2009-10 Season Preview

 
The Elmira College Men’s Hockey team has set high goals for themselves after the 2008-09 season, which culminated with an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. When it was all said and done, the Soaring Eagles finished with a 16-3-3 record including a 9-3-3 mark in the ECAC-West division. Under the guidance of first year Head Coach Aaron Saul ’98, the Soaring Eagles look for their fifth-straight winning season in the 2009-10 season.

Captain Rusty Masters ’10 (Grafton, ONT -- Port Hope Predators) will lead the Soaring Eagles into the 2009-10 season. Masters is one of the best two way players in the country, and leads by example both on and off the ice. Earning Second Team All-ECAC West honors in the ’08-09 season, Masters recorded a team high 14 goals, including 10 power play scores. Masters also registered 13 assists for 27 total points for the Soaring Eagles in ’08-09. During his third season at Elmira College, Masters was the team’s top returning scorer with 22 goals and 12 assists for 34 total points. During his second season, Masters proved himself as an offensive force, tallying 7 game winning goals to lead all of Division III Men’s Ice Hockey. As the team’s most proven goal scorer, Masters’ unique ability to find the back of the net will be essential for the Purple and Gold again this year.

Joining Masters at the offensive end will be ECAC-West Rookie Team honoree, Brendan Sanders ’12 (Mississauga, ONT -- Vaughan Vipers, OPJHL). Sanders will look to improve his ’08-09 totals of 13 goals and 9 assists for the Soaring Eagles.

Third year defensemen Karl Linden ’11 (Stockholm, Sweden -- Bradford Rattlers) will also be counted on for production on the defensive side of the ice. Linden had an outstanding second season, registering 7 goals and 22 assists, earning him Second Team RBK Division III All-American and First Team All-ECAC West honors. His 29 total points led the Soaring Eagles during the 2008-09 season. Linden is a complete player, and his offensive skills, skating ability, and work ethic make him one of the best players in the country.

Fourth year standout and Assistant Captain Casey Tuttle ’10 (Chelsea, ME -- Portland Jr. Pirates) will be relied on again in net for the Soaring Eagles. Tuttle allowed only 61 goals and saved 644 shots in 1500 minutes of action in ’08-09 for the Purple and Gold. In 25 games played, Tuttle held a 2.44 goals against average, leading EC to 14 of their 16 wins last winter. He recorded a season-best 42 saves on January 24th against NCAA Champion Neumann College. Tuttle earned Second Team All-ECAC West honors last season and All-American honors during his incredible 2007-08 season for the Soaring Eagles.

Rick Schrank ’11 (Newmarket, ONT -- Newmarket Hurricanes, OPJHL) will also serve as an Assistant Captain for the 2009 Soaring Eagles. Schrank is the consummate power forward who creates scoring chances with his size and determination. During the 2008-09 season the third year forward recorded six assists and a career-best 13 goals. Schrank’s leadership skills and competitiveness make him an outstanding player for the Purple and Gold.

The 2009-10 squad is compiled of 18 veteran players and 8 talented newcomers looking to make an impact this season. Among the returning players four are fourth year players, three are third year players, and nine are second year players. With the right combination of youth, experience, and talent, the Soaring Eagles will look to make this season as exciting as the last.