The Generals started the final month of 2023 with a weekend series against the Danbury Hat Tricks on Friday, Dec. 1 and Saturday, Dec. 2. Northeast split the series, winning Friday’s matchup 1-0 before falling on Saturday, 6-3.
Game one was a closely contested match up between the two teams, with neither team being able to find the back of the net during the first two periods of play, even with the Generals outshooting the Hat Tricks 20-to-15 through two. Forward Andrew Delladonna finally broke the deadlock early in the third period, finding the loose puck in the crease to shovel it into the back of the net for his third goal of the season 57 seconds into the period. Forward’s Ben Campeau and Frank D’Ancona received the assists, their seventh and 12th respectively. The Generals shut down the Hat Tricks for the rest of the contest, taking the 1-0 score to the final buzzer.
Goaltender Peter Wickström Stumer stopped all 29 shots he saw in the contest, giving him the victory and picked up his second straight shutout, and his third in the NAHL this season.
Game two saw the offense come to life again for both teams, with Danbury starting the scoring early to make it 1-0, before forward Tyler Ramm found his ninth of the season to tie the game at 1-1 with 11:16 remaining in the period. Forward Ryan Remick gave the Generals the lead with a 5-on-3 powerplay goal off the one timer, giving him his 14th goal of the year with 7:17 remaining.
Remick gave the Generals a two goal lead with his 15th of the season early in the second, making it 3-1 with 11:58 remaining in the period. Danbury then responded seven-and-a-half minutes later in the period to make it a 3-2 game through two, before the Hat Tricks offense exploded in the third. The home sided Hat Tricks scored four straight in the third, including an empty netter, to jump the Generals and steal the victory, 6-3.
Remick led the Generals in goals with his two, while forward Jacob Wilson collected two assists to lead the team. Wickström Stumer stepped into the crease once again for the Generals for game two, saving 23 of 28 shots in the loss.
The Generals will return home for their next series of games, as the New England Sports Village will host the New Jersey Titans for the first time since late September. The games will be set for Friday, Dec. 8 and Saturday, Dec. 9. Northeast then hosts Danbury once more for a single game on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the final home game in the month of December.