Generals split final home series of March
Published on Mar 25, 2024 via nahlgens.com
The Generals hosted the New Hampshire Mountain Kings in their final home series in the month of March, falling on Friday, March 22 in a 5-4 heartbreaker, before bouncing back on Saturday, March 23 with a 6-0 victory.
The Mountain Kings got the jump in game one early on, scoring half way through the first before forward Jake Gutwirth scored a powerplay goal 35 seconds later to make it 1-1, which stood for the rest of the first. New Hampshire once again jumped ahead early in the second to make it 2-1, before back to back Generals goals by defenseman Nick Recupero and forward Tyler Ramm, nine and a half minutes and 14 minutes, made it a 3-2 lead. New Hampshire jumped right back ahead early in the third period though, scoring twice in six minutes to make it 4-3, before forward Joseph McGraw tied the game once more 15 and a half minutes in to make it 4-4. New Hampshire however took the final lead of the game with less than three minutes remaining, making it 5-4, which stood till the final buzzer to end game one in favor of the road squad.
Goaltender and Canisius College Peter Wickström Stumer got the start in game one, stopping 30 of 35 shots he saw. Gutwirth led the Generals in scoring with three points, adding a pair of assists to go with his goal. Recupero paired an assist to go with his goal, while forward Andrew Delladonna picked up two assists.
Game two saw a much slower start for both sides, but the Gens found the lead 14 minutes into the game thanks to forward Frank D’Ancona. Forward and Skidmore College commit Brandon Spaulding followed up with a goal of his own almost four minutes later to make it 2-0 after the first, holding a lead that continued to grow in the second period. Gutwirth scored the lone goal in the second period four minutes in to make it 3-0, before the offense exploded for the blue and orange in the third. Forward and Long Island University commit Sixten Jennersjo led the way, scoring six and a half minutes into the final frame to make it 4-0, before forward Ryan Remick potted his own three minutes later to make it 5-0. Jennersjo then found his second of the night with a powerplay goal a little over 11 and a half minutes into the third to place the final score at 6-0 in favor of the Gens to split the series.
Goaltender and Air Force commit Toby Hopp got the start in game two, stopping all 34 shots he saw in his first official shutout of the season. Five different Generals recorded two points on the night to lead the team. Jennersjo led in goals with his two, with Remick recording an assist to go with his goal. Recupero, McGraw, Delladonna, and forward Michael Bartowski all recorded two assists in the high scoring win.
The Generals have only four games left on their 2023-24 regular season schedule, with the Gens visiting the New Hampshire Mountain Kings for the final time this season on Tuesday, March 26 at 6:30 PM EST. The team will then not play again until the beginning of April, when Northeast hosts the Danbury Hat Tricks for the final time of the season on Tuesday, April 2, at 7:00 PM EST. The Generals final series of the regular season will be at home against the Rochester Jr. Americans on Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6 in a possible post season matchup. Both of those games will be at 7:00 PM EST.