ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira Aviators (4-7-0-0) were shut out by the Northeast Generals (6-3-2-0) 9-0 at the LECOM Event Center Saturday night.
The Aviators never stopped the Generals’ snowball as they scored three goals in each period against Elmira.
Northeast goaltender Keagin Wilson picked up his first career shutout, stopping all 34 Elmira shots. Generals’ captain Michael Bartkowski scored a hat trick and added an assist for a four-goal night.
The game got away from Elmira toward the end of the opening period. Down 1-0, the Aviators were set to go on a power play with a chance to tie the game and swing momentum in their favor.
Instead, Northeast scored a short-handed goal with relentless pressure and fore-checking. Spencer Hirsch buried it for the Generals, doubling their advantage.
Hirsch scored a short-handed goal in both games against the Aviators, with his tally on Saturday certainly feeling like a gut punch for Elmira.
To make matters worse, Bartkowski got his first of the night with a goal in the final minute of the first. The Aviators found themselves down 3-0 after one, giving up goals in gut-wrenching fashion.
Elmira made a goaltending switch to start the second, with Aries Carangi making his Aviator debut.
However, not much changed, as the Northeast offense continued to chug along.
Andrew Piccirillo attempted to rile up his teammates and the crowd with a spirited tilt late in the middle period, but the Aviator offense could not find the spark they had in Friday’s victory.
The Aviators will try to get back to winning ways next weekend in front of their home crowd against the Maine Nordiques.
Game 1 is Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m., and Game 2 is Saturday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the LECOM Event Center box office or at Lecomeventcenter.com.
The games can be streamed on NATV or listened to on WINGZ93.
Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him, email [email protected].