The more they play, the more they win.
Cochrane Generals extended their unbeaten streak to 6-0 to start the Heritage Junior Hockey League season with road wins in Strathmore and Medicine Hat. Gens handled Wheatland Kings 9-3 in Strathmore on Oct. 10, a night after doubling Medicine Hat Cubs 4-2 in the Hat.
Gens keep showing up and knocking down game-night opponents.
“It feels good to start the season with the record we have,” said Generals head coach Evan McFeeters. “We have a lot of depth on our team this year. The guys we rely a lot on for offence are coming through.”
In Strathmore, Chad Harrison (two goals, two assists), Connor Rendell (2g, 2a) and Slater Ransom (3g) led the Gens’ offensive charge. Talus Hume had three helpers. Forward Corey “Goose” Goeson scored a goal and two assists with Brett Berndt scoring once and adding an assist. Defenceman Austin Keller continued his torrid points pace, earning an assist that puts him on 12 points (4g, 8a) in his first six games.
McKenzie Chalmers scored a win in his first start in goal, as Gens opted to rest undefeated starter (5-0) Ty Robinson.
Harrison’s return from a leg injury adds serious punch to an already-potent Gens offence.
“He’s one of the quickest players in the league with one of the hardest shots,” McFeeters said of the 18-year-old Gens sniper, who has three goals and two assists in two games.
Gens now march into their toughest test of the early season, taking on Northern Division-leading Mountainview Colts (8-0) Oct. 16 in Didsbury.
“We want to see how we match up,” McFeeters said. “It’s the top team in the North vs. the top team in the South.”
At Medicine Hat on Oct. 9, Gens got goals from Keller (2), Goeson and Harrison. Connor Rendell added two assists and Robinson kicked out 17 Cubs shots.
Fri. Oct. 16, 8 p.m., Didsbury Rec Complex: Gens (6-0, 1st Southern Div.) at Mountainview Colts (8-0, 1st Northern Div.)
Sun., Oct. 18, 3:30 p.m., Banff Rec Centre Gens at Banff Bears (3-3, 3rd Southern Div.)
Corey “Goose” Goeson scored twice and added four assists in two weekend games. Anywhere in Cochrane’s top-6 group, the Goose is as effective as he is annoying camped out in front of the opposing team’s goal. He leads the team with seven goals.
While not scoring at last year’s pace, Gens veteran defenceman Craig Packard is leading the way by showing rookie D Noah Bigland the ropes. They have become a reliable shutdown pair for Cochrane over Gens’ six wins so far.
Cochrane went 3-0 in preseason and is 6-0 to start the regular campaign.
Medicine Hat and Strathmore last week, Didsbury and Banff this week (Oct. 16, 18). Bus rides and road food on the menu for Generals. Their next home date is Oct. 24 vs. Three Hills Thrashers.
Recovering from a leg injury, Gens sniper Chad Harrison returned to duty, scoring three goals and adding two assists in his first two games back. It appears his time in the M*A*S*H unit did little to hurt his effectiveness.
Backup goalie McKenzie got his first start of the season Oct. 10 in Strathmore, spelling undefeated (5-0) starter Ty Robinson. The 18-year-old Calgarian turned aside 34 Wheatland Kings shots in his bid to lock down Cochrane’s No. 2 goaltending spot behind Robinson.
Another two goals and an assist in two games puts veteran Gens D Austin Keller at the top of the league for defenceman scoring (points per game). Keller has 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) in six games, as many points as Medicine Hat Cubs D Brandon Stahl has in eight.
Gens were 1-1 vs. Mountainview last season, the win coming in overtime. Gens were 3-1 vs. Banff last season.
