13 in 13: Northeast Generals

September 6, 2015

 

2014-15 Record: Did not play

2015 Playoffs: n/a

Head Coach: Bryan Erikson

2015-16 Division: East

 

New to the NA3EHL this year are the Northeast Generals, who play out of Canton, Massachusetts and will be a part of the East Division. The expansion team was announced back in April. The team’s home arena is the Canton Sportsplex in Canton, Massachusetts. The arena features two ice surfaces, 8 locker rooms, including a dedicated one for the Generals.

 

Head coach and general manager, Bryan Erikson, leads the Generals on the ice. Erikson has over 18 years of coaching experience. He started by working closely with his father at Hockey Plus, one of the most successful and long running hockey camps on the South Shore. He has been the head coach at the camp for the last 15 years, overseeing and training all of the staff.  Coach Erikson’s extensive coaching experience also includes; Head Coach at Wareham/Carver High School, U18 Boston Junior Terriers, Hockey Night in Boston, Bay State Games to name a few.

 

Erikson said that initially there were some challenges of being an expansion team. “We had to build a roster from scratch, but we got started early and had a good idea of the type of player we wanted and would make us successful,” said Erikson. “We looked for guys who were leaders and captains of their respective teams. If we aren’t going to be a veteran team, we thought that at least we would be one with good leadership.” With that said, the Generals signed 13 players who were captains of their high school or midget team.

 

Erikson said that the Generals are going to be younger group, but the early task at hand will be to get them to gel quickly. It will be a challenge for the Generals as 15 of their players were born in 1997 or later. “Our expectations are to work very hard, be disciplined and be very hard to play against,” said Erikson. “We want to finish in 1st place. That may seem a little far-fetched for an expansion team, but it is in the best interest of our players to set the bar high.”

 

Erikson had no problem in fielding a full roster as 23 players are currently listed and he does have some players with junior experience, who include forwards Travis Hyde and Derric Trudeau. Trudeeau’s older brother, Trevor, is one of the two goalies on the team, along with Steven Murphy. Another player that Erikson is eager to see is Ruslan Cernych, a 6’6 Russian-born forward. “I have been able to assemble a roster of kids that do have junior experience, which is important, but our average age is under 18, so we will be a younger group,” said Erikson. Two captains have also been chosen in forwards Austin Braley and Kevin Perry. “We couldn’t possibility be more excited to get started. We love the league and we really like where we are right now as a team.”