Elmira drops final game of 2024 to Northeast
ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira Aviators (12-15-3-1) lost 5-2 to the Northeast Generals (13-14-3-2) on home ice Saturday night.
The Aviators’ power play had issues all evening going one for eight and heavily contributing to Elmira’s defeat.
It was not for a lack of opportunities. The Generals’ overaggressiveness gave the Aviators a five-minute power play in the first period and extended five-on-three time in the second.
The Generals may have been overbearing in taking penalties, but the Northeast side stayed prevalent in their hard and physical identity. This made it hard for the Aviators to set up their power play and generate zone entries.
The Generals even scored a shorthanded goal with defenseman Vinny Ipri joining the rush to score his fourth tally of the season.
That goal felt like a backbreaker as it gave Northeast a two-goal lead entering the third period.
The Aviators’ two goals came right at the beginning of the hockey game and at the very end. Curtiss Sturgeon scored with a smooth release 3:23 into the first to get Elmira off and running.
Things were looking up for Elmira after beating Northeast goalie Aiden Mckenna with an early shot. Mckenna had not started a game for the Generals since Nov. 30.
However, the Northeast netminder found a rhythm, stopping 37 of the Aviators’ 39 shots on goal.
Elmira did not get its second goal until the game felt over as a contest, and it took a rebound opportunity to beat Mckenna. Andrew DellaDonna got the Aviators’ power-play goal with less than two minutes remaining in the third period.
The Aviators will now break for Christmas with a return to action on Jan. 3 against the New Hampshire Mountain Kings inside the LECOM Event Center. The game can be streamed on NATV and listened to on Big Foot Country Legends.
Friday’s game will honor Elmira Jackals’ legend and current Aviator assistant coach Eddy Lowe. There will be a pregame ceremony and special offers at the LECOM Event Center.
Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him email [email protected].