After a heartbreaker of a loss in the league championship last week, the Cochrane Generals are focusing on a fresh start as they take to the ice again for the Hockey Alberta provincials.
“The league was something we expected to win and something we felt like we were destined to win – and it just didn’t work out,” said forward Connor Rendell, who has been a star for the Gens through both the regular and post-seasons.
“I hope we can put it behind us and I hope we can … use it as a little bit of fuel – a little bit of unfinished business.”
Last Thursday, the Gens headed to Red Deer for Game 4 in the Heritage Junior Hockey League’s final series against the Vipers. Down 2-1, it was an all-or-nothing matchup for the Cochrane team for the coveted HJHL crown.
Rendell said they “played well” in the first period, with Corey Goeson loading one up to put the team up 1-0. Red Deer came back with a vengeance in the second, scoring three goals to propel the Vipers into the lead.
As the third period began, the Generals sat two back and knew they had no choice but to bring up the numbers in order to literally stay in the game.
Rendell answered the call and, with help from Chad Harrison, put two in the net in 20 minutes, tying it up and forcing the first – yes, just the first – overtime.
From then on, the teams were deadlocked in a battle for the banner.
The first OT produced nothing for either squad, and in the second overtime, Goeson seemed to put one away … but the thrill lasted only for a moment before the goal was disallowed.
“I had the puck and I cut across the net and I thought I scored, but it got waved off,” he recalled. “It was a like a crushing moment – but at the same time you’ve got to battle through it.”
Three minutes into the third overtime period Red Deer’s Kale Lapointe delivered the final, deadly blow, landing the game-winning goal to give the Vipers the HJHL title.
“We just had an unlucky break and that’s just how overtime goes,” said Rendell, a veteran of the team who remembered the sting of the loss in the 2016 finals to the Mountainview Colts. “I was kind of disappointed to get that close two years in a row and not really have anything to show for it. At the same time, no matter who you play in the playoffs it’s always an uphill climb … It was definitely not a failed season.”
This year, both the Generals and the Vipers earned the opportunity to play in the Hockey Alberta provincial tournament, taking place in St. Paul over the next few days. The Wainwright Bisons, Fairview Flyers and Beaumont Chiefs round out the Generals’ pool, and the Cochrane team plays its first of three round robin games Thursday afternoon against Beaumont.
Goeson, who will also age out of the Gens this year, said he’s looking forward to having a bit of fun by taking part in a different atmosphere against different teams to finish off his hockey journey.
“You have to have fun to play your best hockey. When we’re having fun as a team, we’re winning hockey games,” he said. “It’s nice to continue playing a little bit longer.”
General manager Jacqueline Hurlbert said she’s grateful for loyal fans and businesses like Urban Systems who supported the team at two fundraisers to help offset the cost of the trip to St. Paul, which can run up thousands of dollars. Save-On Foods will also feed the players as they travel – all of which Hurlbert said will allow the players to focus on the camaraderie and competition of provincials weekend.
“It’s going to be a really special event for them.”
