2009-10 Season in Review

 

  


The 2009-10 Men’s Ice Hockey team finished another successful season which included an at-large bid in the NCAA Division III Tournament for the third year in a row. Under first year and ECAC West coach of the year, Aaron Saul ’98, this year’s Soaring Eagles culminated a 19-9-1 overall record and an 11-4-0 ECAC West conference record.

On their way to 19 wins, EC went on a 9 game win streak which included wins over defending NCAA Division III Champions Neumann University and ECAC West rivals such as Manhattanville College and Hobart College. In the NCAA Tournament Elmira defeated Curry College 4-1 in the first round of play before falling to who would eventually become NCAA Champs, Norwich University 2-1. EC’s 19 wins was the second most in the past 10 years.

Statistically Elmira ranked among the best in the ECAC West Conference in several categories. EC ranked first in the conference in scoring defense with 2.31 goals per game and first in penalty kills with 88.1%. Elmira’s efforts this season landed them the top spot in the ECAC West Tournament, giving them home ice throughout the playoffs.

Defensively Elmira was solid, holding their opponents to one goal or less in 8 games which resulted in 7 wins and 1 tie. In games where the outcome was decided by 1 goal EC struggled as they went 5-5 in these contests.

Elmira’s season finished with a heartbreaking 2-1 OT loss to who would eventually go on to win the NCAA Division III Tournament, Norwich University. When everything was said and done, Elmira earned several post-season awards. Forwards Rusty Masters ’10 (Grafton, ONT -- Port Hope Predators, OPJHL), Darcy Vaillancourt ’12 (Bonfield, ONT -- Innisfil Lakers, GMJHL), and goalie Casey Tuttle ’10 (Chelsea, ME -- Portland Jr. Pirates, AJHL) all earned First Team All-ECAC West honors while defenseman Greg Moore ’10 (Chateauguay, QC -- Vaudreuil Mustangs, LHJAAAQ), earned Second Team All-ECAC West honors.

Serving as the team’s captain, Masters finished the season second on the team with 37 points on 16 goals and a team leading 21 assists. He scored 7 power play goals, 2 game winners, and 1 short handed goal. In the ECAC West Masters was third in points per game with 1.28, fourth in goal scoring with .55 goals per game, third in assist scoring with .72 assists per game, and fifth in power-play points per game with .59. On November 21st Masters scored a goal in the second half which placed him in the Elmira College history books as his goal recorded his 100th career point. His 123 career points places him the EC 100-point club, an exclusive club with the best scorers to ever wear the Purple and Gold.

Second year forward Vaillancourt had a breakout season this year totaling career highs in goals (20), points (20), and assists (40). He was the team leader in points, goals, and power play goals (12). Vaillancourt was a statistical leader in the ECAC West, finishing first in points scoring with 1.48 points per game, second in goal scoring with .74 goals per game, tied for fourth in assists scoring with .74 assists per game, first in power play points with .78 points per game, and first in power play goals with .44 power play goals per game. Vaillancourt’s .44 power play goals per game were not only best in the ECAC West but best in NCAA Division III Hockey.

Fourth year goalie Tuttle had another successful season between the pipes for the Purple and Gold. Tuttle started in 22 games this season logging 1324:03 minutes while making 577 saves giving him a save percentage of .914% and a GAA of 2.40. In the ECAC West Conference, Tuttle ranked at the top of three major statistical categories. He was second in GAA, save percentage, and winning percentage. Tuttle will surely go down in EC history as one of, if not the best goaltenders to dawn the Purple and Gold. On the EC All-Time Records list Tuttle finished 4th for single season save percentage, 6th for single season GAA, and 9th for single season win percentage. For career stats he ranks at the top of several categories: 1st for most minutes (5673:10), 2nd in wins (58), 2nd in shots faced (2,454), 1st in GAA (2.34), 2nd in saves (2,233), tied for 1st in save percentage (.910), and tied for 3rd in shutouts (5).

Fourth year defenseman Moore played a huge role in EC’s success this season. Moore recorded his highest point total and assist total this season as he totaled 17 points on 15 assists and 2 goals. He proved to be an “ironman” for EC as he participated in over 100 games throughout his career with the Soaring Eagles. Fellow fourth year defenseman Scott Gamble ’10 (Toronto, ONT -- North York Rangers, OPJHL) showed he was a resilient player as well as he also played in over 100 games for the Purple and Gold. Gamble finished the season with 4 points on 4 assists. Statistics do not tell the true story of either of these two players’ contributions to this year’s team. Both held down the defensive side of the puck with their physical play.

The Class of 2012 was well represented by this year’s team as there were several players who made key contributions to this year’s success. There were five players from this class who had explosive offensive seasons for the Soaring Eagles. Kevin Willer ’12 (Toronto, ONT -- North York Rangers, OPJHL) finished the season with 34 points, which was third most on the team, on 15 goals and 19 assists. Willer was an efficient scorer on power play opportunities as he scored 8 power play goals. Brendan Sanders ’12 (Mississauga, ONT -- Vaughan Vipers, OPJHL) finished the season with 5 goals and 18 assists. His 23 points were fourth best on this Soaring Eagles team. Sanders best performance came against the Dutchmen of Lebanon Valley College on January 11th, where he earned 3 points on 3 assists.

John Clewlow ’12 (Brampton, ONT -- Dixie Bee Hives, OPJHL), Rick Acorn ’12 (Barrie ONT -- Couchiching Terriers, OPJHL), and Andrew Wilcox ’12 (Rochester, MN -- Walpole Express) all had solid offensive seasons as well. Clewlow earned 20 points on 12 goals and 8 assists. 4 of his 12 goals were scored on power play chances and he scored the game winning goal against ECAC West rival Hobart Statesmen on November 21st. Acorn also had a good year for the Soaring Eagles by scoring 18 points on 9 goals and 9 assists. Acorn scored 4 power play goals in addition to a team leading 5 game winners which included 3 straight game winners on November 7th, 13th, and 14th. Wilcox came on strong during the middle of the season for EC as he scored the majority of his points during that time. He finished the year with 15 points on 10 goals and 5 assists. He also recorded game winners on January 16th and 30th against SUNY Cortland and Utica College.

Second year defensemen Marty Lee ’12 (Toronto, ONT -- Vaughan Vipers, OPJHL), Brock Sawyer ’12 (Toronto, ONT -- Powell River Kings, BCHL), and Michael Kirby ’12 (Delta, BC -- Melford Mustangs, SJHL) all had solid seasons for the Soaring Eagles. The trio combined for 18 points on 2 goals and 16 assists. Defensively the trio provided EC with a much needed physical approach in the highly physical ECAC West Conference.

Third year players Karl Linden ’11 (Stockholm, Sweden -- Bradford Rattlers, GMJHL), Larry Willard ’11 (Ottawa Lake, MI -- Baystate Breakers, EJHL), and Kevin Bolin ’11 (Islip Terrace, NY -- Green Mountain Glades, EJHL) all were great contributions to this year’s team. Linden appeared in 24 games for the Soaring Eagles and ended the year with 13 points, which was second most for defenseman scoring on this year’s team. Willard appeared in 21 games for the Purple and Gold, earning 11 points on 5 goals and 6 assists. He recorded game winning goals against Morrisville on October 31st, Manhattanville on December 4th, and Potsdam on January 15th. Third year goalie Bolin was in net 5 time this season. He finished the year with a 3-1-0 record while making 96 saves, owning a 1.91 GAA, and a .923 save percentage.

Returning players Ryan Jarrell ’12 (Corbyville, ONT -- Niagara Fall Canucks, GHJHL) and Rob Thompson ’10 (Hellertown, PA -- Yarmouth) saw valuable time on the ice this season. Jarrell appeared in 19 games, scoring 1 goal and earning 3 assists. His only goal was also a game winner and came against Lebanon Valley College on January 23rd. Thompson saw action in 4 games this season and earned an assist.

Newcomers Jack Day ’11 (Grosse Pointe, MI -- Grosse Pointe South), Brian Davidson ’13 (Sparks, NV -- Innisfil Lakers, GMHL), Colin Hoey ’13 (Doylestown, PA -- New England Huskies), Tyler Campbell ’13 (Mississauga, ONT -- Mississauga Chargers, OPJHL), Eamon Lynch ’13 (Rocky River, OH -- Cleveland Jr. Jacks, CSHL), Mark Morikawa ’13 (Redondo Beach, CA -- Alberni Valley Bulldogs, BCHL), Darren McDonald ’13 (Stittsville, ONT -- Nepean Raiders, CJHL), and Brice Crook ’13 (Reno, NV -- Capital District Thunder, WSHL) were all great additions to the Soaring Eagles. Day, a transfer from Army, played in 20 games for the Soaring Eagles and registered a goal in a 4-2 win in the first round of the Oswego Pathfinder Classic over the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Morikawa had an exceptional rookie campaign, leading all EC rookies with 11 points on 7 goals and 4 assists. Morikawa was also one of five players to play in all 29 games this season. His play did not go unnoticed as he was named ECAC West Rookie of the Week in back to back weeks on January 18th and 25th. First year forwards Davidson and Hoey had solid first years for the Soaring Eagles. The duo combined for 9 points on 2 goals on 7 assists. Campbell, Lynch, and Crook combined for 3 points on 1 goal and 2 assists. McDonald appeared in 3 games for EC, recording a 2-1-0 record in net. He made 56 saves in the three games giving him a.918 save percentage and a 1.67 GAA. For his play he was named ECAC West Goalie of the Week for the week ending January 18th.

Elmira will lose Masters, Moore, Gamble, Thompson, and Tuttle to graduation.