While just one Cochrane General aged out at the end of last season, captain Chris Hugo, the team still has roster holes to fill. So the Heritage Junior Hockey League club is busy auditioning candidates for a few key positions.
Entering his third year as head coach, Evan McFeeters was assessing candidates during 4-on-4 scrimmages at the team’s first day of training camp Sept. 12 at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre.
“We have high expectations for this group,” McFeeters states. “We felt that we took huge strides forward last season.”
After finishing out of the playoffs in McFeeters’s rookie head-coaching campaign, Generals finished second last season in HJHL Southern Division standings at 25-10-3, including a six-game win streak down the stretch. Earning a first-round playoff bye, Gens were eliminated from the playoffs by Okotoks in the second round. This season, Gens want to get past the second round and beyond.
“There’s a lot of momentum,” McFeeters says. “The players are extremely excited to get the season going. It’s the same core group that’s been together for four years and they feel it’s their turn to win this year.”
Along with Hugo’s forward spot, there are others open. Forwards Colby Chartier (travelling) and Chad Harrison (Alberta Junior Hockey League Canmore Eagles) are out, as are forwards Sayer McDonald and and Tyler Nielsen (both working out of town.) Forward Reed Boothby will be in the stands for the bulk of the season following reconstructive knee surgery later this month.
“We have some holes to fill,” McFeeters says. “Every year with a junior hockey club, you do your due diligence to bring some players in and continue going up.”
Harrison is with Canmore now, but may return to his home-town squad for another season. He transferred to Gens from AJHL Drumheller Dragons last season and had an immediate impact on Cochrane’s forward group, scoring three goals and adding two assists in his first Gens game.
“He is thinking about coming back to Cochrane, but nothing’s been decided yet,” McFeeters says of Harrison’s status. “If he wants to play here, we have a spot for him. If he wants to continue with the Junior A stuff, that’s available for him as well.”
While still evaluating players, McFeeters has at least two new keepers – defencemen Ashton Cox and Tyler Kinnon. Unfortunately, Cox broke his wrist in the team’s Sept. 13 intra-squad exhibition game. McFeeters says there will be a spot waiting for him when he heals.
“Other than that, we haven’t committed to anyone else. It’s still a work in progress. There’s Chris Sambrook, Dawson Javorsky, Jared Schmall. They’re on the bubble right now and pushing the older guys for some playing time. We’ll make that decision using the exhibition games this weekend.”
Gens test their new troops, and tune up their vets, under live fire at the four-team Exhibition Showdown starting Sept. 18 at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre (SLSFSC). Cochrane, Airdrie, Strathmore and Three Hills are all playing at the two-day, HJHL preseason extravaganza in Cochrane.
Friday, Sept. 18, 7:30 p.m.: Gens vs. Airdrie Thunder
Saturday, Sept.19, 4 p.m.: Thunder vs. Strathmore Wheatland Kings
Saturday, Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m.: Gens vs. Three Hills Thrashers
Sunday, Sept. 20, 5:30 p.m.: Gens vs Wheatland Kings
