Cochrane hockey player Zachary Stewart is coming off a breakout season as a rookie with the Cochrane Generals, and he's keen on using it to his advantage in his sophomore year.

Stewart, 18, is among the numerous players that have re-signed with the club for the 2020-21 campaign and has only recently been able to return to the ice.

"That was the first time I'd been on the ice for four months, like most people," says Stewart. "There's a little bit of rust there."

Stewart came to the Gens from the Bow Valley Timberwolves midgets and played his bantam hockey at the Edge Hockey School.

In 32 games with the Gens, he has six goals and five assists.

"It was a good group of guys, and we did really well," he says.

In making the transition to junior hockey, he adjusted to the change in speed and its physical nature.

"I thought I matured as a player. I'm not use to playing with such big bodies, but it was good."

Stewart graduated from Bow Valley High School this year and will be studying business at the University of Calgary in the fall.