Thanksgiving weekend was no treat for the Cochrane Generals.

In their first home doubleheader of the season, the Gens were handed back-to-back 6–3 losses by the Coaldale Copperheads and Mountainview Colts on Oct. 10 and 11.

Against Coaldale, the Copperheads built a 4–2 lead after two and sealed the win with a pair in the third. Diago Coelho notched Cochrane’s lone power-play marker, while Colby Adams and Declan Kinch rounded out the scoring.

Saturday night’s matchup against the Colts wasn’t much kinder. The Gens came out flat, spotting Mountainview a 2–0 lead early in the first. Evan Plewes clawed one back unassisted in the second, but the Colts replied with three unanswered goals to end the period up 5–1.

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The Colts’ Joseph Krukowski scored a hat trick in last night’s game. 

Kael Kozicki scored from Brendan Thubron early in the third to give Cochrane a spark, and Thubron added one of his own midway through, assisted by Mani Maki and Evan Ludge. But that was as close as the Gens would get.

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The penalty box was filled after a fight broke out midway through the second. Cochrane Now/Noel Edey

Tempers flared midway through the third when a brawl broke out. Forward Jayden Barney drew a one-game suspension for instigating a second fight—his second suspension of the young season.

The silver lining? Evan Sine returns to the lineup next weekend after serving a two-game suspension.

The Gens entered the weekend tied with the Copperheads near the top of the HJHL South Division but now sit three points back. Coaldale picked up a point in a 5–4 overtime loss to the Rocky Rams on Sunday night. The Strathmore Wheatland Kings now lead the division by a single point over Coaldale, while the Medicine Hat Cubs, Okotoks Bisons and High River Flyers continue to stumble out of the gate.

Cochrane looks to rebound on the road next weekend, visiting the Airdrie Thunder on Oct. 17 before heading south to Coaldale for a rematch the next night.

BENCH NOTES: About 40 local educators attended Friday night’s “Salute to Teachers” game. Teachers from at least three schools were among the roughly 200 fans in attendance. The Gens offered free admission to teachers and their families to show appreciation and support for local educators.