The Cochrane Generals’ Heritage Junior Hockey League playoff campaign has come to an abrupt halt.
After advancing from the league’s best-of-3 Southern Division survivor series showdown with Strathmore, the Generals ran out of ammo against the Okotoks Bisons. The Bisons swept the Generals from the best-of-7 Southern Division semifinal in four straight, the final blow a 6-4 decision in Game 4 on March 2 at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre (SLSFSC).
The young, improving Generals were up against the league’s top team and were methodically worn down by the more experienced Bisons.
“They’re four lines deep,” Soloski observed of the Bisons, who finished the regular season with 33 wins in 38 games.
Jason Labelle, Kris Keller, Nick Borody and Tyson Soloski scored for the Generals in the final game of the season, with goalie Grayson Sharpe making 28 saves.
“They were in pretty much every game,” said Bisons head coach Mike Hannigan of the Generals. “They’re a good team. We have a little more experience.”
As for his future with the Generals, coach Soloski wants to continue what he started this season.
“As far as I’m concerned, I’m definitely coming back for another year. I guess that’s up to the board of directors, as well. My plan is to come back and build on what we built this year. We worked with some young hockey players and I’d love to continue that. I haven’t heard anything different.”
There will be two very large holes in the roster to fill for the Cochrane Generals next season.
Team captain Jay Labelle and veteran defenceman Nick Borody both played their final game for the Generals on March 2 against Okotoks.
The 21-year-olds have aged out.
Labelle, a forward from Canmore, spent four seasons with the Generals. Borody, a defenceman from Cochrane, also started with the Gens in the 2009-10 season.
“It was a lot of fun,“ said Labelle of his Junior B hockey career. He scored 12 goals and 40 assists in 37 regular-season games in his final Gens’ campaign.
As for the Okotoks series: “They’re just an all-around good team that doesn’t give the puck away. They always have someone in a support position to pass to.”
While Borody hasn’t made any decisions on his hockey future, he still wants to play.
“I’ve considered playing. I don’t know where. If I had someone offer me a place to go, I’d probably jump on it.”
Borody showed his versatility in the playoffs, moving from defence to forward starting in the Strathmore series, where he hammered home the series-winning goal on a setup from Labelle.
“I do what I have to do to help my team win. If they put me somewhere, I do my best to do my job.”
Borody’s final game in a Generals sweater was an emotional one. Leaving competitive hockey in Cochrane, where he’s skated his whole life, was only starting to sink in following his final Gens game.
“Coming into the game, I knew there was a chance it could be the last time I ever played on the Generals and my season could come to an end. I didn’t think it would hit me as hard as it did after the game. It’s pretty emotional. Everything’s kind of catching up on me now.
“It’s kind of hard to deal with.”
Both Labelle and Borody expressed interest in helping coach the team next season.
