Gens saluting alumni at big game against Bisons

Thousands of hockey players have laced up for the Cochrane Generals since the club was formed in 1984, each with their own stories to share.

Some of them will be told with the crowd this Saturday night (Feb. 4) at the Cochrane Arena at one of the season's biggest games. Others will be part of the chatter between the alumni before and during the game in the Barracks Beer Garden zone.

Saturday is Alumni Night and each member will be treated like Generals royalty while the current team takes on the Okotoks Bisons, the top team in the league.

All alumni, whether players, coaches, or team staff, are invited to attend and can register up until that night.

Gens social media manager Nick Maclure says momentum has been building since they announced the night. It's also helping to create more interest in the junior 'B' club that ranks among the best in the HJHL. He says early in the season, no one was talking about the club, and now it's becoming commonplace.

He's also been able to start building an archive of the team's history, thanks to those contributing through the recently created Gens Alumni Facebook page and by digging around. Just added were some old photos Maclure discovered in storage at the Cochrane Arena.

As of last night,  those registered to attend includes:

* Keith Grainger 84-88  * Tallon Sylvestre 07-09  * Scott Willis 84-87
* Mike Pestil 84-86  * Brian Fuhrer 93-96  * Sayer McDonald 13-15
* Warren Gramlich 84-86  * Connor Rendell 14-17  * Zachary Cugnet 17-21
* Kyle Tucker 07-12  * Craig Sandau 83-84 * Doug Reeve 84-85
* Tom Wearmouth 84-85  * Brad Unrau 95-99  * Dylan Bowerman 11-12
* Tyler Robinson 14-16  * Corey Goeson 13-17  * Brian Zinter 01-05
* Denis Goodsell 84-88  * Harry Satchwell 84-85  * Brad Thompson 84-86

* Carter Cugnet 17-21  * Shane Beniot 19-22  * Kirby Stewart 84-87
* Eileen Stone 84-87  * Barry & Maureen Innes 84-86 * Wally Hume 89-91
* Nic Chauvin 21-22  * Kyle Beach 96-98  * George Halmazna 88-93

* Talus Hume 13-18  * Darren Schmautz 09-12

Gazing through the list, you'll see it includes two generations of Humes -- Wally and his son Talus.

If you're not on that list but should be, you can register here.

In the meantime, Gens game announcer  Andee Rathwell has been gathering some of the stories and will be sharing them during stoppages in play. The arena is set to be decorated for a walk down memory lane for many.

On the ice, we can expect a fast-paced, intense matchup as the Gens attempt to beat the odds and secure a first-round bye in the upcoming playoffs. Either way, the team has secured a playoff spot and will be one of the top contenders for the league championship.

The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. 

Also this weekend as part of a final homestand of the regular season, the Coaldale Copperheads are in town Sunday for a 3 p.m. game.