It was almost predictable.
The Cochrane Generals have blasted the hinges off the doors to this new Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) season, sending a message to the rest of the league that they won’t be settling for second-best this time around.
The Gens opened their regular-season account away to the High River Flyers, crushing them in their own barn (Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex) 7-3 on Sept. 16.
Things didn’t get off to the smoothest start for the visitors as the Flyers took the lead early thanks to sophomore forward Mason Mazur, which only served to give the Gens a kick up the backside.
New Gens club captain and blue-liner Logan Brown scored the equalizer (assists from Talus Hume and rookie forward Brandon Aab). Fewer than two minutes later, before forward Slater Ransom (unassisted) gave the Gens a 2-1 advantage going into the second.
The second period saw a shutdown of scoring as Hume bagged the only goal of the 20 minutes from an assist by the ever-reliable Chad Harrison giving the Cochrane side a two-goal advantage at 3-1 heading into the final period of action.
Hume was again at the forefront of the Gens offence, knocking in his second tally of the game at 5:15 played in the third (Aab and Will Gretton with the helpers).
The Flyers nabbed one back through Evan Pakkala, but that only managed to get the Gens’ dander up as they scored two in under two minutes through Harrison (Ransom and Hume with the assists) and Connor Rendell (on the power-play with help from Ransom and Harrison) to open his season account.
The home side scored a power-play consolation goal through Michael McTighe, but the Gens added insult to injury when Ransom again scored unassisted just 12 seconds later to seal the game.
Gendur and his players knew it would be important to continue their first game form and they did just that, hosting the Medicine Hat Cubs on Sept. 17 in their home opener at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre.
Right from the start, it was never in doubt who was going to take this contest. The Gens were spurred on by the prospect of playing in their own barn again and goals from Harrison (Corey Goeson and Rendell bagging helpers) and a power-play special from Rendell (d-man Austin Keller with the assist) saw them jump out to a 2-0 leading going into the second period.
The home side again slammed two unanswered from an impressive Colton Wong and Harrison (on the power-play) past Cubs goalie Dan Maier to make it 4-0.
Walid Hassin, Keller, Rendell and Gretton all picked up helpers.
With the game sealed, the Gens took their foot off the accelerator with Hume nabbing a fifth goal (his third of the season) took make it 5-0.
The Cubs scored the only goal of the game ten seconds later through rookie forward Ryan Fauth but it matter little as the Gens walked away 5-1 winners.
“We played better against the Cubs than we did against the Flyers,” said Gens head coach Dan Gendur. “But, you can’t complain with two wins, we’re trying to get better every day.”
Gendur feels the return of a couple veterans to the lineup and the energy of a home opener where the keys to the Gens putting in a better performance against Medicine Hat.
“The guys were pumped before the game, and Ty Milligan and Colton Wong who missed a game provided some energy and grind to our group and played very well.
“You’ve got to have balance. We’ve definitely got skill but if we can get those skilled players to grind it out in closer, tougher games that’s only going to make our hockey team better.”
One position where the Gens have strengthened this season is between the pipes where the veteran Ty Robinson has been joined by rookie netminder and Airdrie native Ryan Simpson, who has so far looked to be a solid addition.
“As far as goalie rotation goes, I’m going to leave it up to them,” Gendur said. “We’re going to play who’s playing best. I just wanted to put them out there this weekend and see what they could do.
“Ryan played well against High River and made some big save in the first period. Ty played exceptionally well against Medicine Hat and the plan this coming weekend is to split them again.”
Last season, Simpson played for Strathmore’s Midget AAA team, so the Gens’ upcoming game against the Wheatland Kings is the perfect chance to strut his stuff.
“It’s going to be an opportunity for him to get a full game at his old barn,” Gendur said of his new goalie. “He’ll be ready and then we’re letting Ty loose against Blackfalds.”
Despite facing a team they smashed in back-to-back games in the pre-season, Gendur is not taking anything lightly when they travel to Strathmore on Sept. 24.
“(Strathmore) beat a very good Okotoks team this past weekend so we can’t go in there thinking it’s going to be like an exhibition,” he said. “We’ll definitely have to play harder.
“As for Blackfalds, they haven’t played yet so we have no idea what to expect going into there.
“We just have to focus and hammer down our structure then we’ll be good.”
The Wheatland Kings game is being played on Sept. 24 in Strathmore.
Puck-drop is 8 p.m.
The Gens then play the next day against the Wranglers in Blackfalds.
Puck-drop is 3:30 p.m.
