UTICA, NY - The #8 Utica University men's hockey team returned to Utica on Saturday night, looking to speed past the Soaring Eagles of Elmira following a tough 6-4 win the night before. In the second game of the series, the Pioneers returned to form on the Nexus Center ice, landing three quick goals in the first period to take a commanding lead, before slowing down Elmira over the final two frames to notch a 5-2 win.

The Pioneers improved to 16-5 on the season, and remained perfect in UCHC play, improving to 12-0. In doing so, the team clinched a first round bye, and will now host a semifinal game in the upcoming UCHC Tournament. The Pioneers lead the league standings with 36 points, while SUNY Geneseo is in second with 28 points, which sets up a massive series next weekend between the two sides. 

Elmira fell to 4-16-1 on the season, also dropping to 2-9-1 in UCHC play.

The hosts picked up the stellar form that they displayed last time they took the ice at the Nexus Center, only allowing 12 shots by the opposition while rattling off 37 attempts of their own. The Pioneers also captured 36 of a possible 57 faceoffs. 

The Pioneers would score three times in the first eight minutes of play, taking an immediate 3-0 lead. They would then strike twice in the third period to cement the win, continuing their 2026 momentum. 

Three Stars:

First Star - Aidan Hughes (Mississauga, Ontario): Hughes continued his 2026 tear. Scoring the second and third goals of the game in quick succession to help five the Pioneers a massive edge. His second score also registered as the game winner against the Soaring Eagles. Hughes has been red hot since the turn of the new year, scoring seven goals and seven assists in the Pioneers' 10 games in 2026.

Second Star - Eric Vitale (Toronto, Ontario): Vitale loves the Nexus Center. This fact was solidified during Saturday's matchup, as the junior forward continued to clean house at the site of last year's NCAA Division III Semifinal and Championship. Vitale netted two goals in the contest, grabbing the opening goal and the final goal to bookend the massive win. Vitale has now scored five goals in his last three games on the Mastrovito Rink. 

Third Star - Andrew Della Rovere (Caledon East, Ontario): The Pioneers' starting center gathered a goal and an assist in the 5-2 win, also capturing 13 of his 20 faceoff attempts. Della Rovere continued to set the Pioneers up with a high volume of victories on the draw. He also grabbed a breakaway goal in the third period to return momentum to the orange and blue.

Tyler Procious (Pittsford, NY) and Preston Brighton (Castle Rock, CO) each grabbed two apples in the action, while Aydin Parekh (Nobleton, ON), Davis Goukler (Cumming, GA), Drake Morse (Grand Rapids, MI), and John Gutt (Middletown, NJ) all tallied one assist.

Kyle Curtin (St. George, Ontario) started in net against his former squad, grabbing 10 saves in the game. 

The Pioneers will now look towards a seismic UCHC series next weekend, welcoming Geneseo on Friday before heading to the Ira on Saturday. The Pioneers need just one win next weekend to clinch their ninth straight UCHC regular season title.