Contenders again?

If opening night was any indication, you can expect the Cochrane Chaos to be in the mix by the end of the regular season for the provincial title of the Alberta Junior Female Hockey League (AJFHL).

Kicking off their third season with a home opener on Sept. 30, the Chaos dominated the Lethbridge Eagles, 8-0, and gave goalie Jenna Weseen her first shutout of the season.

The well-rounded Chaos spread the scoring among eight different skaters, including Cochrane's Brette Matheson and Kyla Kruger. Others were scored by Kaylin Herman, who also tallied three assists, Elizabeth Wong, Faith Gette, Ryan Altwasser and Rebecca Toney.

Cochrane players Summer Gibbons and Kayla Kruger were among the many who earned assists.

Head coach Derek Loomer says it was a solid win but he believes the team came out a little tentative.

“I think we played well and we controlled the play, but it was a little scrambly, especially in the second period we looked a little lethargic. We came out in the third and turned it on and they just ran out of gas and really allowed us the freedom to be a little bit creative.”

Now in her second season with the club, Gibbons says this is without a doubt where she wants to play hockey and it was never a question in the off-season.

"I'm going to stay here as long as I can," she says.

"I think we all clicked really quickly. At the first practice in we really knew we were a team."

Chaos Captain Aspen Kozak, who has been with the club since day one, agrees that Chaos is special.

"We have a great group of girls returning and a great group coming in. On the ice and off the ice it’s special to be part of and we were really excited to see how quickly this team bonded. First game in, we win 8-0 with new players and new lines, it’s pretty awesome. So we’re shooting big."

Last year, the Chaos played the Sherwood Park Steele in the provincial final. The Steele won, but Kozak believes it may be time to add a little Chaos to the cup.

“This is the year. I think we’re open to a rematch with Sherwood Park.”

Coach Loomer says that’s a possibility but teams can change drastically from year-to-year, and there are lots of unknown challenges ahead.

“As you go through the season you get to know the other teams and how we’re going have to play to get back to the final again because that’s where we want to be.”

“There are going to be challenges but I think we have the personnel this year that will grow and get better every game and come together and if we do that right and everyone works hard we have a good chance of being there.”

It has become an appreciated tradition of the Cochrane Chaos to include players from Cochrane Minor Hockey girls' teams in the season opener. All players from both teams were teamed up with the young chargers during the evening's introductions to the delight of many parents and fans in the stands.

That opener is a special one, says Gibbons.

"We all had fun and it was pretty good turnout. It was great to see so many people there and all the minor hockey girls."

The Chaos are at home at the SLS Family Sports Centre this Saturday, Oct. 6 to face the Irma Chargers. Puck drops at 6:45 p.m. in Totem One.

With a few long road trips ahead, it’s the team's last appearance on home ice until November.