Hunt says long way to go

By Chris Jones/The Oshawa Express

The Oshawa Generals began the season with three games on the road before playing their home opener, and they scored 18 goals in those first four games, but also allowed 17.

While the offense has been very good, according to GM Roger Hunt, the team needs to work on its defense.

He says that while there have been standout performances offensively, such as right winger Serron Noel and the six goals he scored in the first four games of the season – three of which came in a hat trick against the North Bay Battalion – there’s still some things the team needs to work on.

In terms of what can be improved, Hunt says that the team must work on its “consistency. Defensively we need to keep some of our goals out certainly and lower that. But I think we’ve proven that on most nights we’ll be able to score.”

Hunt thinks the team needs to develop is a “killer instinct.”

In regards to winning the home opener, Hunt says that’s “it’s always big. You know, you’re 65 games away from the end of the season, but we opened up with the first three on the road, and I really believe there’s a feel good factor that goes through your fans and your players.”

However, Hunt also says that while winning the home opener is nice and can help a team start the season right, it’s not the be all and end all.

Despite that, he says that he it is still a nice feeling and that he is happy for the players and the fans.

Due to an odd schedule, the Generals won’t return until this Friday, Oct. 12 versus their rival Peterborough Petes.

Hunt also points out that some of their young guys have had good starts to the season thus far.

Some of the younger guys that Hunt is referring to are rookie right winger Tyler Tullio, who had four points in his first four games, as well as others.

Eric Henderson is another player that Hunt singles out, saying that the left wing may not be one of the young guys anymore, but he’s had a strong start to the season. Henderson has five points thus far, three of them coming in a hat trick against North Bay.

“There’s a lot of standouts up front offensively,” says Hunt. “And some solid performances on our blueline. But I think that the most exciting and dynamic part of our team four games into the season is certainly the play of our forwards.”