Elmira College’s men’s and women’s ice hockey teams will move their home games to the LECOM Event Center beginning with the 2027-28 season.
The move will put the teams about a 10-minute walk from campus and provide increased seating capacity, according to a community announcement. Players currently travel about 20 miles round trip to the Murray Athletic Center for practices and games.
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College officials also see the downtown venue as an opportunity to make games more accessible to students and expand Elmira College’s connection with the surrounding community.
“This partnership with the LECOM Event Center is another example of the momentum building at Elmira College and our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for our students,” Elmira College President John F. Dolan said. “Moving our hockey programs downtown gives our student-athletes a new stage on which to compete, while making it easier for our entire campus community to come together and celebrate EC athletics. It also strengthens our connection with the greater Elmira community, extending the College’s presence downtown and creating new opportunities for engagement and collaboration.”
As members of the Elmira College Board of Trustees look on, Elmira College President Dr. John F. Dolan and LECOM Event Center Owner Marc Stemerman sign an agreement to bring the Elmira College’s men’s and women’s ice hockey teams to the LECOM Event Center.
LECOM Event Center owner Marc Stemerman said the partnership will bring Soaring Eagles hockey downtown and give the community another way to connect with the college.
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“We’re excited to welcome Elmira College’s men’s and women’s hockey programs to the LECOM Event Center,” Stemerman said. “The College has a rich tradition in collegiate hockey, and we’re proud to be part of its next chapter. This partnership brings the excitement of Soaring Eagles hockey downtown and creates new opportunities for the community to come together, support local student-athletes, and connect with the College. We look forward to welcoming Soaring Eagles fans beginning in 2027-2028.”
New venue could host more Elmira College events
The LECOM Event Center and college are working together to make sure the facility meets NCAA requirements, according to the announcement. The work could allow the venue to accommodate sports beyond hockey.
Elmira College hosted the NCAA Women’s Wrestling Regional at the LECOM Event Center in February 2026.
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Rhonda Faunce, director of athletics and physical education, said the venue’s amenities include a Jumbo-screen, sound system and more seats.
“The LECOM Event Center is more than just closer for our students,” Faunce said. “The improved facility amenities and professional elements like the Jumbo-screen, sound system, and increased number of seats create a higher-energy atmosphere felt by our coaches, players, and fans. It also opens the door for Elmira College to host more championship and conference games – potentially beyond hockey – right here in Elmira.”
Two members of the Elmira College women’s ice hockey team look at features of the LECOM Event Center for the first time since they learned it would become their new home.
Dennis Kelly, vice president of enrollment management, said the new venue could also benefit prospective athletes and other students.
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“The college experience extends well beyond the classroom, and athletics plays an important role in creating a strong sense of connection and school spirit,” Kelly said. “Having our hockey teams play at the LECOM Event Center gives prospective student-athletes an exciting new venue while making games more accessible to our entire student body. It’s another way we’re enhancing the Elmira College experience and creating opportunities for students to become more engaged with the College.”
The college has welcomed record-breaking incoming classes for the past three years, according to the announcement.
A member of the Elmira College men’s ice hockey team takes a photo of the LECOM Event Center soon after arriving for a first look at the future home of the Soaring Eagles.
Soaring Eagles have one more season at Murray Athletic Center
The Soaring Eagles will play the 2026-27 season at the Murray Athletic Center before moving downtown.
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Elmira College plans special activities during Athletic Alumni Weekend, Jan. 15-16, 2027, to commemorate the hockey programs’ final season at the Murray Athletic Center.
George Winner, chair of the Elmira College Board of Trustees, credited board members Tom Tranter ’76, Marty Fennell, Bill Beecher ’92, Clare van den Blink MSEd ’96 and Jeff Streeter with helping develop the partnership with Stemerman and his team.
“Moving the Ice Hockey programs to the LECOM Event Center is another step forward, supporting our growing campus and downtown area,” Winner said. “I want to thank the Board of Trustee members who collaborated with Marc Stemerman and his team to make this move possible. Tom Tranter ’76, Marty Fennell, Bill Beecher ’92, Clare van den Blink MSEd ’96, and Jeff Streeter brought tremendous vision and commitment to this partnership, recognizing the impact it will have on Elmira students and the greater Elmira region.”
More: Elmira College officially welcomes John F. Dolan as president in ceremony
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The partnership could also help bring more teams and visitors to Elmira and support economic development downtown and in surrounding areas, according to the announcement.
Elmira College has created a webpage with information about the transition: https://www.elmira.edu/athletics/ec-hockey-at-lecom-event-center.
Founded in 1855, Elmira College is a private, residential liberal arts college in New York’s Southern Finger Lakes Region. It offers more than 30 majors, an honors program, 17 academic societies and 19 intercollegiate programs, including 15 NCAA Division III-sponsored sports. Its undergraduate and graduate students come from more than 20 states and nine countries. The college is also home to the Center for Mark Twain Studies, one of four historically significant Twain heritage sites in the United States.
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Elmira College hockey teams move to downtown arena. What to know
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