When fans at Cochrane Generals home games take a look at the team roster prior to each Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) contest at the Spray Lakes Sawmills Family Sports Centre, forward Kurt Thrussell might be the first name they notice.
Thrussell, a 19-year-old left winger, is the lone player on the Gens who doesn’t come from Calgary or Cochrane, as he was born in Langley, B.C.
“I was born there and moved to Vancouver a few years later, but I moved out here with my mother, Jacqueline, in October 2013, so I guess I’m sort of a Cochrane guy now,” Thrussell joked. “Obviously, when I got here last fall it was too late for me to try out and be a part of any team, but I worked hard during the summer and it was a goal of mine to try and make the Generals,” he added. “With moving and some injuries I had to heal up, it was good to have that year off, but I was anxious to play again.”
Although Thrussell didn’t play competitive hockey last season, he is a seasoned veteran of leagues in British Columbia as he suited up for the Langley Rivermen in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and split time with the North Delta Devils, Ridge Meadows Flames, and the Mission City Outlaws of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) in 2012/13.
“The league here in Alberta is a bit different than the ones I have played in back home,” Thrussell said. “It’s a bit of a faster pace and lot more physical play than elsewhere.
“In British Columbia, you see a lot more puck handling and skilled moves done by the players.”
So far, Thrussell has made the right adjustments to his new surroundings, and has three goals and four assists in 24 games for the Generals.
“I would like to have a few more points and help the team out that way, but I’m helping in keeping the guys fired up in an energy role and contributing on the power play and penalty kill,” Thrussell said. “I’m a versatile guy though, so I’m able to jump in and do anything that they ask me to do.”
“Kurt’s a guy that we are pleased to have join us and play many different roles for our hockey club,” Generals head coach Evan McFeeters said. “He gives it his all every night and you know that’s he is going to be a sparkplug in providing some energy for the team, and it’s good to have a different dynamic to our team with a guy from a different province playing with guys from Cochrane and Calgary.”
