It's an important weekend homestand for the Cochrane Generals with games tonight (Nov. 25) and Sunday, Nov. 27 against opponents making their first appearance in the Cochrane Arena this season.

Tonight, the Red Deer Vipers are here for a 7:30 p.m. appointment. Sunday, the Gens take on the Coaldale Copperheads at 2:30 p.m.

With six losses on the season, the Gens are being closely chased by the Medicine Hat Cubs for second in the HJHL south division. The Cubs are just two points behind the Gens with two games in hand heading into the weekend.

Gens head coach Kurtis Jones says the team knows the push it on.

The Gens lost to the Copperheads 6-2 on the road early in the season and beat the Vipers in Red Deer, 4-1.

"With Coaldale, you just have to play. You've got to outskate them and outwork them. They're a good club, and so we'll have to be successful and hopefully, we'll get the result we want. Red Deer's no slouch either."

He says events like last Saturday's Pub Night, which included a players' auction, are valuable in building team spirit. 

"They had a lot of fun there," he says. "Some of the players came up to me that are new to the team and said they'd never experienced anything like it. They felt very important and gave thanks at the end of the pub night."

After this weekend, we only see the Gens at home once in December.