Two veteran Cochrane Generals will suit up in the first Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) All-Star Game since 2018.
Diago Coelho and Brendan Thubron will represent Cochrane on the south team in a game and skills competition at the Strathmore Family Centre on Dec. 6.
Coelho, the Generals’ captain, leads the team with 26 points in 19 games. Thubron, in his final season with the club, is a steady defenceman and alternate captain.
Under the HJHL selection system, Cochrane was eligible to nominate two players for the south team. Both the north and south division teams feature 20-player rosters, including two goalies.
Player selections are based on team standings and in-season goaltender statistics. First-place teams send five players, second-place four, third-place three, and fourth- through sixth-place teams two each. Coaching staffs from the top teams at the cut-off date helm the squads — the Medicine Hat Cubs for the south, and the Red Deer Vipers for the north.
Hosting the event highlights Strathmore’s long-standing commitment to junior hockey, league president Ian Hall said.
“Strathmore has everything we look for in a host community — passionate fans, tireless volunteers and strong local support,” Hall said, noting the Agra Risk Wheatland Kings played a key role in making the event possible.
Hall said the game’s return symbolizes the league’s dedication to celebrating excellence, sportsmanship and the next generation of junior hockey players after several seasons disrupted by the pandemic.
No details have been announced yet on advance ticket sales or whether tickets will only be available at the door.
