Elon College’s membership ice hockey group will enterprise to the Washington D.C. metro space to participate within the Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League’s division II  fall showcase on the St. James rink in Springfield, Virginia this upcoming weekend. 

The showcase, which runs from Nov.  4 to six, will function expertise from every of the ACCHL’s two division II ranges, bringing in colleges from up and down the Atlantic coast — permitting for an amazing pool of competitors to come back collectively in a single enviornment.

Virginia native and Elon membership hockey vp sophomore Mason Esworthy mentioned he’s excited  for the upcoming weekend and expressed how he’s trying ahead to the groups’ households attending to see them play once more. 

“I do know a number of the boys are from the north space and we do not get to go up there a lot, so a number of their households are gonna come,” Esworthy mentioned.

This yr has been one in every of transition for the Phoenix because the group lately employed a new head coach final August.

“He’s a really enthusiastic coach, so he’s very likable,” group secretary and sophomore Connor Rose mentioned. 

Rose mentioned his confidence has not waivered, even with the rocky begin to the season, and he’s trying ahead to this weekend to have the ability to show what this group actually has to supply.

“We now have some robust opponents, however nothing we haven’t seen earlier than,” Rose mentioned.

The group, which remains to be trying to find their first league win of the yr, is trying to reap the benefits of this chance as they tackle ACCHL opponents Princeton, George Washington and West Virginia College all within the three-day span. 

“We’re nonetheless getting our legs below us, we’ve had one full recreation with everybody there,” Esworthy mentioned.  “We’re solely 0-1 within the league so not too huge of a deal.”

Esworthy additionally mentioned he’s assured that they’ll be capable of flip issues round this weekend even with them carrying a really younger roster this yr.

“We’re positively younger, we’re taking 24 youngsters to D.C.,” Esworthy mentioned. “I’d say 15 of these are freshmen.” 

Although youthful, Esworthy describes these freshmen as “the true deal” and is assured in this system’s future. He hopes that this weekend could be a form of launch for serving to them obtain their final purpose of a nationwide championship.

“I positively see this could possibly be the primary time that we make the playoffs in program historical past,” Esworthy mentioned.

First puck drop for the group comes on Friday Nov. 4 at 4:45 p.m. towards Princeton College. To remain up to date with the group,  make sure that to observe @ElonUHockey throughout all platforms.