The Gens opened up a three-goal lead in the first seven minutes of play last night in a 6-1 home game win over the Three Hill Thrashers.

In their first home game of 2022, the Gens continued to build upon their lead in the north division of the Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) in a game that became rough and tumble midway through the third.

Zac Fulton opened the scoring at the 2:21 mark, assisted Kyle Crosbie and Patrick Forde.

Joseph Stroehler made it 2-0 three minutes later from Connor Stephenson and Fulton. A minute and a half later, Tristan Ripplinger scored from Crosbie and Jordan Marks.

Rhett Shingoose scored the Thrashers’ lone goal of the game on a powerplay before league-leading Forde scored his 44th of the season.

Chauvin and Ripplinger rounded out the scoring with goals in the second and third.

It was a chippy game that exploded with a fight eight minutes into the third, provoked by a check from behind by a Thrasher Glen Enzie. Three Gens and Thrashers tangled, with the Gens Fulton and Thrasher Colton Geier sent off on game misconducts.

In the second, Thrasher Porter Pennock accumulated 14 minutes in penalties and game misconduct for what started with a cross-check, followed by a check to the head to Gen Ripplinger.

Gens head coach Kurtis Jones says the Thrashers came hard, and while he doesn't condone fighting or chippy play, it happens occasionally. 

He says the Gens played an average game compared to their performance in an overtime win over the Mountainview Colts the week before.

With only six games left in the regular season, the Gens have 23 wins, five losses, and two overtime losses. 

Jones says the Gens need to continue to ramp up their play leading up to the playoffs that open in February.

"This is the time to go in hot and heavy, work together, and play strong hockey."

The Gens are at home for a pair of games this coming weekend. They host the Airdrie Techmation Thunder for the first time this season on Saturday, followed by an afternoon matchup against the Lomond Lakers on Sunday.

After that, it’s a home-and-home series against the Thunder on Jan. 28-29, followed by one more against the Vipers. They wrap up their regular season with their only game against the Coaldale Copperheads at the Cochrane Arena.

Gens welcome former WHLer to the club

Since Dean Olenyk opted to leave to focus on his studies, Gens management has been searching for the perfect fit for the Gens top scoring line. They found it in former WHLer Kyle Crosbie.

Crosbie got his first two points last night after joining the club last week against the Mountainview Colt.

He came just shy of a Gordie Howie hattrick, with two goals and a fight. His performance also earned him first star on the night.

The centre opted to leave the Prince Albert Raiders earlier this season to enter studies at Mount Royal University. No stranger to the area, the Didsbury-born player cut his teeth with the Airdrie Xtreme and at the Edge School before being recruited by the Rockets

Jones says the Gens got wind of his move early in the season and invited him to finish off the season here.

"I just kept on it, and on it, and then he finally agreed to join us for the last half of the season."

"He comes from the Western Hockey League and he knows how to handle the puck and be in position, The other thing is he'll hold guys more accountable. He'll work, and he'll make the other players better. He'll just make our team better."

Crosbie, 20, spent most of his WHL career with the Kelowna Rockets before being traded to the Moose Jaw Warriors early in the 2019-20 season. He briefly laced up for the Raiders this season. 

"The Gens has a good group of guys, and I know they've got a really good team. I thought it would be fun to join up."

He's centre for Patrick Forde and Tristan Ripplinger, who are number one and three in league scoring.

"We clicked pretty quickly, so it's been good. It's only the second game in, so I'm excited to keep building that chemistry, and I think we'll get there."

He's proud of his time in the WHL.

"It didn't go exactly the way I was hoping, but I was fortunate to play in that league. It's a great league, and any chance you get to play in it is a big accomplishment."

The Crosbie signing came in under the wire for roster changes.