The Cochrane Generals have evened their record to 4-4 after winning two of three games this weekend.

After losing against a much-improved Medicine Hat team, Oct. 20, they went on to roll the Three Hill Thrashers before getting some redemption against the Red Deer Vipers.

The Gens were up 1-0 after the first period on the road in Medicine Hat. It was tied 4-4 at the end of two before the Cubs got the winner in the third.

The Gens pulverized the Three Hills Thrashers, 15-1, on Oct. 20. Knute Loe nearly secured a shutout after turning away 12 of 13 shots.

The Gens riddled the Thrashers' two goalies with 69 shots. While it’s an impressive number, the Gens recorded 83 shots on the Thrashers in a 13-0 win last October.

The Thrashers are searching for their first win after losing their first seven.

Brandon Aabs scored a hattrick against the Vipers.

All wins are important, but getting two points against the Red Deer Vipers in a 6-3 win was a morale booster and showed the Gens' potential. They lost on the road to Red Deer last weekend, 5-3.

Team co-captain Brandon Aabs got his first hattrick of the season while Braden Bain and River Ross added markers. Jordan Marks got his first goal and assistant as a General.

Gens head coach Travis McMillan was impressed with how the team adjusted to the change of pace from the previous night’s light duty.

“We had a complete game,” says McMillan. “We did all of the small things right, we did what we needed to do. We got a couple of good goals early on in the first period, got some good hits, had some smarts plays and adjusted to speed.”

It can be a hard transition to make after an easy win against the Thrashers but the team knew a different gear was required.

Turmoil in front of the Vipers' net after the Gens' fifth goal lead to Takuro Okada and Jacksyn Goodall squaring off. It was one of two fights on the night.

“Playing Red Deer last week, the guys knew what and how they were going to come at us during this game and I think they did a very good job in adjusting to what we needed to do.”

To win, though, the team will need to continue to make that same effort game in, game out.

“The guys know that we’re going to be an effort-based program right now. We don’t have the same depth in scoring but when it comes it comes in bunches. The guys know that they have to work every shift, every period, every game to get the ‘W’.”

The Gens are tied for last in the south division of the Heritage Junior Hockey League with the Lomond Lakers, but with up to five games in hand against some of their rivals, it’s a misleading stat. There's a lot of parity in the south division. Okotoks is on top with an 8-3 record, the Coaldale Copperheads are second at 7-3 and for the most part, the rest are near even in the win-loss columns.

The Generals only have one game on tap this weekend at home against the newly-formed Lakers at the Cochrane Arena on Sat. Oct. 27. Game time is 7 p.m.

Jordan Marks adds punch to Gens Defence

Jordan Marks has been added to the Generals d-line and he’s already having an impact.

Jordan Marks had a two-point night in his first game as a General. The Gens acquired the former AJHL defenceman last week.

The 18-year old chose not to report to the Humboldt Broncos camp when he was traded by the Calgary Mustangs. Instead, he hooked up with Gens coach McMillan, who coached him when he played ‘AAA’ minor midget with the Calgary Bruins.

“We made a couple of moves and acquired his rights last week,” says McMillan, who says he was AJHL ready even when he was a minor midget.

“He makes smart plays, can move the puck and skate with the puck and we’re happy to have here.”

Marks had a two-point night against the Vipers in his first game as a General with a goal and an assist.