The Northeast Generals offense started clicking in the third period.
Northeast came from behind to earn a 3-2 victory over the Maine Nordiques in a North American Hockey League East Division game at the New England Sports Village in Attleboro, Massachusetts, Friday night.
“We didn’t establish a winning effort the first two periods and guys got really lackadaisical the first six minutes of the third period,” Maine Nordiques coach Nick Skerlick said. “You aren’t going to win a lot of games giving up three goals in six minutes.”
Skerlick added that building a lead will be a critical part going forward.
The Nordiques took the initial 1-0 lead in the second period when Jake Bernardet scored just past the 13-minute mark.
Skerlick noted that Bernardet is the team’s Energizer Bunny.
“It seems like every time something big is happening, it always seems like he’s the line leader,” Skerlick said. “He’s been incredible on the penalty kill. He’s been decent on the power play. He’s been great 5-on-5. For sure, a Division-I hockey player. I am hoping schools can agree with that.”
Jett Otwell of the Generals responded early in the third period to tie the game at 1-1. Emerson Miller had the assist.
Tyler Ramm notched his sixth goal of the season, set up by Sixten Jennersjo, giving Northeast a 2-1 lead nearly four minutes into the third period.
Midway through the third period, Frank D’Ancona beat Nordiques goalie Thomas Heaney (24 saves) for a two-goal advantage. University of Maine commit Ryan Remick recorded the helper.
Nick Romeo put Maine within striking distance late in the third period by beating Generals goalie Toby Hopp (36 saves). It was Romeo’s sixth tally of the season.
The Nordiques couldn’t get the equalizer in the final four minutes of the contest.
“We have yet to play three periods consistently for 60 minutes,” Skerlick stated. “We played three good periods in a row, but it wasn’t in the same game. Until we do that, we will never establish the fact we can be a dominant team in the East Division this year.”
The teams meet again in Attleboro on Saturday at 7 p.m.
NEWS AND NOTES
• Defenseman Evan Orloff has returned to the Nordiques from the Green Bay Gamblers of the Tier I United States Hockey League. The University of Massachusetts at Amherst commit was traded to the Generals during the offseason.
Skerlick said that Generals were nice enough to hold Orloff’s NAHL rights while he tried to make Green Bay. When Orloff got cut, the Generals traded Orloff’s rights back to Maine.
• The Nordiques have also received 17-year-old Russian forward Arseni Vorobyov from the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL.
Skerlick said Vorobyov, who had an assist Friday night in his first game with Maine, could be back in the USHL this season.
• Maine traded 17-year-old Cameron Stehle to the New Hampshire Mountain Kings for future considerations.
Skerlick said Stehle will fit into Mountain Kings coach Cam Robichaud’s offensive style.
• Defenseman Lucas DiChiara and forward Jakub Krizan were released, and both joined the New Jersey Hitmen of the USPHL’s National Collegiate Development Conference.
• Forward AJ Noel is also now in the NCDC with the Islanders Hockey Club after being released by the Nordiques.
DiChiara and Noel could return to the organization next season.
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