Aviators fail to handle Generals’ overwhelming attack in loss at Canton Ice House
CANTON, Mass. – The Elmira Aviators (20-34-3-1) could not keep up with the Northeast Generals’ (19-32-4-3) rampant attack, falling 9-3 Friday night.
The Aviators and Generals played two tightly contested periods with plenty of chances both ways. Northeast carried a 4-2 lead into the final frame.
Despite the close play in the opening two-thirds, the Generals’ offense exploded in the third, rattling off five goals. The first three of which were separated by just one minute and 23 seconds.
Northeast rallied off six unanswered goals overall, going back to the second period en route to its 9-3 victory. The win snaps a nine-game skid for the Generals.
For the Aviators, this series is not only the last of their inaugural season, but also the final games of junior hockey for five Elmira players.
Gavin Duckworth, Bryce Terry, Clarence Beltz, Curtiss Sturgeon and Jett Otwell are playing in their final games for the Aviators and in the NAHL this weekend. The group shares a 2004 birth year and is aging out of the NAHL
The five players all wanted to win, but also have fun in their final games in junior hockey.
Three of those players, Bryce Terry, Clarence Beltz and Curtiss Sturgeon, have committed to play college hockey at the Division III level this fall.
Terry will head to Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He will play lacrosse and hockey for the Thoroughbreds. Terry picked up his 10th goal of the season Friday night against the Generals and assisted Ben Norris later in the game.
Beltz and Sturgeon will continue playing together at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. Beltz picked up his 25th assist of the season Friday night. He leads the Aviators in points with 41.
Otwell and Duckworth are still making decisions on their futures. The official Elmira Aviators social media accounts will provide updates on how fans can track their careers after leaving Elmira.
The Aviators will try to end their season on a high note with a win over the Generals Saturday night at 7 p.m. Elmira can secure a season series win by defeating Northeast on Saturday.
The game can be streamed on NATV and listened to on Big Foot Country Legends.
Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him, email [email protected].