The red-hot Cochrane Generals notched their seventh straight win with a 5-2 triumph over the Copperheads last night, marking their first victory in Coaldale since 2022.
Tyler Auger opened the scoring for Cochrane at 18:26 of the first period, assisted by Emmett Long and Diago Coelho before Cohen Richardson tied the score with a short-handed goal at 4:26 of the second
Ty Barry snapped the tie at 13:25 of the second, followed by Evan Sine’s late-period marker to give the Gens a 3-1 lead. Captain Coelho added his 19th goal of the season to deflate the Copperheads, who played a physical style that cost them 54 penalty minutes. Richardson scored his second of the night 7:53 into the third but the Copperheads fell short of a late game comeback. Barry finished the night with his second goal at the 15:49 mark to seal the 5-2 win.
Winning on the smaller ice in Coaldale has long been a challenge. Head coach Derek Bell, who enjoyed his first win in the rink, said the team adjusted practices to suit the rink ahead of the game.
“It’s always tough to win there,” Bell said. “The fans were packed, the atmosphere was great, and the guys stepped up and played really well. I don’t want to focus on it being seven in a row — we’re taking it game by game.”
The night before, the Generals rolled to a 9-0 win over the struggling High River Flyers. Rookie goalie Owen Hall-Chay made 28 saves for his second shutout of the season, while the offence was spread across the lineup. Coelho recorded a hat trick, Evan Judge scored twice, and singles came from Cole Whelan, Tyler Auger, Jayden Barney and Evan Malcolm.
Even with the winning streak Cochrane remains fifth in the tight south division race but that could change. Only two points separate second from fifth with the equally hot Medicine Hat Cubs expanding its lead to four points.
Cochrane hosts two home games this weekend before the Christmas break: the Okotoks Bisons on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and the Ponoka Stampeders on Sunday at 3 p.m.
