Didn’t take the new recruit long to make his presence felt. Ninety-five seconds, to be exact.
Chad Harrison fed Patrick Dove at 1:35 of the first period for Cochrane Generals’ first goal in their 8-7 Dec. 5 Heritage Junior Hockey League win over visiting Red Deer Vipers.
The race was on. The former Drumheller Dragons forward, who transferred from the Alberta Junior Hockey League into the Gens’ bunker last week, finished his first game in his hometown team’s Jr. B sweater with three goals and two assists.
Harrison followed that gaudy introduction to Heritage League play with a pair of goals in Cochrane’s 5-2 win Dec. 6 over visiting High River Flyers.
That’s five goals and two assists in the Bow Valley High School Grade 12’s first two Gens games. Welcome to the HJHL, Chad.
“It wasn’t bad. Definitely a different league,” Harrison said of going from Jr. A hockey in Drumheller to Jr. B in Cochrane. “There isn’t a huge difference, though.
“It’s nice to be home. I played quite a bit there (Drumheller). I didn’t sit all that much. I definitely played more here. It’s definitely awesome.”
And awesome is where the Gens are at the moment. Winners of four straight and eight of the last nine, Cochrane is trending up in its march through the Heritage League.
“We’re setting our sights on March now,” Gens head coach Evan McFeeters said. “Okotoks. They’re in our sights now,” McFeeters continued of the Southern Division rival and the only team to beat Cochrane in the last month,
As for his new recruit, the head coach could only chuckle at the forward’s immediate contribution to the Gens offence.
“Harrison was obviously fired up,” McFeeters said. He was our hardest worker all weekend long.”
With key starting forwards Slater Ransom and Chris Hugo (injured) and Colby Chartier (travelling) out for the Dec. 5-6 games, Harrison was placed on a line with veteran forwards Dove and Corey Goeson.
“He shot up the depth chart,” McFeeters said. “He’s probably the fastest skater I’ve seen. He adds an element to our top six. As long as our team can stay consistent in the defensive zone, we’ll be all right.”
Austin Keller scored twice and added an assist against Red Deer. Craig Packard and Brett Berndt also scored. Connor Rendell carded three assists.
Against High River, Goeson (2), Harrison (2) and Berndt tallied for Cochrane.
Garrett Iverson kicked out 23 shots in goal.
Sat. Dec. 13, 8:15 p.m.
Gens (13-5-3, 3rd, Southern Division)
at Strathmore Wheatland Kings (12-10-2, 4th Southern Div.)
Gens F Chad Harrison (5g, 2a in last two games); Gens D Craig Packard (1g, 4a last 2).
4 (last week, 4)
Cochrane edged Strathmore 3-2 in OT on Oct. 25.
