The Cochrane Generals hit all of the goals set for the season and just fell short of winning the Alberta Junior B Provincials that wrapped up yesterday in Wainwright.

The Gens went into the finals as the only undefeated team but lost a rematch to the Fort St. John Huskies, 6-0. Cochrane beat them in their first game of the tournament 5-4 on a goal by Patrick Forde with 2.3 seconds remaining in regulation.

Along the way, the Gens picked up the nickname "The Cardiac Kids" from the broadcast crew of HNLive, who streamed the entire provincials. The Gens won three of their game on late goals by the one-two combo of Tristan Ripplinger and Patrick Forde.

Gens head coach gives the Huskies organization a shout-out.

"They were a very good team. They beat Okotoks to get to the final, and I give their coaching staff a lot of credit. They were wonderful guys, their whole organization. We were hugging at the end."

He does, however, take issue with the three goals of the Gens that were called back in the championship game and says the referees are being evaluated.

"They made their decision, but when I look and watch video, as I do after every game, all three of them were goals. After that third one got called back, we were just deflated."

No matter what, Jones is proud of his players and organization on an incredible season. It was their first appearance in the provincials since 2017.

A little deja vu comes into play. In 2017, they were also finalist in the HJHL, losing to the Red Deer Vipers, then went on to win silver at the provincials.

"It was a lot of fun and a lot of travel, but you have to hold your head up high. I give a lot of credit to our players."

Many had hoped for a rematch between the HJHL finalists in the provincial championship game, but it wasn't to be when the Okotoks Bisons fell to the Huskies in the semifinals. The Bisons came home as the second-best HJHL team with a bronze.