They may not pull the Cochrane Generals sweater on again, but departing players Jason Labelle and Nick Borody will always be Generals just the same.
Labelle, the confident team captain who predicted a win in the series-deciding game against Strathmore, and Borody have been playing hockey together in Cochrane for a decade.
And both were on hand for the club’s season-ending awards banquet April 5 at Cochrane Legion, featuring Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Henry Burris as guest speaker.
“I think our team’s going to have a really good chance next year,” Borody said of Cochrane’s Heritage Junior Hockey League squad. “We had a lot of rookies this year and they got a lot of learning experience for next season. They understand more what it takes to win.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t do it this year. But I think it was a good learning curve for the rookies.”
And captain Labelle was more than happy to lead the way for the youngsters. When asked about his bold playoff series-win prediction prior to the deciding Game 3 in Strathmore, he answered: “Because of the guys we had. I knew damn well we weren’t going to lose. Not a chance.”
For the record, the Generals won that game 5-3 and, with it, the opening-round series against the Wheatland Kings. Borody’s goal, set up by Labelle, was the eventual series-winner.
Even if the player replacing the out-going captain doesn’t express his confidence as overtly as Labelle, the team will still have his swagger lingering in the room.
“You have to lead when you’re 21,” stated Labelle who, like Borody, has aged out.
“I’m irreplaceable, personally,” Labelle cracked.
“I don’t think anyone can fill my skates,” Borody joked.
But seriously.
“I think our team’s pretty well-rounded,” Borody said.
“Everyone who is moving up, with the whole team they have, they’ll have no problem filling shoes,” said Labelle. “There are so many good players coming out of this area, it’s hard not to have a good team.”
That skill level is amplified by the fact the Generals stock their team with local players like Borody and Labelle, who grew up playing Cochrane Minor Hockey together.
“All the new kids will know all the older ones just from growing up playing hockey in the same area,” Labelle observed. “It shouldn’t be too hard to find chemistry with people you’ve been playing with for ages.”
For rookie team manager Jacqueline Hurlbert, it was a season of finding chemistry with the team and the league. The busy university student found time to volunteer for the countless hours of tracking down rosters and scoresheets, checking into player eligibility and transactions, organizing game officials, team transportation and ensuring game nights went smoothly.
The 22-year-old is looking forward to another season with the club.
“It was kind of a roller-coaster ride,” she said of her inaugural season. “It was pretty exciting. I learned a hell of a lot.
“I’m definitely looking forward to next year.”
