The Generals started 2024 with a home stand at the New England Sports Village, where the Generals faced the Philadelphia Rebels in a two game series. Northeast split the series, falling 6-4 on Friday, Jan. 5, and winning 6-3 on Saturday, Jan. 6.
Game one saw the Generals jump ahead early in the contest, with forward Ryan Remick and Jacob Wilson scoring on the powerplay to jump ahead 2-0 after the first period of action. The Rebels mounted the comeback in the second period though, scoring five straight unanswered goals before forward Joseph McGraw scored with less than a second remaining in the second to bring the score to 5-3. The Generals tried to mount the comeback in the third period, but the Rebels were able to pot another goal to keep themselves ahead, even after Wilson scored his second goal of the night, ending the game at 6-4 in defeat.
Goaltender Toby Hopp received the start and stopped 12 of 16 shots. Goaltender Peter Wickström Stumer came in relief and stopped 14 of 16 in the loss. Wilson recorded his two goals, while forward Sixten Jennersjo recorded two assists to surpass 40 on the season. Eight other Generals skaters also recorded a point in the game.
Game two saw the offense come to life once more for Northeast, but not until late in the period. Defensemen Matt DeSpirit potted the rebound with less than two minutes remaining in the first to give the Generals the 1-0 lead after one, before the Rebels stormed back once more early in the second with two goals to make it 2-1. McGraw went on to score two powerplay goals in the second period to propel the Gens back into the lead, while DeSpirit scored once again with less than two minutes remaining to give the Generals a 4-2 lead. Defenseman Brendan Kimball then scored less than four minutes into the period before the Rebels finally responded on the powerplay to bring it within two. Wilson ended the threat with a two-way effort after picking the puck off the Rebels defender to score his third goal of the weekend, which stood as the final with the score at 6-3.
Wickström Stumer received the start in net, knocking away 23 of 26 shots in the win. Wilson, McGraw, DeSpirit, Kimball, and Jennersjo recorded multipoint games. McGraw and Jennersjo each recorded three points, with Jennersjo now at a league high 44 assists. 11 skaters recorded at least one point in the matchup for the Generals.
The Generals stay home to host the Maryland Black Bears this weekend, starting on Friday, Jan. 12 at 8:00 PM EST, and then Saturday, Jan. 13 at 6:00 PM EST. The Gens will then travel to Danbury for their lone road trip in the month of January, starting on Friday, Jan. 19 and ending on Saturday, Jan. 20. Those games will both be at 7:00 PM EST.