The Cochrane Generals look to make a comeback in the Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) north division playoff series after losing back-to-back games to the Rocky Rams over the weekend.
Game 2 and three of their seven game semifinal series saw the Gens lose in overtime 2-1 in Rocky Mountain House Friday, Feb. 15, and then again in Cochrane on Saturday, 3-2.
The Rams now lead the series 2-1.
Head coach Kurtis Jones said the Gens are no strangers to bouncing back and are ready to turn it up when they return to the ice at the Rocky Arena Complex tomorrow for Game 4.
"We just have to keep our spirits high, be positive and hopefully it comes our way," said Jones. "We're back to the drawing board today to adjust a couple things and work out the kinks, but nothing major."
The coach said he gives Rocky a lot of credit for the work they've put in this season. Their goaltender Zaiden Hansen had a stellar performance Friday allowing only one goal past Cochrane's 60 shots.
"Their goalie played extremely well," he said. "They deserved that Game 3 win, I don't think I'd say the same for Game 2 — we just couldn't score. But that's just part of playoff hockey."
The Generals were down 3-0 during Saturday's game, until they kicked it into high gear with less than 10 minutes left in the third period.
Centre Connor Stephenson put his team on the scoreboard with eight minutes left in the third, assisted by Dagan Kadlec and Zac Fulton. Forward Andrew Guss put another past Hansen about three minutes later with the help of Jordan Butz.
For the last minute-and-a-half of the third, the Gens took goaltender Jordan McGinnis off the ice to lead a six-man attack, but they were unable to tie it up.
Jones said he has full confidence that the team will regroup and come back harder Tuesday (Feb. 22).
"We've got a great group of guys in there, " he said. "We've been through this before and we'll keep doing it."
The Red Deer Vipers lead their semifinal series versus the Airdrie Techmation Thunder 3-0 and need one more win to clinch a spot in the north final.
