The New Jersey Titans defeated the Northeast Generals, 5-4 in Game 5, and advanced to the next round of the NAHL postseason on Sunday at Middletown Ice World Arena. The Titans will now play the Jamestown Rebels in an Empire State showdown for the chance to reach the Robertson Cup series with the league’s other division winners in Blaine, Minn., later this month.
The No. 4 seed in the East Division, the Generals nearly pulled off the upset of the No. 1-seeded Titans after winning games 1 and 4, In Game 5, they led 3-0 and 4-3 before New Jersey got a controversial last-second goal from forward Ryan Coughlin. Time appeared to expire before the puck was put into the Generals net on a rebound shot, but the referees called it a good goal. There was no review.
Generals goaltender Cullen DeYoung stopped 50 of 55 Titans shots in the loss, including a glove save on Chris Carroll with 7 seconds left in regulation. Northeast won the draw, but Carroll won possession in the corner and passed out front to a wide-open Coughlin in the slot. DeYoung made the initial save, but was sprawling on the ice and unable to prevent the second shot from going in.
The Attleboro, Mass.-based Generals gave the Titans everything they could handle, getting strong performances from key players including DeYoung and center Ryan Gordon, the son of former Boston College goaltender and New York Islanders and Providence Bruins head coach Scott Gordon (Brockton, Mass.).
Below are notes and observations from some of the series standouts of both clubs based on live and online viewings.
Brendan Dumas (North Attleboro, Mass.)
Titans, 8/28/02, C/RW, right shot, 5-11/190
Came home in triumphant fashion, scoring the winning goal in Game 3’s first minute, when he made a great read to pick off an errant pass near his own blue line. He outskated a defender to gain just enough separation, then got DeYoung to bite on a fake before sliding the puck home in front of friends and family in a 3-0 win. He had a scrappy game, getting involved in a second-period fracas, and showed a willingness to give and take hits the entire series. The St. Sebastian’s and Cape Cod Whalers product returned to haunt his old NAHL team and finished with three points. He is uncommitted and went unselected in Tuesday’s USHL Phase II draft, but could make a run at a USHL roster spot on a tryout basis this summer if that is of interest to him. If not, he will be one of the NAHL's best players as a 20-year-old.
Ryan Gordon
Northeast Generals, 5/5/02, C, right shot, 6-0/170
Another uncommitted player, Gordon should get an offer soon, as he had a strong season and playoff series. He’s not an explosive skater, but is quick and agile and uses his vision and high hockey IQ to get himself in the middle of a lot of plays. The big thing that jumps out at you about his game is the effort and habits/details. You can tell he’s a coach’s son who grew up around the game, as he plays hard and the right way. He parlayed his season into being a third-round USHL draft selection, going to the Sioux Falls Stampede with the second pick of the third round, an indicator of his value as a two-way center. The former Mount St. Charles pivot in 2019-20 was born in Georgia while his father was coaching there, but has strong New England ties and is getting some interest from various schools in the region from the AHA and ECAC.
Chris CarrollÂ
New Jersey Titans, 5/4/01, LW, left shot, 6-0/181
NCAA commit: Merrimack
Overager and former Long Island Gulls and North Jersey Avalanche midget AAA forward has always been a scorer, and he came through with a solid 2-2-4 line in the series. He made the series-winning play, however, getting to the puck along the wall and then passing out front to Coughlin, who eventually finished. It was a major contribution for a veteran junior forward who is off to the Hockey East and Merrimack College next season.
Nick Ring (Hingham, Mass.)
New Jersey Titans, 10/26/03, RW, right shot, 5-9/185
NCAA commit: New Hampshire
Former Boston Advantage star at the 15, 16, 18-U and USPHL NCDC levels was outstanding early in the series and took his game up a notch offensively by using his speed and small area puck skills to make an impact. He bursts to loose pucks and has a slippery elusiveness to evade defenders in traffic. Ring showed more willingness to get to the dirty areas than previously seen, and it paid off for him with a team-leading three goals in five games. Sioux Falls made him the third player selected from this playoff series in the top-three rounds, drafting him four spots after Gordon at 36th overall. He could join fellow Advantage product Ryan Healey (Hull, Mass.) on the Stampede next year.
Paul Minnehan
Northeast Generals, 4/9/03, C, left shot, 6-1/175
NCAA commit: Arizona State
One of the NAHL’s top scorers, Minnehan did not have all that productive a series, going 1-1-2 in the five games, but did tally in the final contest. Sioux Falls made the future Sun Devil the fourth player chosen in the USHL Entry Draft this week, taking him in the second round with the 23rd overall selection. He’s got a hitch in his stride, but gets around the ice well enough at this level. The Californian is a smart player with soft hands and a scorer’s touch, but the Generals needed more. With Arizona State bringing in forward transfers Dylan and Ty Jackson (Northeastern), and Lukas Sillinger (Bemidji State), Minnehan will play another season of juniors.
Anthony Calafiore
New Jersey Titans, 4/6/02, RW, right shot, 5-9/165
NCAA commit: Maine
From Staten Island, N.Y., Calafiore didn’t have the most productive series, but still flashed his high-end skating chops and serpentine style. He weaves and bobs his way through high-traffic areas, demonstrating a mastery of his edges to cut and slip away from the opposition. He had several grade-A scoring chances in Game 3, but couldn’t find the back of the net. He was drafted by the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks in the sixth round. If he ends up in the league next year instead of going to Maine, that’s solid value given his offensive skills and junior experience.
David Andreychuk
Northeast Generals, 4/2/02, LW, left shot, 6-1/190
NCAA commit: St. Lawrence
The Chatham, N.J., product was Northeast’s top offensive player, with a 2-3-5 stats line. He’s an average skater who doesn’t have much jump in his initial steps or a lot of lateral agility, more of a north-south forward. However, he has above-average offensive instincts and hands and is able to anticipate where the play is developing and get to prime scoring areas. A former prep standout with Frederick Gunn School (the Gunnery), he finishes his junior career with 80 points in 90 career NAHL games as he heads off to the ECAC.
David Posma
New Jersey Titans, 8/27/03, D, left shot, 6-0/170
NCAA commit: Niagara
Led the Titans in scoring with seven points and had a major impact on the series with his physical defensive style. His skating is the only thing holding him back, as he started the year in the USHL with Cedar Rapids, but returned to the Titans after one game. Even with the heavy boots, at this level Posma is able to angle opponents to the outside and keep their heads on a swivel whenever he is patrolling the ice looking for a big hit. Another Mount St. Charles alumnus from 2019-20, he will be an effective presence in the AHA.
Cullen DeYoung
Northeast Generals, 2/3/02, G, 6-1/170
Finished the series with a .922 save percentage and deserved a better fate in the final game. He did nearly everything in his power to neutralize the Titans’ high-powered attack before giving up the game-ending goal. The Michigan native plays bigger in the net than his listed size and is athletic enough to make desperation saves. He has the tools to play Division 1 hockey.
