Generals Take Game One of Series

The Generals traveled to Three Hills on Wednesday to face the Thrashers in the first round of Heritage League playoff action. The back to back champs are attempting to three peat which will prove to be no easy task. With the new playoff format the Generals find themselves playing a Central Division rival and after a battle right to the end for home ice advantage there's no love loss between these two teams.

The General came out with a very strong effort in the first period working hard to try and get the early advantage and on a powerplay nearly halfway through the period Jonny Pictin buried a rebound on a shot from Kurt Briggs to give the Gens the early 1-0 lead, the second assist went to Darren Schmautz. The Generals kept coming and late in the period Jonny Pictin appeared to have his second of the game but the goal was waved off as the net had moved out of place. A tough break that could have stolen the momentum away from the Generals. But soon after, Landon Bergh slid the puck in from the goal line to give the Gens that two goal lead they thought they had. The assist went to affiliate Kris Keller and the Gens went into the break 2-0. The shots where 19-9 in favor of the Generals.

The mood in the dressing room was relaxed and perhaps a little too relaxed as the Thrasher came out flying firing shot after shot at goalie Tyler Fyten who made save after save to keep the Thrashers at bay. And, with there goalie playing strong, the Generals managed to pad their lead blowing past the Thrashers defender and flipping the puck over the goalies blocker for a 3-0 lead. The assists went to Geoffroy Brechmann and Sean Erwin. The Thrashers continued to come at Tyler Fyten but he continued to push every shot away but an unfortunate bounce off a Generals stick finally beat Fyten and cut the lead back to two. The two teams went into the second intermission with a 3-1 lead but they where outshot 26-16 in the period and were tied 35-35 in the game.

After a shaky second the General came out with a better defensive effort in the third keeping the shots to the outside while still pressuring the Thrashers in the offensive zone. The play was even throughout the first nine minutes and then the Generals caught a break as a tired Mike Cann looking for a changed fired a slap shot from the Generals blue line that took a funny hop in front of the Thrashers goalie and into the back of the net. A deflating goal that gave the Gens the 4-1 lead and appeared to seal the outcome. The Gens finished the night off with one more goal scored by Kris Keller shortly after a powerplay had come to an end giving the Gens the final 5-1 win, the assists went to Sam Merriam and Kurt Briggs. The Generals take a 1-0 series lead heading back to Cochrane. A lead that may not have been if not for the play of first star Tyler Fyten who made 44 saves on 45 shots. The final shots in the game went to the Thrashers 46-45.