683)
- Tim Ceglarski (2001-2009) 125-72-21 (.622)
- Aaron Saul (2009-present) 236-178-32 (.565)
Year by Year Results
| Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | Finish | Conference Tournament | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ECAC Division II | Overall Record |
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| 1974-75 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 54 | 54 | 13 | 14th | Did not qualify | 21 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 119 | 82 |
| 1975-76 | 16 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 51 | 91 | 1 | 28th | Did not qualify | 31 | 10 | 20 | 1 | 136 | 164 |
| 1976-77 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 154 | 57 | 38 | 2nd West | L, QF 5-1 (Merrimack) | 25 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 180 | 67 |
ECAC Division II (New York Collegiate Hockey Association) | Overall Record |
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| 1977-78 | 22 (14) | 18 (12) | 4 (2) | 0 (0) | 165 (109) | 76 (38) | 36 (24) | 2nd West (2nd) | W, QF 5-4 (Hamilton) W, SF 4-3 (Plattsburgh) W, F 6-3 (Middlebury) | 32 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 184 | 95 |
| 1978-79 | 25 (12) | 21 (11) | 4 (1) | 0 (0) | 191 (139) | 71 (38) | 42 (22) | 2nd West (T-1st) | W, QF 5-4 (Buffalo) L, SF 5-3 (Middlebury) | 31 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 248 | 81 |
| 1979-80 | 21 (14) | 18 (13) | 2 (0) | 1 (1) | 139 (99) | 62 (44) | 37 (27) | 1st West (1st) | L, QF 7-5 (North Adams St.) | 33 | 25 | 6 | 2 | 236 | 102 |
| 1980-81 | 25 (14) | 18 (10) | 7 (4) | 0 (0) | 132 (82) | 81 (43) | 36 (20) | 3rd West (3rd) | W, QF 13-5 (North Adams St.) L, SF 5-2 (Plattsburgh) | 30 | 20 | 10 | 0 | 161 | 110 |
| 1981-82 | 22 (14) | 11 (10) | 11 (4) | 0 (0) | 105 (71) | 107 (51) | 22 (20) | 8th West (3rd) | L, QF 7-3 (Plattsburgh) | 29 | 12 | 17 | 0 | 122 | 99 |
| 1982-83 | 25 (16) | 14 (9) | 11 (7) | 0 (0) | 143 (86) | 97 (49) | 28 (18) | 6th West (4th) | L, QF 9-3 (Oswego) | 26 | 14 | 12 | 0 | 146 | 104 |
| 1983-84 | 25 (18) | 17 (15) | 8 (3) | 0 (0) | - (101) | - (44) | 34 (30) | 4th West (T-2nd) | L, QF 6-1 (Plattsburgh) | 26 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 127 | 77 |
| 1984-85 | 23 (18) | 16 (13) | 7 (5) | 0 (0) | 127 (106) | 56 (40) | 32 (26) | 5th West (4th) | L, QF 3-2 (Union) | 27 | 19 | 8 | 0 | 146 | 69 |
ECAC West (New York Collegiate Hockey Association) | Overall Record |
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| 1985-86 | 25 (18) | 21 (15) | 4 (3) | 0 (0) | - (111) | - (43) | 42 (30) | 2nd (T-1st) | W, QF 6-3 (Canisius) L, SF 3-2 (Plattsburgh) | 31 | 25 | 6 | 0 | 183 | 78 |
ECAC West | Overall Record |
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| 1986-87 | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 112 | 61 | 28 | 5th | L, QF 4-3 (Oswego) | 24 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 118 | 67 |
| 1987-88 | 22 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 119 | 51 | 40 | 1st | W, SF 8-4 (RIT) W, F 8-5 (Oswego) | 33 | 27 | 6 | 0 | 195 | 95 |
| 1988-89 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 126 | 75 | 28 | 6th | W, QF 8-3 (Oswego) L, SF 9-5 (RIT) | 29 | 19 | 10 | 0 | 167 | 117 |
| 1989-90 | 23 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 158 | 75 | 39 | 2nd | W, QF 6-5 (Hamilton) W, SF 7-0 (Oswego) W, F 9-7 (Geneseo) | 33 | 24 | 8 | 1 | 205 | 120 |
| 1990-91 | 26 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 200 | 64 | 46 | 1st | W, QF 7-6 OT (Oswego) W, SF 8-2 (Geneseo) W, F 6-3 (Mercyhurst) | 33 | 27 | 6 | 0 | 237 | 96 |
| 1991-92 | 22 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 172 | 86 | 36 | 2nd | W, QF 7-2 (RIT) L, SF 3-0 (Mercyhurst) | 31 | 21 | 10 | 0 | 204 | 128 |
| 1992-93 | 24 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 172 | 86 | 38 | 2nd | W, SF 9-3 (Hobart) W, F 2-1 (Canisius) | 33 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 183 | 110 |
| 1993-94 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 93 | 34 | 18 | 1st | W, SF 5-3 (Mercyhurst) L, F 5-2 (RIT) | 29 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 206 | 105 |
| 1994-95 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 43 | 50 | 6 | 4th | L, SF 5-4 (Mercyhurst) | 26 | 9 | 13 | 4 | 128 | 148 |
| 1995-96 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 35 | 33 | 8 | 4th | L, SF 10-6 (RIT) | 26 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 116 | 120 |
| 1996-97 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 44 | 36 | 12 | 4th | W, SF 8-5 (Mercyhurst) W, F 5-4 2OT (RIT) | 29 | 15 | 9 | 5 | 127 | 112 |
| 1997-98 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 29 | 37 | 8 | 5th | Did not qualify | 25 | 14 | 11 | 0 | 105 | 89 |
| 1998-99 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 37 | 20 | 9 | 2nd | L, SF 7-4 (Mercyhurst) | 26 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 152 | 92 |
| 1999-00 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 16 | 10 | T-1st | W, SF 7-0 (Manhattanville) L, F 3-1 (RIT) | 27 | 21 | 6 | 0 | 141 | 107 |
| 2000-01 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 25 | 6 | 2nd | L, SF 6-5 (Manhattanville) | 26 | 16 | 10 | 0 | 138 | 98 |
| 2001-02 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 18 | 16 | 2nd | W, SF 4-3 (Manhattanville) L, F 2-1 (RIT) | 27 | 18 | 9 | 0 | 145 | 77 |
| 2002-03 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 64 | 39 | 13 | 3rd | W, SF 5-3 (Manhattanville) W, F 4-3 (RIT) | 28 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 154 | 104 |
| 2003-04 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 45 | 42 | 8 | 5th | Did not qualify | 25 | 11 | 12 | 2 | 117 | 98 |
| 2004-05 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 58 | 49 | 13 | 4th | L, SF 4-3 2OT (Utica) | 26 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 119 | 97 |
| 2005-06 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 52 | 41 | 17 | 3rd | W, SF 4-3 (Hobart) W, F 3-2 (Utica) | 29 | 18 | 9 | 2 | 98 | 73 |
| 2006-07 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 55 | 50 | 17 | 4th | W, QF 5-4 OT (Hobart) L, SF 5-3 (Manhattanville) | 27 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 96 | 86 |
| 2007-08 | 15 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 55 | 32 | 23 | 1st | W, SF 6-3 (Hobart) L, F 1-0 (Manhattanville) | 29 | 20 | 4 | 5 | 112 | 56 |
| 2008-09 | 15 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 63 | 33 | 21 | 1st | L, SF 2-1 (Neumann) | 27 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 112 | 63 |
| 2009-10 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 62 | 34 | 22 | 1st | W, SF 4-2 (Neumann) L, F 4-3 (Manhattanville) | 29 | 19 | 9 | 1 | 108 | 67 |
| 2010-11 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 41 | 22 | 17 | 1st | W, SF 5-2 (Hobart) W, F 5-1 (Neumann) | 28 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 108 | 70 |
| 2011-12 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 51 | 33 | 18 | 1st | L, SF 5-4 OT (Neumann) | 27 | 15 | 9 | 3 | 97 | 80 |
| 2012-13 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 50 | 74 | 10 | 5th | L, QF 9-1 (Manhattanville) | 26 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 88 | 128 |
| 2013-14 | 15 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 47 | 19 | 19 | 1st | W, SF 5-3 (Hobart) W, F 5-2 (Utica) | 27 | 16 | 10 | 1 | 109 | 88 |
| 2014-15 | 15 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 89 | 87 | 12 | 4th | W, QF 5-2 (Utica) L, SF 5-1 (Hobart) | 27 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 89 | 87 |
| 2015-16 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 77 | 71 | 15 | 3rd | L, QF 5-3 (Utica) | 26 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 88 | 85 |
| 2016-17 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 37 | 57 | 6 | 7th | Did not qualify | 25 | 8 | 16 | 1 | 76 | 96 |
United Collegiate Hockey Conference | Overall Record |
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| 2017-18 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 57 | 45 | 19 | 5th | W, QF 4-3 (Manhattanville) W, SF 5-3 (Stevenson) L, F 8-3 (Utica) | 28 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 94 | 85 |
| 2018-19 | 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 76 | 55 | 38 | 2nd | L, SF 2-2 OT, 2-2 OT, 1-2 minigame (Manhattanville) | 27 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 96 | 89 |
| 2019-20 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 79 | 37 | 39 | 4th | L, QF 5-2 (Nazareth) | 26 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 105 | 64 |
| 2020-21 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 46 | 35 | 0.633 | 4th | W, QF 6-0 (Chatham) W, SF 2-1 3OT (Utica) W, F 3-0 (Stevenson) | 15 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 57 | 36 |
New England Hockey Conference | Overall Record |
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| 2021-22 | 17 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 64 | 42 | 34 | 2nd | W, QF 7-1 (New England Coll.) L, SF 3-2 OT (Babson) | 27 | 18 | 7 | 2 | 110 | 67 |
| 2022-23 | 18 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 70 | 47 | 32 | 4th | L, QF 4-3 OT (Skidmore) | 26 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 92 | 70 |
| 2023-24 | 18 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 66 | 49 | 34 | 4th | W, QF 3-2 OT (Babson) L, 4-1 SF (Skidmore) | 27 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 112 | 68 |
| 2024-25 | 20 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 53 | 56 | 27 | 6th | L, QF 3-2 (Norwich) | 26 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 70 | 68 |
United Collegiate Hockey Conference | Overall Record |
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| 2025-26 | 16 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 50 | 70 | 14 | 8th of 9 | Did not qualify | 25 | 6 | 18 | 1 | 76 | 113 |
NCAA Tournament Appearances
| Season | First Round | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Championship | Third Place (1984-1987; 1991-2001) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NCAA Division II |
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| 1978 | N/A | N/A | L, 4-1 (Lake Forest Foresters) | -- | L, 5-3 (Mankato State Mavericks) |
| 1980 | N/A | N/A | W, 4-1 (Merrimack Warriors) | L, 5-2 (Mankato State Mavericks) | -- |
NCAA Division III |
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| 1986 | N/A | L, 2-4, 5-3, 0-3 (Bemidji State Beavers) | -- | -- | -- |
| 1988 | N/A | W, 6-3, 10-2 (Oswego Lakers) | W, 3-4, 9-1, 2-1 (Babson Beavers) | L, 1-7, 5-3, 0-3 (Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons) | N/A |
| 1990 | N/A | L, 5-2, 2-4, 0-1 (Plattsburgh Cardinals) | -- | -- | N/A |
| 1991 | N/A | W, 4-5, 7-6, 2-1 OT (Mercyhurst Lakers) | L, 7-3 (Mankato State Lakers) | -- | L, 3-2 (Babson Beavers) |
| 1992 | N/A | L, 1-3, 1-8 (Plattsburgh Cardinals) | -- | -- | -- |
| 1993 | N/A | W, 2-6, 10-4, 4-0 (Salem State Vikings) | L, 7-2 (Wisconsin-Stevens Point Pointers) | -- | W, 8-3 (Elmira Soaring Eagles) |
| 1994 | N/A | L, 4-6, 4-4 (Salem State Vikings) | -- | -- | -- |
| 1997 | N/A | L, 2-2, 2-4 (Saint John's Johnnies) | -- | -- | -- |
| 2003 | Bye | L, 5-1 (Middlebury Panthers) | -- | -- | N/A |
| 2006 | Bye | W, 2-1 2OT (Manhattanville Valiants) | L, 2-1 (Middlebury Panthers) | -- | N/A |
| 2008 | Bye | W, 6-1 (Trinity Bantams) | L, 6-1 (Plattsburgh Cardinals) | -- | N/A |
| 2009 | L, 2-1 (Neumann Knights) | -- | -- | -- | N/A |
| 2010 | W, 4-1 (Curry Colonels) | L, 2-1 OT (Norwich Cadets) | -- | -- | N/A |
| 2011 | Bye | L, 5-3 (Adrian Bulldogs) | -- | -- | N/A |
| 2012 | Bye | L, 5-0 (Oswego Lakers) | -- | -- | N/A |
| 2022 | L, 4-2 (Hobart Statesmen) | -- | -- | -- | N/A |
| 2024 | W, 5-2 (Endicott Gulls) | L, 2-0 (Trinity Bantams) | -- | -- | N/A |
17 appearances** | 1-time National Runner Up | 1-Time Third Place Finish | 5 Frozen Fours |
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