The Heritage Junior Hockey League has been a season-long tug-of-war, and now it snaps or holds in one final, unforgiving weekend.

Expect barn burners across the league in the final weekend of the regular season as several teams continue to jockey for playoff positioning, including the Cochrane Generals.

While the playoff field is set, the dust won’t settle on who earns first-round byes until the final puck drops Sunday.

The top three teams in both the North and South divisions receive a bye from the nasty best-of-three opening round, leaving fourth- and fifth-place finishers to battle it out early.

In the North, it’s already been decided the Airdrie Thunder and Rocky Rams will square off to advance. In the South, however, the picture remains wide open.

 

The Cochrane Generals currently sit third and need a win this weekend to secure a bye. That opportunity comes as early as tonight on the road against the High River Flyers, who have struggled all season with just six wins.

If not, the Gens get one last crack at it Sunday afternoon at home against the Okotoks Bisons — sure to be a battle — with puck drop set for 3 p.m.

With the Medicine Hat Cubs already locked into first place in the South, it’s second place the Gens covet. That spot brings home-ice advantage in the best-of-five second round of the playoffs.

The Coaldale Copperheads have a say in how this all shakes out. Sitting just two points back, Coaldale rolls into the final weekend riding a four-game winning streak. Their lone remaining chance to pressure the Gens comes Saturday night at home against the Mountainview Colts.

 

The Strathmore Wheatland Kings enter the weekend two points ahead of Cochrane, with their fate tied to a pair of Northern Division opponents — the Mountainview Colts tonight and Friday, followed by a showdown with the league-leading Red Deer Vipers.

And just to keep things spicy at the top, the Sylvan Lake Wranglers are one point back of the Vipers as that seesaw race goes down to the wire. Red Deer is in Rocky Mountain House tonight before facing the Kings, while the Wranglers draw more forgiving matchups against the Airdrie Thunder and Ponoka Stampeders.

The Gens briefly held second place last weekend after a 3-2 overtime road win over the Kings, but that momentum stalled Jan. 24 with a 4-2 loss in Okotoks.

Hold on tight — the Heritage Junior Hockey League isn’t done thrilling yet.