The Cannex Cochrane Generals are showing their appreciation for teachers this Friday, Oct. 10, inviting educators and their families to attend their game against the Coaldale Copperheads for free.
Gens president Rick Richards says the gesture comes amid ongoing challenges in the education sector.
“Because of what’s happening with the teacher strike and everything else, we decided with some of the board members that we needed to do our part,” Richards said. “Teachers give so much of their own time and life to this calling. We just want to honour that and stand with them and their families, and give them a little bit of what we can—some entertainment.
“Come watch our boys and bring the family. It’s on us that night, and we’re happy to do it.”
Fans in Totem One can expect an exciting, likely physical matchup that night. Cochrane and Coaldale are long-time rivals, and both teams enter the game with identical 4-2 records, jockeying for early-season positions in the standings.
Puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
The Mountainview Colts visit on Saturday for the second game of a doubleheader, also at 7:30 p.m.
The Gens are coming off a 9-0 shutout of the High River Flyers on Oct. 4.
Goalie Owen Hall-Chay became the first netminder in the HJHL to record a shutout this season. He faced just 14 shots in the lop-sided affair, but was tested early, said Gens captain Diago Coelho.
“In the first period, we let up on breakaways. He made four breakaway stops. We stepped up our defence after that, and he held out for the rest of the game,” Coelho said.
“It felt good to win that one,” said alternate captain Evan Sine, one of the game’s stars. “I know some of the boys got some points under their belt to get their game going, so it was good for the whole team.”
Ty Barry and Evan Malcom each scored twice, while singles went to Brayden Palinka, Brendan Thubron, Evan Sine, Jaxon Bouchard, and Kael Kozacki.
Evan Plewes assisted on three goals. Rodie John Pickens, Evan Judge, Diago Coelho, Evan Sine, and Lincoln Pidsadowski each earned two assists, while Cole Whelan, Jayden Barney, and Ty Barry recorded one apiece.
The previous night told a different story, when the Gens faced the 6-1 Sylvan Lake Wranglers. Tied 1-1 after two periods, Cochrane briefly took a 3-1 lead on goals from Lincoln Pidsadowski and Diago Coelho, the team’s top two scorers. The Wranglers controlled the final 10 minutes, scoring four times to claim a 5-3 victory. Evan Plewes scored the Gens’ first goal.
