Written by: Rory McGouran

 

The Northeast Generals are gearing up for the regular season and, similar to any team across the junior hockey landscape, their roster faced significant turnover from last year. However, they boast a promising group of returning players with a collective hunger to elevate from their 19-33-4-3 record and push the Generals back to the postseason.

 

Following a training camp and preseason highlighted by back-to-back wins, it’s all eyes forward toward the regular season opener on September 13th. The Generals currently have 34 players in camp. With training camp ending this week, the team must trim down to a 25-man roster as instructed by the North American Hockey League. These decisions are never easy for a coaching staff, but the group of returning players has certainly set the standard to build around.

 

“It’s never easy making those decisions. We have 34 very good hockey players with bright futures, but at the end of the day it’s our job to face these hard choices and construct the roster we think will be best to compete,” said Head Coach and GM Bryan Erikson. “We’re really pleased with how our familiar faces showed up to camp. You can tell they all have that chip on their shoulder. They all care, and that’s a good start when you’re building a roster.”

 

The list of notable returners includes a leadership group featuring defensemen Cole McKenna and Vinny Ipri, along with forwards Thomas Klochkov and Mikey Bartkowski.

 

McKenna is the most experienced junior player on the roster. The 20-year-old Canadian import is strong and dependable in all areas of the ice, providing built-in offense without sacrificing defense. He is suiting up for his second season as a General and, combined with two previous seasons with the Oakville Blades of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, could potentially eclipse 200 career games played with a full season in his fifth year of junior hockey.

 

Ipri, an offensively minded blueliner who can quarterback a power play, returns from a rookie season in which his 28 points ranked second among all Generals’ defensemen, while his eight goals led the way. Ipri, a 19-year-old with two years of eligibility remaining, is currently committed to NCAA Division I at Merrimack College.

 

The forwards of the leadership group, Klochkov and Bartkowski, are both expected top-six players, each bringing a different tool set.

 

Klochkov is a cerebral offensive talent, using his speed, vision, and playmaking ability to create room for himself and his teammates. Injuries have limited the New Jersey native to just 64 games across three seasons, but if he logs a full year, there is little doubt he could emerge as the Generals’ points leader. Bartkowski’s defining quality is his work ethic. He is a shorter-statured player with a non-stop motor. His speed creates numerous opportunities, and if he can capitalize, his 10 points in 29 games last season should be easily surpassed. Just after the midway point of the 2025–26 schedule, Bartkowski will reach 100 career games as a General in his third season.

 

Including the four players in the leadership group, the Generals have more than half a roster of full-time or part-time returners.

 

Spencer Hirsch, Finn Connor, and Jackson Rutherford all logged a full season last year, combining for 156 games of Generals’ experience. Meanwhile, acquired midway through last season and now returning for their first full year in Canton are Kyle Murray-Smith, Owen O’Rear, Kody Moyer, and Johnathan Balzarini.

 

Hirsch and Connor both fit seamlessly into the power-forward role.

 

Hirsch, standing at 6’3”, 200 lbs, has a heavy shot and consistently finds the net-front scoring areas. He already showcased this in preseason with two goals against Maine. The Generals finished 18th in the league with 197 goals during the 2024–25 campaign, so Hirsch’s potential for 20+ goals is a promising sign for a team in need of scorers. Hirsch will look to build on his 13-goal, 30-point rookie season. Connor has Swiss-army-knife appeal with his 6’0”, 190 lbs frame. He is an effective north-south skater with the strength and size to separate from defenders while protecting the puck and opening lanes for line mates. The New Hampshire product finished with 15 points in 54 games as a rookie last year.

 

Having an experienced blueline is one of the greatest luxuries a coach can have. Alongside McKenna and Ipri, Rutherford is the second most experienced player on the Generals with 127 junior games under his belt. Standing at 6’3”, 210 lbs, he uses his size, reach, and skating to suffocate opponents’ offensive space. The Huntington Beach, CA native also contributes offensively, as evidenced by his 17 points from the back end last season.

 

Generals fans got a much briefer look at the four remaining returners, as they were acquired at various points throughout last season.

 

Kyle Murray-Smith is one of the most physically intimidating players in the NAHL, and there may not be a harder hitter. The 20-year-old forward utilizes his 6’6”, 256 lb frame, combined with a powerful skating stride, to dominate the physical side of the game, wear down opponents, and force turnovers across the ice. He will need to walk a fine line, however, after recording 70 penalty minutes in just 10 games as a General last season. If he can do that, his effectiveness will be on display every time he hits the ice.

 

Moyer, O’Rear, and Balzarini are all smaller forwards, each listed under 5’10”. The trio boasts a strong two-way mentality and excellent skating, and they hope to provide valuable offensive depth in their first full season. Moyer logged 27 games as a General after beginning the year with the NAHL’s Wisconsin Windigo and Watertown Shamrocks, collecting 21 points across 56 combined games. Similarly, O’Rear joined the Generals for 11 games after time with the Janesville Jets and El Paso Rhinos, where he posted 10 points in 25 games. Balzarini battled injuries in what would have been a more active rookie season, limiting him to just 16 games. The Massachusetts native is still seeking his first point as a General but previously posted back-to-back point-per-game seasons with St. Mark’s School before joining the junior ranks.

 

“Our returners are going to be key to our success. We had a young team last year, but we’re excited to see these men take that next step in their development. We’ve got a really good mix of dependable players that will make the Generals a competitive and difficult hockey team to play against,” Erikson concluded.

 

The Northeast Generals would like to express gratitude for the work ethic each of these players has displayed. The landscape of junior hockey means rosters can change at a frantic pace, and if a player is no longer with the team following publication, the Generals organization wishes them nothing but success in the future and thanks them for their contributions to the city and the culture of the team.