The Coaldale Copperheads are the hottest team in the HJHL and continue to climb in the south standings after defeating both the Cannex Cochrane Generals and the Okotoks Bisons over the weekend.

The Copperheads came from behind in the third to score two unanswered goals for a 5-4 win on Dec. 3. They've now beaten the Gens three times this season. Cochrane won one in overtime and lost another in a shoot-out on Nov. 26. 

Gens captain Tristan Ripplinger scored two goals. With four goals on the weekend, he's wrinkled the mesh 27 times in his first 20 games of the season and is the HJHL's leading scorer.

Christopher Ugbaja and Andrew Guss were the other Gens snippers.

The night before, the Gens downed the Three Hill Thrashers, 10-2.

Gens expecting stiffer competition today

noahGen Noah Nardella and his mom Lisa Irwin. She came from Winnipeg for the weekend matchups.

Lisa Irwin was proud to wear a pink Gens jersey for the weekend games. She flew in from Winnipeg to watch her son Noah Nardella play with the Cochrane team for the first time.

"I watch it a lot on TV, but this is the first time we've caught him live with a new team, so it's very exciting," says Irwin.

The winger is in his first year with the Gens after spending the last two seasons with the Transcona Railer Express of the MMJHL.

"I love it," she says. "The atmosphere is great here, the players seem to gel on the ice, and it's a fun atmosphere."

She admits they had mixed feelings when he decided to sign with an Alberta club.

"But he was excited to come. It seems like a really good program, so I'm excited for him."

Irwin was delighted the Gens held their first-ever Pink in the Rink game on Nov. 26, although she wasn't able to attend.

Noah's sister plays in U18 AAA hockey in Manitoba and Lisa spearheaded the cancer care game for her team.

Pink games hold a special meaning to the family. Noah's cousin passed away at age 12 from cancer.

The Gens have a pair of games on the road this weekend. Friday night (Dec. 8) they play the High River Brewing Co. Flyers in High River and they head to Medicine Hat to take on the Cubs on Saturday.

The Gens are fourth in the tight race in the HJHL south division.

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