The Cochrane Generals are moving past Tuesday’s performance in Game 1 of the Heritage Junior Hockey League final series and focusing on trying to make up for the loss this weekend.
“We’re going to work hard and get ready for Saturday,” head coach Dan Gendur said yesterday of the upcoming Game 2 against the Red Deer Vipers. “The next game is always going to be your biggest game.”
Last week, the Generals blazed through a best of seven series against the Coaldale Copperheads to earn the HJHL south division banner.
Riding the high of that win, the team moved right into the league championship’s best of five series against the Vipers, which began Tuesday night at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre.
The Vipers were the first to put a score up on the board at 9:05 in Period 1, with Chad Harrison from the Generals answering back shortly into the second period.
A crowded net couldn’t keep the puck from slipping past Gens goalie Ty Robinson at 8:06 and the Vipers moved the needle once again in their favour. With two minutes left, Red Deer ripped in another one to widen the spread to two.
A shot into the Generals’ empty net in the third period sealed their fate, finishing the game with a final score of 4-1.
Gendur said despite the loss, goalie Ty Robinson put in a valiant effort, and the Gens got a chance to see what Red Deer is going to throw at them for the rest of the series.
“I think the positive that we can take out of it – there were no surprises from them, we know what to expect from them,” he said, adding the Generals will now work toward keeping their eye on the prize moving forward. “It’s going to be the team that puts the effort in and gets over that mental hurdle. It’s right in their grasp – now it’s up to them if they want it or not.”
