The Okotoks Bisons may have finished first overall in the HJHL during the regular season, but they haven't beat the Cochrane Generals this season.

In their only meeting of the regular season, the Gens beat the Bisons 6-1 in their own barn way back on Sept. 17. Shortly afterward, Cochrane was moved to the north division.

We'll see what's changed since then when the best-of-five series for all the marbles opens tonight in the Murray and Piper Arena in Okotoks. It's the first of two games in Okotoks this weekend before the series returns to Cochrane next Thursday.

The Gens aren't about to take the Bisons lightly.

"Okotoks is going to be a good challenge for us, but our guys are prepared and ready to go," says Gens Head Coach Kurtis Jones. "I think when we play the top-end teams, our guys rise to the occasion, so hopefully, we can do it."

Going to a five-game final has much to do with the timing of the Junior B provincials. The championship is being held in Wainwright from Mar. 31 to Apr. 3. Both the Gens and the Bisons have already punched their tickets for an appearance in the provincials as the north and south champions of the HJHL.