With the team’s eye on the provincial tournament, the Cannex Cochrane Generals hockey team have relied on each other for support.
“The team has really gelled well together,” Generals president Rick Richards recently told The Eagle in an interview.
With the season past the midway point, the Cannex Cochrane Generals have won a total of 15 games out of the 22 played thus far. As the team looks onward, they hope to make it back to the provincial tournament for a chance to bring home gold.
The last time the team made it to the provincial tournament was two years ago, where they placed second overall.
Richards said they are careful in who they select to play for the team. He added the players need to show a level of integrity during their time on the team.
“If there's a player that comes in that has maybe a lot of talent but thinks that they're better than sliced bread, then that player needs to go somewhere else,” Richards said. “It takes a lot of authenticity and integrity by the players.”
Recognizing the importance of teamwork, Richards said the players understand they play as a collective and not as individuals. He added this is crucial for the team’s growth and progress.
As the team looks into the future, Richards said they will focus their attention on a game-to-game basis. He said the team is always watching game footage to know what is working, and what needs to be improved.
“Everybody's got to remember that they got to play for each other, they can't play for themselves,” Richards added. “They're not playing for their own stats, they're playing for the betterment of the team.”
Any team in the league has the capability to win a game Richards said. He emphasized the importance of being prepared for all situations.
“Any team can beat another team on any given day,” he said. “You just have to be ready.”
The league is home to 13 teams from various locations throughout the province. The Cannex Cochrane Generals are currently sitting at 102 goals scored this season.
Richards said the fans are influential to the team’s success. He said community engagement continues to grow annually.
“If you don't have fans, you're not going to have great morale or success,” Richards said. “We have some incredible fans that come to every game.”
As it currently stands, the team will head into the second half of the season ranked third overall. Richards said players understand their responsibilities and the team’s expectations from the first day of the season on.
“They learned pretty quickly that attitude and work ethic on everybody's part plays a big role,” he said. “We were talking about that right at the beginning of the year.”
