The Cochrane Generals have sent a message to the HJHL that their regular-season form was no fluke, as they hammered Strathmore Wheatland Kings 7-2 in the first game of their best-of-seven, second-round playoffs series.
The home game, which was played on Feb. 16, was the perfect start to the post-season for Gens after a week off.
“Going in, we knew what our game plan was,” said Gens head coach Evan McFeeters. “Everyone was excited to play. It was evident in the first 20 minutes that our guys were hungry to win.”
What an opening 20 minutes it was, as Gens pinned Kings inside their own half, moving the puck with pace and precision, and playing a hard-hitting game.
Corey Goeson opened the scoring for Gens on the powerplay, before George King missed a one-on-one with Kings goalie Tyler van Vliet, and Chad Harrison knocked one off the crossbar during the Gens onslaught.
Kurt Thrussell added a second for the home side after a goalmouth scramble, and Patrick Dove grabbed a third making it 3-0 after a first period where Kings were only allowed two shots.
Connor Rendell knocked one past Kings from a tight angle, and off the ensuing faceoff, Brett Berndt broke through and added a fifth to make it 5-0 Gens, with more than half the game left.
Kings nabbed one back on the power-play through Lucas Jones, going into the final period of action.
The visitors continued their streak less than two minutes into the third, picking up another power-play goal from Jacen Bracko, before Colton Wong (arguably Gens’ player of the game) stepped up and slapped in two goals, ensuring the two points, as Gens rode off into the sunset of victory.
“The first period was the best you could ask for as a coach,” McFeeters said.
“But, coming out of the first intermission it was one of the worst periods we could ask for. It came down to us being too cocky and thinking we were going to coast. We took some lazy penalties that pressured on our goalie when it wasn’t necessary. Between the second and third periods it came down to competing work ethic.”
How far does McFeeters see this series going?
“It’s the playoffs,” he said.
“When we go to Strathmore you don’t know what can happen. We’ve prepared ourselves to play seven games throughout the post-season. If it’s a shorter series great, we get time to rest but if not, that’s OK.
“We’re prepared to go the distance.”
Gens travel to Strathmore on Feb. 19 (8 p.m. puck-drop). The next home games are on Feb. 20 (7:30 p.m. puck-drop) and if necessary Feb. 23 (8 p.m. puck-drop).
