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Cochrane Generals rip off three wins to go above .500

The Cochrane Generals have seemingly found their stride with three wins in three games over the weekend.
20181027 Cochrane Generals vs. Lomond Lakers DL 0079
The Cochrane Generals managed to reel off three straight wins in as many games this past weekend. File Photo

After three straight losses, the Cochrane Generals managed to rip off three straight, hard fought victories to kick off their October Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) schedule. 

The Generals played back-to-back games against the lowly High River Flyers on Oct. 4 and 5th while also hosting the Lomond Lakers to round out the weekend on Oct. 6. 

In the first game of the weekend, the Gens had to hit the road in order to take on High River at the Bob Snodgrass Complex in front of a crowd of around 500 people. Cochrane peppered the Flyers goaltender over the course of the game, but needed a stellar performance from rookie goaltender Jordan Lott in the first period after he turned away all 18 shots he faced in the stanza.

Cochrane turned it on in the second and third period, firing 33 of their 42 shots over those 40 minutes, before finally breaking through with a River Ross goal to break the deadlock and give the Generals a 1-0 victory. Patrick Forde and Brandon Aab continued their strong play assisting on Ross' game winner while Lott kicked out 22 shots. 

The second of the back-to-back was much of the same for the Generals, as they were stymied all night by stellar goaltending from Flyers netminder Davyn LaRocke who stopped 64 of the 66 shots he faced. The Generals found their offensive touch with a goal from Zach Cugnet on the power play in the second period before Dean Olenyk put the game on ice with the game winning goal at 4:16 of the third period. High River scored a goal to make it 2-1 but that's as close as they'd get. Olenyk had a goal and an assist to lead the Generals. Jordan Lott had another standout performance making 29 saves and stopping 51 of the 52 shots he faced over the course of the two games. 

Lott said he felt good playing in his first two career HJHL starts. He's not worried about whether or not he belonged in the league.

"I believe the team played very well in front of me," said rookie goaltender Jordan Lott. "Helping me out since I'm a rookie and giving me the confidence I need. I was very happy with my two performances (against High River), I wasn't expecting too much and I'm just glad I was able to give my team the chance to get four points." 

"It was really nice to get those games under my belt but I've never actually thought about proving to anyone, including myself that I could play here. I just wanted to get out there and play to the best of my ability."

In the third and final game of the weekend against Lomond, Cochrane came ready to play. The local hockey heroes poured 17 shots on the Lakers net midway through the first period before Brandon Aab scored his first of two goals on the game to put the Gens up 1-0. Lomond was able to tie the game off a Cochrane giveaway right before the end of the first period. Aab potted his second goal off the game, making it 2-1, on a deflection off of a point shot. He then fed Chris Sambrook a beautiful pass from behind the net for his third point of the game and the insurance that Cochrane needed in order to take away a 3-1 victory, a game in which the home side outshot the visitors 65-19. 

Cochrane has had a bit of a bumpy ride so far this season, winning one game, losing three before winning three to go to 4-3 on the season. Lott said the Generals have a few things to do in order to stay consistent throughout the year. The Generals will play the Strathmore Wheatland Kings on Oct. 11 and the Medicine Hat Cubs on Oct. 12. Both games are at home.

"We'll just keep working to improve as a team, Lott said. "The up's and down's will come but we are on a good path and we'll just try to continue this pace."

 


Troy Durrell

About the Author: Troy Durrell

Troy is the Sports and Entertainment Reporter for the Cochrane Eagle.
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