The Cochrane Generals are the north division champions of the Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL).

They clinched the title with a 2-1 win at home against the Airdrie Thunder on Jan. 29.

Penalties continued to haunt the Thunder, with both Gens goals coming on the powerplay in the first period. There was no scoring in the second or third, and any chance of the Thunder launching a prolonged six-man attack was stifled with two penalties late in the third.

By winning the north, they'll have home-ice advantage in the north division playoffs. They get a bye from the first round.

Clinching first has been the goal of the head coach and general manager Kurtis Jones since joining the organization for the 2019-20 season. They finished second that year in the south and were in a dead heat with the Okotoks Bisons for the south playoff title when the season was cancelled due to the pandemic. The team won their first three games last season before the pandemic shut it down again.

"It was a team effort there right from the board of directors right through to the team," says Jones. "It's a pleasure to have these guys in the room. We try to ice the best team, not just on the ice, but off the ice as well, and everything's coming together so far."

Alternate captain Jordan Marks is one of the pillars of the team and is in his final season.

"It's super exciting because this is the first year in my four years here that we've finished first," says Marks, "so it's exciting to get that first-round bye and home-ice advantage for each playoff round we make it through."

Marks played a role in both goals on Saturday night, scoring one and assisting on the other. Besides being a solid HJHL all-star blueliner, he's the highest-scoring defenceman in the league and number three with the Gens.

"I definitely want to win this year. I'll probably be hanging up my skates after this season, so it's my last chance to win a championship."

Connor Stephenson is fourth in scoring for the club and played his minor hockey in Cochrane.

"It's unbelievable. Playing here as a kid, coming back after a few years, and playing for your hometown team, there's nothing like it," he says.

"We've got a good group of guys, and they're all committed and we just want to bring home that championship."

With first wrapped up, Jones says they'll be using the opportunity to test some of their younger players.

"It's time to put in the guys that we think are going to come back and start putting them in situations to pick up the slack of the 21s leaving."

Jones says they'll also be pushing to see if Forde can beat the club goal-scoring record of 54. Forde has 50 with two games remaining.

He says there will be a few players out of the lineup to tend to some nagging little injuries.

"The biggest thing is to get your players as healthy as possible for the playoffs."

The Gens are on the road to face the Red Deer Vipers on Feb. 5. Their final regular-season game is at home against the Coaldale Copperheads on Sunday, Feb. 6.

The last time the Gens finished first was the 2016-17 season in the south division. They went on to win the south playoff title but lost the league championship to the Red Deer Vipers but got some redemption when they won silver in the provincials.