Two home games are on tap for the Cochrane Generals this weekend.

There's a lot on the line when they face off against the Mountainview Colts on Saturday night, and the Coaldale Copperheads on Sunday.

With the Okotoks Bisons all but wrapping up first in the south division of the Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL), the Gens are in a three-way battle for second.

Gens head coach Kurtis Jones expects a physical game against the Colts on Saturday night. The Gens lost their previous meeting 3-2 earlier in the season.

"They hit pretty hard," he says. "They're a physical team and they finish every check.

He says the Colts caught the Gens lollygagging for the first 10-minutes of their first meeting, and believes they will be better prepared this time.

"We're looking for our guys to work and out-compete those guys."

The second game is a divisional showdown with the Copperheads. The Gens have a 2-1 record against the Copperheads, making this game especially important. The Cooperheads have a one-point lead on the Gens going into the weekend, but the Gens have two games in hand.

"That's a big game for us," says Jones. "We beat them twice there, so they're going to come. If we can get four points this weekend, we'll be really happy. It will put us in a good position."

The Gens lost 3-2 at home against the Copperheads in September.

Should second place come down to a tie between the Gens and Copperheads, three wins against the snakes will give the Gens a bye from the first round of playoffs and home-ice advantage in the next round.

Olenyk, Forde, Giacomin

There's a natural chemistry already established between Dean Olenyk and Patrick Forde. That line will get that much stronger with the addition of Justin Giacomin, who came to the Gens from the Jr. 'A' Portage Terriers.

Jones says they'll be rolling together starting this weekend.

Giacomin, 19, has previously played for both the Calgary Canucks and Canmore Eagles in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

McElroy, Wulff released 

The Gens have released both Keenan McElroy and Morgan Wulff at the HJHL deadline.

Jones said it was tough to decide who to cut.