Three games ago, an overtime win kept the Cochrane Generals playoff hopes alive.

Last night in front of a huge hometown crowd, the Gens completed the comeback to advance to the south division final of the Heritage Junior Hockey League.

The Gens found their groove after grabbing a 1-0 lead in the first and sent the Cubs packing with a 4-1 win.

"We dug deep," says head coach Kurtis Jones. "I think the series changer was when we won in overtime. I'm not saying Medicine Hat didn't play, they played a great game, but we came out."

"It took a lot of heart for us to win three games in a row," says captain Brandon Aab.

He says the huge crowd helped.

"We soared, You get so much momentum from the crowd, how wild they get with every hit, every shot, you can hear them behind you."

Scoring the first goal has made a difference throughout the series, says Patrick Forde, who sunk the first two last night.

"As soon as we got the first goal, we were moving the puck way quicker," says Forde. "Without the first goal, the whole game is different."

Having to sit out a one-game suspension and watch his team win in overtime was difficult for the sniper. He thanks his team for winning that game and giving him a chance to lace up for the last two in the series, and especially last night.

"It was unreal. The crowd was just insane. The whole game my heart was in my throat, it was so tense, but we got it done."

The Gens get only one night off before they face the Okotoks Bisons. The series starts Friday night in Okotoks and returns to Cochrane on Saturday.

Jones says the Bisons are an all-around team. They don't hit as much as the Cubs, but have scoring power.

The Bisons has only lost one game all season, but he believes they are beatable.

"It's a challenge but, hey, we just came back in a 3-1 series and won in seven, so I think our guys are rolling, and we're ready to play."

Aab agrees.

"Okotoks hasn't faced any challenges this year, so we want to be the team to bring it to them and see if they fall under pressure."

Patrick Forde redirected a shot from Zach Cugnet to put the Gens on the scoreboard in the first. Forde made it 2-0 early in the second after stealing the puck from a Cubs defender deep in their zone. Sam Norris made no mistake with a rebound from a Scott Shugg shot. Captain Brandon Aab sunk an empty-netter.

Game notes

- The Gens played in front of their largest crowd since moving to the Cochrane Arena last season. There were 525 spectators, surpassing their biggest crowd recorded during last season's playoff series against the Okotoks Bisons.

- Speaking of the Bisons, that team had a huge contingency at last night's game to size up their competition. The Bisons finished off the High River Flyers in four straight in their semifinal series.

- Gens assistant coach Erik Krigel snipped off part of his trademark beard after the series win. Another piece will go after every series win. If the Gens win the cup, it all goes. Keep winning, boys!

- Among the familiar faces at the game was former Gen Braden Bain. He's since moved on to play Finlandia University Lions in NCAA Division 3. Bain says its been a blast playing NCAA hockey in the States while studying business and marketing. Bainer had 100 points in 84 games with the Gens.

- The Cubs may have lost the series but as host of the Junior 'B' Provincials, Apr. 2-5, their season isn't over yet.