Generals Season Opening Weekend Preview

Wednesday, September 28, 2011
by Jackson Phillips

Eugene, OR -The Eugene Generals will play the Southern Oregon Spartans on the road before coming home to play them at the Lane County Ice Arena. The two games will mark the Generals first game and home game of the 2011-12 season.

The Generals will be traveling three hours south to face the Spartans Friday, Sept. 30. Following Friday’s game, the both teams will make the trek back to Eugene for the Generals home opener Saturday, Oct. 1.

Historically, the series between the two teams has been one-sided; history has favored the Generals. Although, last season the Generals finished the season with a losing record, and were eliminated from the playoffs by the Spartans.

With the dawn of the 2011-12 season right around the corner, the Generals have forgotten about last year’s losing record.

The Spartans are coming off a three game, preseason road trip. The Spartans won all three road games; outscoring their opponents (26-12).

The Generals Head Coach, Chuck Kennedy, has prepared his team for the challenges that face the Generals on the road. “Our key to winning in their arena is to take their fans out of the game quickly. We have to stay focused to the task at hand, and try not to get caught up in the excitement of opening night in a hostile, but wonderfully fun place to play a game.”

In order to start the season off right with a win the Generals must come out playing as a team. There is not one player Kennedy is expecting to have an impact in the success of the team. “I expect every player to have an impact if we are expecting to win. 20 guys have to compete every shift to be successful,” said Kennedy earlier this week. “60 minutes of hockey, nothing more and nothing less. Obviously, our veteran leadership and players should help the rookies calm down and play their games.”

Due to the fact that the Generals will be playing the Spartans in back-to-back games, the keys to success will not see much change from one game to the next. However there is one element of the game Kennedy has told his team must be a constant; physicality.

“I expect and demand the games to be very physical,” said Kennedy. “These are not going to be games for the weak.”

With the anticipation of a physical outing, and the season opener, expect the Generals to leave everything on the ice. Be sure to be here, at the Lane County Ice Arena on Oct. 1, when the Generals host the Spartans in their first home game of the 2011-12 season.

For Generals tickets or more information about the Generals visit EugeneGenerals.com.

For more information:
Jackson Phillips, Director of Public Relations, Eugene Generals
JPhillips@eugenegenerals.com
541-359-4154 Ext. 207 (office)
510-862-7174 (cell)