INTERNATIONAL TRYOUTS AT NEW ENGLAND SPORTS VILLAGE
NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
On Monday, July 22nd, the Northeast Generals Junior Hockey Team begin their Main Camp at the New England Sports Village in Attleboro, Massachusetts.
Founded in 2016, the team will be selecting players for their fourth season, with their home opener taking place on September 8th.
All players must attend if they want to make the team (including players from last year, draft picks and those tendered). This year’s group consists of prospects from all over the world, totaling 39 states and 20 countries.
Unlike many other North American Hockey League teams, the Northeast Generals have only one camp to decide which prospects make the final cut.
In just two days, coaches and scouts are faced with the daunting task of whittling down 150 players to a mere 30 by Wednesday, July 24th.
In order to effectively sift through talent, players must be divided into ten teams that will play against each other in carefully studied games.
“We have 10 scouts in attendance (Generals scouts and some NCAA Coaches) that help us evaluate the players based on obvious things like skating, puck skills, hockey IQ. But we also look at the intangibles, [such as] if they will fit in our locker room culture that we have built. It’s a hard task and very little separates a lot of kids, but it could be that one goal, or one great hit, or one great back check that makes you get noticed.” explained Generals GM Bryan Erikson.
Each player will get the opportunity to showcase his talent in two games daily on Monday and Tuesday, with the most impressive players selected to play on just four teams by Tuesday night.
From then on, the final four teams will battle it out in two All-Star games the following morning.
By Wednesday afternoon, the final forty names will be posted outside the locker room to play in the Final All-Star game scheduled to face off at 12:00 pm. Only the most elite 30 players of that contest will make the roster spots for the upcoming season.
Solidifying the team’s reputation for producing top-notch talent, an impressive twenty players from last season’s squad will go on to play at the next level, including NCAA Division 1 and USHL commitments for the ’19-’20 season.
Despite losing some key players, the Generals’ core identity remains intact. Associate Head Coach and GM Bryan Erikson affirm this.
“The Northeast Generals have always played an honest 200-foot brand of hockey. We want to be a team that is very hard to play against. Having said that we are a speed team, we play fast, and try to maximize our speed by getting in on pucks and finishing our hits. Our brand changes based on our personnel year to year, but we want to possess the puck as much as possible and make smart plays in the offensive zone and be stingy on pucks in the defensive zone.”
All games including the final All-Star game played at noon on Wednesday are open and free to the public.
Story By Morgan Fahey