Cochrane Generals played a marathon of three games in less than 72 hours over the weekend, winning two and losing one to remain top of the Heritage Junior Hockey League’s (HJHL) Southern Division.
It all started on Nov. 27 with Gens (15-4-1) hosting Red Deer Vipers (11-5-3, 3rd, North Division) at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre.
Corey Goeson (assisted by Austin Keller) opened the scoring with a power-play goal in the first period, before Slater Ransom (Craig Packard and Colby Chartier with the helper) doubled Gens’ lead two minutes later. Vipers pulled one back in the third period through Colton Weseen, but Gens never looked like losing and gave their weekend a kick-start with the 2-1 win.
The Vipers game was one of the few games where Gens have been outshot this season, but according to Gens assistant coach Chase Kinch, the team wanted to “focus on playing defence,” as they were missing some players.
“(Red Deer) are probably the most balanced team we’ve seen this year,” Kinch said after the game. “They don’t stack a line, there’s no way you need to line match against them, because it’s just four lines against four lines.”
Did Kinch think that Gens didn’t get out of first gear in anticipation of having two more tough games on Saturday and Sunday?
“I hope not,” he said. “We like to come to the rink and burn the entire tank every game. I think some of the boys are playing higher roles than they’re used to. Some of these kids have never seen more than a couple shifts a period, so it’s been a step up for a lot of these guys and a learning experience. We had some d-men playing forward tonight and they really played well.”
Gens next travelled to High River Flyers (6-13-3, 6th, Southern Division) on Nov. 28, as they looked to go two-for-two. High River took a 3-0 lead through Damon Turner (two) and Timothy Glenfield. Dustin Boone (assisted by Packard) clawed one back for Gens, but they were unable to add to their tally in the third period as they fell to a 3-1 defeat.
“It was a big-time letdown,” Evan McFeeters, Gens’ head coach said. “We played really well defensively against Red Deer, but against High River we had some people missing with injuries, suspensions, and some guys battling the flu. They managed to get revenge for the last time we played them”
McFeeters’ team saved the best for last on Nov. 29 when they travelled to Banff Academy Bears (9-10-1, 4th, Southern Division).
Ransom (two), Boone, Joey Stensland, Chad Harrison (two), Connor Rendell, Talus Hume (two), Noah Bigland, and Brett Berndt all scored as Gens romped to an 11-0 victory, ending the weekend in style.
Bigland, Ransom (two), Hume, Harrison, Goeson, Stensland, Rendell, Packard, Matthew Kaczur, Kurt Thrussell (two), Dustin Ponath, Patrick Dove, and Brett Hamer all had helpers.
“We knew we had to raise our level after the High River game,” McFeeters said. “It’s that old saying that hard work beats talent, so we knew that we had to get back to meat and potatoes hockey.
“Against Banff, we went up early and from there we just ran down the clock.”
How did McFeeters manage his team in terms of lines and rotation considering the time between games and the injuries and suspensions plaguing his players?
“Normally, we try to keep our lines consistent so they develop chemistry,” he said. “Against Red Deer and High River we played the same lines, and then we changed it up a bit against Banff, allowing guys who don’t normally see as much ice time to get some experience.
Gens next start a three game home stand beginning with Stettler Lightning coming to town on Dec. 4. McFeeters believes that picking up six points would be a big step to cementing his team’s position in the table going into Christmas.
“We have another tough three game weekend coming up where we play Stettler, High River, and Banff again,” he said.
“It’s our turn to dish out some revenge.”
