The Cochrane Generals have earned a three-game, survivor-series showdown with the Strathmore Wheatland Kings following Cochrane’s 5-2 win Feb. 8 over the Banff Bears in Heritage Junior Hockey League play at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre (SLSFSC).
The win over Banff assured the Generals a post-season showdown berth, eliminating sixth-place High River Flyers from contention. The Gens followed that win with a 3-2 loss Feb. 10 to the visiting Coaldale Copperheads.
Currently fifth in HJHL Southern Division standings, Cochrane will be the road team in the Strathmore series, as the Kings are fourth.
Regardless of where the Generals qualify, rookie head coach Ken Soloski is just glad his team made it to the post-season.
“The Generals have always been in the playoffs, they’ve always had a chance,” Soloski said after talking at length about his team and the success of his players.
“I’m quite relieved to be continuing that.”
The Generals have, at times, struggled with consistency throughout the season. But when faced with a “supposed-to-win” game against Banff on Feb. 8, they did what they were supposed to do and defeated the pesky team below them in the standings, securing post-season berth in the process.
But it wasn’t without its challenges, as 14 fighting majors were handed out in the second period alone in the Banff tilt, including one to starting goaltender Matt Shawchuk.
Heritage League rookie-of-the-month for January, Taylor House, led the Generals with two goals and an assist against the Bears. Tyson Soloski and Kris Keller had a goal and two assists each with Sayer McDonald also scoring.
“We’ve done what we needed to do to get in with a young hockey club,” coach Soloski said of joining the post-season party. “We’re happy to be there and I think we’re going to take advantage of the situation.”
It starts with a best-of-three against Strathmore, with the winner advancing to face league-leading Okotoks.
Dates for the Strathmore series have not been announced by the league yet, but the final regular-season game Feb. 15 against Strathmore at SLSFSC will be an advance look of what to expect in the opening-round showdown against the two teams.
With a win against the Kings, and a Kings loss to the Medicine Hat Cubs, the Generals could finish tied in points with Strathmore. But coach Soloski believes Strathmore wins the tiebreaker, earning home-ice advantage for survivor-series showdown.
* The Feb. 15 Gens regular-season finale will also see the shoot-for-the-car contest wrap up. At least 12 qualifiers will be shooting to win a car provided by Cochrane Toyota.
