Press Releases
PRESS RELEASE — Lumberjacks Acquire Veteran Netminder Paxton Geisel from Dubuque
MUSKEGON, MI — The Muskegon Lumberjacks and Dubuque Fighting Saints have agreed to a trade that sends veteran netminder, and former member of the USHL All-Rookie team Paxton Geisel to Muskegon in return for future draft picks.
Geisel, a 2004 birth year with dual citizenship between the United States and Canada has spent the past two seasons in the USHL with Dubuque. In 2021-22 Geisel recorded a 25-9-3 record through 40 regular season games played with a 3.13 GAA, and .897 SV%. His strong play in goal helped the Fighting Saints to a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference, and a place for himself on the USHL All-Rookie team. Last season Geisel again found playing time with the Fighting Saints helping Dubuque to another appearance in the Clark Cup Playoffs.
Lumberjacks President of Hockey Operations Steve Lowe said “We are excited to add Paxton to our group. He is a proven goaltender at the USHL level, and this will push the competition even more at that position.” Lowe added “We can’t wait to see Paxton in the Black and Gold.”
Head coach of the Jacks Parker Burgess added on to the praise of the newest Jack “We are excited to welcome Paxton to the Muskegon Lumberjacks organization and family. He brings a unique combination of talent, experience, and success to our team. Coach Burgess added “As a staff we are looking forward to working with Paxton and being a part of his development on and off the ice.
Following his Junior Hockey career Geisel is committed to play college hockey in the NCHC with the Denver Pioneers Men’s Hockey team.
NAHL Generals Tender Zotter from 3HL Squad
Attleboro, Mass. – The Northeast Generals are proud to announce the tendering of skilled forward Nolan Zotter from the organizations NA3HL team. A 2003 birth year Zotter is in his second season in a Gens uniform after splitting the 2021-22 campaign with the NAPHL 18u and NA3HL teams.
Last season Zotter recorded 57 points (24g, 33a) in 47 NAPHL games with the 18u Academy team before earning a promotion to the NA3HL where he recorded 18 points (9g, 9a) in 18 games to close out the regular season. In the post season Zotter recorded 10 points, including a 3 goal performance in the 2nd game of the Fraser Cup Championship against the Gillette Wild.
This season Zotter finds himself one of the top point getters in the NA3HL’s East Division with 36 points (11g, 25a) in 27 games played. He joins teammates Matthew Nuzzolilo (39) and Braeden Kennedy (37) as the top scorers in the East.
The Pennsylvania native is the third General to be tendered by the NAHL Gens this season joining Ryan Sachs and Brendon Wolesky both from the 18u Academy team.
For all things Northeast Generals download the team’s official app from the IOS and Android app stores, and follow the Gens on social media @negenerals.
NAHL Weekend Preview – Gens Travel to Philly for Two Games Jan. 6-7
(Sewell, NJ) – The NAHL Generals are hitting the road this weekend for a series against East Division opponent, the Philadelphia Rebels. For the Gens it’s the final two games on a lengthy road trip dating back to the beginning of December when their last home game was a 4-3 overtime win over the Maryland Black Bears. The back end of a weekend sweep at the Village on December 3rd.
On the road trip the Generals are 4-2 starting with a series split in New Jersey on December 9th and 10th followed by a pair of wins on the 16th and 17th over the Danbury Hat Tricks. After a small break for the Holidays the Gens took the ice in Johnstown for a series against the Tomahawks to close out 2022. Friday the 30th brought a serious offensive output for Northeast winning 9-2. Saturday was much closer with the teams needing an 11 round shootout to decide a winner. Eventually it was the Tomahawks that came out on top 3-2 after the shootout.
Top of the Tables
Three of the top four scorers in the NAHL find themselves on the Generals roster. Starting at the top, the league leader in total points is 2002 birth year Dave Andreychuk. The uncommitted forward has 42 points in 32 games this season striking at a 1.31 points per game rate. Right behind Andreychuk is linemate and Arizona State (NCAA DI) commit Paul Minnehan with 39 points in 29 games. Minnehan started this season in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede before joining his teammates in Minnesota at the NAHL’s showcase back in October. Finally, in 3rd place in the NAHL for total points is Jake LaRusso with 37 points in 29 games. All but one for LaRusso come with the Generals as he was traded from the North Iowa Bulls just 3 games into the season. LaRusso is averaging 1.38 points in a Generals uniform which would rank first in the league among players with at least 20 games played.
Young Guns
Success isn’t only being found by the Veterans in the Generals locker room. Ryan Schelling a rookie out of Suffern, NY ranks 2nd among first year players for points this season with 29 on the year. Toby Hopp meanwhile ranks among the league leaders for save percentage with a .930 through 13 starts. Hopp is 10-1-2 this season in the crease which puts him in the top 10 for wins in the league as well.
New Faces, Old Friends
The Generals have not been afraid to add new players to the mix in order to find success. Starting with LaRusso the Gens have added some names to the line chart this season through trades, tenders, and signings. Many of the “new guys” have spent time playing with current Generals as part of Roc City Elite a showcase team partnered with the Generals. Frank D’Ancona who joined the Generals from the USHL, and Ryan Remick coming via trade from Chippewa both played with Roc City in the past and have had immediate impacts in the lineup. As of late the duo has been playing on a line with former Roc City player Andrew DellaDonna.
Records
This past weekend while in Johnstown two Generals were within a stones throw from the organizational record for most career points as a General. Dave Andreychuk entered the weekend with 118 points in his career with Northeast, while Minnehan followed close behind. Louis Boudon the record holder scored 119 points as a General before moving onto college hockey where he currently plays with the Lake Superior State Lakers. With 2 goals on Friday, and an assist on Saturday Andreychuk leap frogged Boudon to become the all-time leading point scorer in Generals history with 121 points. Minnehan finished the weekend tied with Boudon at 119 points but has the rest of this season and another year of eligibility to break the record.
Season Series
The Gens and Rebels have only met twice this season as part of a weekend series down in Sewell at the Hollydell Ice Arena. The Generals were on a 5 game win streak entering the series and looking to continue their strong play. Friday night was a 4-2 win for the Generals in a game that saw Hopp stop 30 of 32 shots fired his way. Four different Generals scored goals including Jackson McCarthy, Sixten Jennersjö, Bryce Cooper, and Minnehan. Schelling lead the game in points though with 3 assists in the game.
Saturday night’s game brought a 2-0 shootout win for the Generals and Cullen DeYoung in between the pipes. The netminder stopped all 19 shots against him while Andreychuk and DellaDonna each found the back of the net in the win. With the wins the Gens extended their win streak to 7 games.
For all things Northeast Generals download the official team app on the IOS and Android app stores, and follow the Gens on social media @negenerals
Feature Stories
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Brittany Fleck Coaches Two Teams at Once
Coaching at the NCAA level is a tough job. Hours of film, practice prep, game prep, travel, and so much more to ensure your team is not only performing well, but also happy. While some coaches find one team to be enough, Brittany Fleck took on a nearly impossible job: coach two teams at one time. The Franklin Pierce University field hockey assistant coach volunteered to help out with the volleyball team as well, when a position opened up on the coaching staff this fall.
After a few coaching jobs and four years on the NCAA Division I field hockey team at the University of Maine, Fleck joined her former UMaine teammate and Ravens head field hockey coach Zoe Adkins at Franklin Pierce in 2017 as an assistant coach. Three years later, she finds herself with the added responsibility of helping the volleyball team too.
The last-minute assistant-coach vacancy came a week into the volleyball preseason, which left head volleyball coach Stephanie Dragan scrambling to fill the spot with few outside options available. Internally, Fleck wound up as the obvious choice, with her background of playing volleyball in high school. With the seasons interlocking, Fleck made the switch to field hockey after being left off of the volleyball roster in her ninth-grade year. Little did she know, years later, she would be able to be a part of both sports at the same time. As for how she enjoys the task of two teams, Fleck said, “I love it. It’s busy, and I never know who we are playing on what day… but I love it.” She enjoys it so much, she said she would even add a third sport to the mix.
The players love the fact Fleck took on the second sport and continues to do everything she does for the teams. Senior field hockey co-captain Jessica Strassburg said, “She is still an awesome coach and brings so much energy.” She added later, “Having a coach that helps multiple sports is a cool bridge between sports.”
Strassburg was joined by fellow senior co-captain Allison Collins and their sophomore teammate Julianne Sacco when praising their coach. “Britt Fleck is always on her feet supporting both us and volleyball,” said Sacco. “She is one of the most committed coaches I have ever had and brings incredible energy.”
Collins added, “We appreciate everything she does for our program and admire her for all she brings to Franklin Pierce athletics.”
The volleyball players had lots of praise for their new assistant coach as well. Senior Abigail Garnhart mentioned the appreciation from the whole team when saying, “We appreciate all of her commitment to us and respect her for balancing both teams so well.” Garnhart also spoke about what coach Fleck brings to the table: “She always brings so much energy on the bench at games, which definitely makes a difference out on the court.”
Along with Garnhart was fellow volleyball senior Jocelyn Moody, who added on to the growing list of compliments by saying, “She always has a positive attitude and hypes us up so much. We love having her around. She brings a great energy to the gym.”
While the players all praised Fleck’s amazing energy, Adkins went deeper into what her assistant brings to the table. “She is an incredibly passionate and competitive individual who brings insight to our program every day,” said Adkins. “She is someone I know I can trust and rely on to work with [assistant coach] Danielle [Harris] and I to continue to push the standards and expectations of the Franklin Pierce University field hockey program.”
With the field hockey season recently concluded and volleyball season coming to a close within the next month, coach Fleck will have some much-deserved free time. She’ll hope the free time doesn’t come too soon however. With field hockey having returned to the postseason and volleyball within shouting distance of a Northeast-10 Championship berth as well, Fleck could do more than just coach two teams in one season: she could help two teams to the playoffs as well.
A WARM WELCOME: Klaus Dives Into First Collegiate Head Coaching Gig
Coming to a new place can be scary, nerve racking, and even hard, but for head coach Andrew Klaus of the softball team at Franklin Pierce University, his first year has been nothing short of warm and open. Klaus is the 12th head coach in program history, and took over after Hannah Griffin resigned after two seasons of leading the Ravens.
Franklin Pierce is the first stop on Klaus’ head coaching tour at the collegiate level. Coming from an assistant coaching position with the Division I Norfolk State University, Klaus said his decision to come to Franklin Pierce was an easy one. Klaus cites the Ravens’ Director of Athletics, Rachel Burleson as the leading reason behind his choice. “Having coached with our Athletic Director, Rachel Burleson, over eight years ago, I know first-hand that we are under great leadership. Her knowledge, work-ethic, and vision for the athletic program and student-athlete experience are exactly what is needed for greatness.” As for it being his first year at the head coaching position, Klaus says he is excited and the support he has gotten from the administration and his colleagues has been overwhelming, and he couldn’t imagine a better atmosphere to be a part of.
Before starting with Franklin Pierce, Klaus spent six years as an assistant coach at the NCAA level with four different institutions. With those six years of coaching experience in his back pocket, Klaus is looking to bring some of the things he learned along the way to Rindge. When asked about incorporating strategies, techniques, and other assets, Klaus said, “I hope to bring everything that I’ve learned in my six years as an assistant, while still maintaining a growth mindset, to find better and more efficient ways to teach.”
When a new coach comes into the position they aren’t the only ones affected by the change. For the players it seems to be a positive one. Junior pitcher Amelia Mamone is happy, saying, “Coach Klaus was a great addition to our team and we’re all extremely thankful that we have a fresh start this year and that he chose us to make us not only succeed on the field but off the field as well.” Academics is a priority for Klaus as well, and he says he is comfortable with the balance between academics and athletics at the Division II level.
The softball team had many ups and downs, with seasons ranging from as low as one win to as high as 15 over the previous five seasons, but that doesn’t faze Klaus, as he looks to make a difference this year. While winning is the main goal, Klaus’ focus is on the future, saying, “We expect to build this program the correct way, through respect, dedication, trust and accountability.”
On and off the field the Ravens are looking to have success. Whether it is in the classroom or in the community volunteering, Klaus is looking for his team to be full of leaders who represent themselves, the team, and Franklin Pierce in a good manner.
Confidence is key, and for Klaus that is no problem. With this team and the tools available to him at Franklin Pierce, Klaus feels that his team has what it takes to be successful, and believes in his goal to win a Northeast-10 Conference title within the near future.
FINDING THE RIGHT BLEND: Men’s Ice Hockey Looks to Mix Veterans and Newcomers
Every great sports team goes through a rebuild. The Golden State Warriors, Chicago Blackhawks and even the Boston Red Sox have gone through their own rebuilds before their current winning ways. That is what the Franklin Pierce University men’s ice hockey team went through this past offseason.
After a 7-18-1 (3-11-1 Northeast-10 Conference) record last season, head coach Shaun Millerick went on a recruiting spree, as he brought 13 freshmen onto the roster for the start of the 2018-19 season. Introducing so many new faces affects everyone in the locker room in many ways. From freshmen and sophomores battling to earn a spot, to juniors and seniors battling to keep their spot on the roster, 13 new faces can do a lot for a new team.
In a Media Monday interview, coach Millerick talked about the upperclassmen leaders on the team this year and how they have helped the new freshmen. During the interview, coach Millerick said “They’ve been outstanding straight from the get-go, greeting the new guys when they got on campus, taking them under their wing, and really showing them the ropes.”
The upperclassmen echoed the words of coach Millerick, pointing out how a well-rounded, happy locker room has developed while integrating the new faces. In an interview, senior captain Jack Williams said, “It’s a smooth transition, they’ve immediately bought into the philosophy we’ve been preaching.” The same was pointed out by junior alternate captain Alex Lester, who said, “We have a great group of guys and they make my job as a leader very easy.”
The upperclassmen aren’t the only ones happy with how the team is coming together thus far. Both freshman Sean Crowley and freshman Ryan Gorbett said the returners have been helpful on and off the ice. More specifically, Crowley said, “We have come together well as a group and I’m looking forward to what we can do this season.”
The team has come together in the preseason, but it’s time to battle for spots. Teams typically dress 12 forwards, six defensemen, and three goalies a game. On the roster, there are 16 forwards, 10 defensemen, and four goalies, so everyone knows they have to bring their A-game every day. Freshman goaltender Kyle Martin said the situation was a positive for the team: “Competition brings out the best in everyone, so I am excited for the opportunity ahead.” With such little room for mistake, the intensity in games and practices is at an all-time high.
When asked what their goal for the season was, every player had the same answer: an NE10 championship. A championship is a big goal, but the Ravens have shown signs of promise, and exactly what their mix of young and veteran talent can do, early in the season. In just the fourth game of the year, the team upended the defending NE10 champion, Saint Anselm, 5-3, at the Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. The goal may be lofty, but if the early season is any indication, the sky may be the limit for these birds.