In an effort to bolster their flagging fortunes, the Cochrane Generals are trying to add a fourth over-age (21-year-old) skater to their Heritage Junior Hockey League roster. The team has one win and two ties in nine games so far this season, leaving them second-to-last in the league's Northern Division standings.
They are hoping to land forward Alex Diduch, an Airdrie product who's been practicing with the Generals since being released by the Thunder Sept. 18. But the league is re-tooling its over-age player movement rules, which has left Diduch and the Generals in limbo.
The Gens’ new general manager Jacqueline Hurlbert says the team has sought clarity on the rule, which says an over-age player has to stay with the same team he played with as a 20-year-old. There were certain circumstances where an exception to that rule was considered under appeal, but the Generals' appeal has yielded unfavourable results from the league which appears intent on enforcing the no-movement rule for 21-year-olds. The Generals have contacted Hockey Alberta to see if there is a way to get Diduch on the team.
