The Cochrane Generals are back in another battle, looking to advance in the Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) playoffs, with only the Okotoks Bisons standing in the way of their first finals appearance since the 2016-17 season.
Game 1 took place in Okotoks last night and while the game didn't go the Generals way, it proved they could hang around with the best team in the league. Okotoks got out to an early 1-0 lead, but Cochrane responded on a power play goal from Takuro Okada. Okotoks kept firing away at Gens goaltender Erik Garber and eventually managed to get another puck past him with 4:08 remaining in the first period to go up 2-1 with Garber making 16 saves in the frame. Early in the second period, both Nick Koch and Carter Cugnet found themselves in the penalty box for slashing minors, where Okotoks once again found the back of the net to go up 3-1 heading into the third period. Brandon Aab scored a power play goal just 16 seconds into the final period of play to bring Cochrane within one, but it was as close as they'd come with Okotoks hitting the empty net to win the game 4-2.
Game 2 will take place tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Cochrane Arena.
