The Cochrane Generals have three exhibition games under their belt and this Friday's season opener in Okotoks will be the first true test of how they will match up in the Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL).

The Gens ended the preseason with a 5-4 shoot out loss to the Airdrie Techmation Thunder, Sept. 16, in front of a small crowd. The Gens tied up the score 2-2 early in the third, but the Thunder roared back with two quick ones to take a 4-2 lead.

With 14 minutes left on the clock, the Gens went to work and less than two minutes later made it a one-goal game. With 11 minutes remaining, the Gens tied it up. The rest of the period was a seesaw checking battle that included a heated exchange in the dying minutes. Overtime proved nothing and Airdrie notched the win in the shootout.

It's a bit of a transitional year for the club that has won two straight south division titles and a silver medal in last year's provincials. They can expect continued competition for the crown from the Coaldale Copperheads, who cruised to two lopsided double-digit wins against Medicine Hat in the preseason, and the Okotoks Bison, under new head coach Chris Beston. Both are hungry for some hardware,

The likes of Corey Goeson, Connor Rendall, Logan Brown and goalie Ty Robinson have aged out and exactly who will attempt to fill their shoes will soon become evident. It's also the first season under new head coach Derek Donald, though most members of the team staff remain and former Gens captain Logan Brown has joined the fold.

Expect to see perpetual scorers like Slate Ransom, Talus Hume, hard-checking Colton Wong and veteran defenceman and new captain Austin Keller continue to provide leadership on the ice. That plus a returning support cast will continue to make the Gens a team to take seriously. They've got some youngblood ready to notch out their roles and last year affiliates Christian Dees, Scott Shug, Thane Kondrat and Jean-Pascal Leclair are returning for their first full seasons.

We won't see how it all fits together until they hit the ice at Totem One on Sept. 30 when they host the north division Ponoka Stampeders. Before that they will skate on the road against Okotoks, Strathmore and Airdrie.