Generals eliminate Copperheads from HJHL playoffs

Posted on February 27, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Garrett Simmons
Sunny South News

The season is over for the Coaldale Copperheads.

Earlier this month, Coaldale dropped a three-game series to the Cochrane Generals, in the first round of Heritage Junior Hockey League playoff action.

The Copperheads forced a decisive game three, after a huge Saturday-night home win but in the end, the high-flying Generals were just too much to handle. Cochrane’s offence was in high gear on home ice, as the Generals won game one 8-1 and then took game three by a score of 11-4. Those home-ice wins were sandwiched outside a 2-1 loss in game two in Coaldale.

Game one in Cochrane had the home side storm out to a 2-0 lead after 20. Nathan Verloop then gave the visitors life with a goal in the second to cut it to 2-1. Bill Houenagnon and Caden Heins had the assists.

That was as close as Coaldale would get, as Cochrane scored the game’s six next goals to cruise to an 8-1 victory.

Brylin Noble tried to keep Coaldale in the game, thanks to a 48-save performance but in the end, 11 Cochrane powerplays were just too much to contend with, as the Generals scored four times on the man advantage.

Saturday’s home win for the Copperheads had Coaldale play a much more disciplined game, as both teams had four powerplays each.

Brandon Creighton got the team off to a solid start with a first-period shorthanded goal to put Coaldale up 1-0.

Cochrane tied things up before Ryan Milo scored the eventual game winner late in the first frame, assisted by Lucas Alexander and Riley Preachuk.

That would be all the offence Coaldale needed, as Noble made 22 saves for the victory.

But that game-two momentum didn’t last, as game three was basically over after 20 minutes.

After Cochrane scored first, Heins tied things up on a goal assisted by Verloop and Eric Price. It was all downhill from there, as Cochrane scored the last four goals of the period and built a 5-1 lead after one.

It was 8-1 before Brett Hudey scored late in the second, on a goal assisted by Heins, as Coaldale trailed 8-2 after 40.

Houenagnon made it 8-3 on a goal assisted by Preachuk and Brinley Degenstein. But any signs of life were quickly erased by three Generals goals to make it 11-3.

Eric Price added a late goal, assisted by Houenagnon, as the final score read 11-4.

Noble faced 47 shots in the contest, as Cochrane’s powerplay converted on three of its six opportunities.

The loss ended the 2024/2025 season for the Copperheads, while the Generals moved on to face Okotoks.