This week, the Generals moves closer to locking up the first seed in the East division, but had some challenges on the way in the last games the team played before the top prospects tournament begins this week.

As always Head Coach Daryl Locke provided a lot of great insight into each game for a team he’s trying to have ready to return to the Fraser Cup and finish with a better outcome than last year’s group had.

Locke said of each game

“ I think in Thursday’s game we had a great first shift. Our forecheck had pace and we were getting behind their defense creating scoring opportunities. Long Beach made a push shortly thereafter and capitalized with two quick goals. Jacob Kaminski scored a nice goal from the point and Tyler Ramm with a snipe down low tied us at two going into the intermission. I felt tying the game gave us a boost and the boys came out energized in the second period. Tyler Ramm was again a force for us all night. He scored two more goals to cap the hat trick. His physical play was unmatched all night. Caiden Hess with his speed and playmaking ability was a going concern for Shark defenders the whole game. He had three assists. Luke Fundator was solid for us in the net. He shut the door on numerous grade A chances. Overall, a solid win in the standings against a good Sharks team. Saturday’s game against Norwich was what I consider a trap game. The last game before the prospect showcase break and a few days off. We had talked about this game in practice on Friday. I wanted to remind the boys not to take any game for granted. We were a bit shorthanded with call ups, injuries, and trades happening in the 24hrs prior. I knew it would be a struggle getting everyone focused. The leadership group did a great job of keeping the boys on task. Payton Felix was electric in the game with his speed and determination all over the ice. He took over the game at times especially when we were on the penalty kill. His ability to shoot the puck while at top speed is fun to watch. He had two goals on the night. Matt Nuzzolilo had the other goal on a nice play by his line mates Braeden Kennedy and Nolan Murphy. Luke Fundator again shut the door for us in net. Not a pretty game by any stretch but we’ll take the two points.”

The team is growing and now gets a few days of a break before the stretch run of their season and the postseason begins. Locke has a lot of players on his team like Kaminski with some experience at a higher level and ones that know how to win. As they are climbing the ladder of developmen, the Generals are better off for having played with experience at many different levels of junior hockey.

Box Scores

Long Beach Sharks 3 at Northeast Generals 10 – Status: Final
Thursday, February 3, 2022 – New England Sports Village

Long Beach 2 1 0 – 3
Northeast 2 4 4 – 10

1st Period-1, Long Beach, Zembrzycki 17   2:15. 2, Long Beach, Zembrzycki 18   2:52. 3, Northeast, Kaminski 2 (Nuzzolilo), 11:11. 4, Northeast, Ramm 15 (Mulligan, Hess), 18:33. Penalties-Bozinos Lgs (roughing-minor), 15:32; Kennedy Net (roughing-minor), 15:32; Miadzvedzeu Lgs (roughing-minor), 16:59.

2nd Period-5, Northeast, Kennedy 16 (Nuzzolilo), 2:25. 6, Northeast, Ramm 16 (Hess), 3:45. 7, Long Beach, Yamamoto 7 (Rotsaert), 7:51. 8, Northeast, Wracker 4 (Ramm, Hess), 19:21. 9, Northeast, Gorman 15 (Sinople, Mulligan), 19:45. Penalties-Sinople Net (boarding-minor), 4:02; Montgomery Lgs (roughing-minor, roughing-minor), 4:25; Kaminski Net (roughing-minor), 4:25; Gilbert Lgs (roughing-minor), 7:26; Wracker Net (roughing-minor), 7:26; Carney Lgs (tripping-minor), 7:55.

3rd Period-10, Northeast, Hess 15 (Wracker, Ramm), 5:35. 11, Northeast, Sinople 7 (Gorman, Felix), 6:42. 12, Northeast, Kaminski 3 (Kennedy), 8:10 (PP). 13, Northeast, Ramm 17 (Lamphear, Kaminski), 11:19. Penalties-Gallagher Lgs (interference-minor), 7:55; Murphy Net (cross checking-minor), 17:09; Gilbert Lgs (cross checking-minor), 17:52.

Shots on Goal-Long Beach 9-9-13-31. Northeast 11-15-17-43.
Power Play Opportunities-Long Beach 0 / 4; Northeast 1 / 9.
Goalies-Long Beach, Skirpan 6-8-1-3 (26 shots-20 saves); Bender 3-1-0-0 (17 shots-13 saves). Northeast, Joseph 13-0-0-0 (3 shots-1 saves); Fundator 3-0-0-0 (28 shots-27 saves).
A-99
Referees-Rick Abreau.
Linesmen-Patrick Gardner, Guerin Miller.

For the Saturday win against Norwich, the box score was not available.