Alumni! Gens have set aside Feb. 4 for you

The list of former Cochrane Generals attending a special alumni night at the Saturday, Feb. 4 game is growing, and more are welcome to sign up.

It's being held at the Cochrane Arena when long-time rivals the Okotoks Bisons are in town. There'll be pre-game alumni social from 6 to 7:30 p.m. upstairs in the Cochrane Arena, where snacks and refreshments will be available, and stories can be swapped. Alumni are welcome to stay there for a bit or watch the game from the beer gardens where the new General beer is available.

Alumni will be recognized throughout the game. During breaks in play, some of their stories will be shared by announcer Andee Rathwell.

So far, the majority of the players and staff signing up for the evening were with the Gens before 2000, says Nick Maclure, the club's social media manager. Alumni can sign up here.

"It's a chance for players to reconnect because I'm sure that none of them have seen each other for a long time, or since they played together 30ish years ago, " says Maclure. 

The Gens' history spans 38 years and hundreds of players have laced up to represent Cochrane dating back to when the club was established in 1984.

In its first two seasons, it won the championship of the Southern Alberta Hockey League before seeking out stiffer competition. With the Heritage Junior Hockey League, they've gone on to win divisional and league titles as well as a pair of provincial silver medals.

At the beginning of this season, Maclure began exploring the club's history and had difficulty tracking down information.

"I became interested in the past of the team and there's no history or recognition at all that the Gens played at [the Cochrane Arena] before they moved to Spray," he explains. "I looked everywhere and we couldn't find any pictures, couldn't find anything anywhere about the original team."

Gens Social media manager Nick Maclure and assistant GM Gordana Ripplinger stand beside a pair of frame jerseys from Gens playing in past all-star games.

Since putting out the call, tidbits of information have been rolling in. That includes access to the 1986-87 and 1987-88 programs, thanks to Emma Stone through Kirby Stewart. Maclure also established a private alumni Facebook page to help past players connect.

Trevor Devnich played nets for the Cochrane Generals in the early 90s and appeared in an HJHL all-star game. He was among the players auctioned off at the club's annual pub night in November. Now his nephew, Brendon Thubron, of Calgary, is a rookie defenceman for the club. (file photo)

When the team was selling some of their vintage jerseys found in storage, Preston Hunter was surprised to see his old jersey from when he played during the club's 2008-09 HJHL championship season.

Gens alumnus Preston Hunter with his vintage #20 jersey. (file photo)

There are plenty more stories to be shared, and Maclure is hopeful more players will reach out to help reconnect the pieces, and come enjoy the evening.