The Gens tallied three in the third but it wasn’t enough to rebound from a substantial lead built by the Airdrie Techmation Thunder, Nov. 24.

The Thunder went on to win 8-4 after scoring six unanswered goals to take command of the game. The Gens capitalized on a power play with five minutes remaining in the second to get on the scoreboard.

Head coach Travis McMillan says the Gens didn’t play to the level they needed and didn’t seem mentally prepared for the game.

The Airdrie Techmation took a 6-0 lead before the Gens responded with five minutes remaining in the second.

“We had such high expectations for the first two or three shifts and then it dropped off. But with a team like Airdrie coming into your own rink you need something more.”

While the Thunder are proving to be the cream of the Heritage Junior Hockey League this season, he believes the Gens can compete with them.

“It’s tough to realize your potential when you’re missing the net or you have a missed rush opportunity and things like that. If we put more shots on net and get more secondary scoring chances we can go toe-to-toe with a team like that any day, we just have to make sure we win the battles that we need to win.”

Vance Wesley scored two for the Gens and Ryan Davis, who also had an assist, and Takuro Okada scored the others. Other assists went to Braden Bain, River Ross, Jordan Marks, Harry Olser, Chris Sambrook, Caylin Wildman and Justin Berube.

A rush by Harry Olser lead to the Gens' third goal late in the third.The night previous in Olds, the Ross-Wesley-Wildman line lead the Gens to a 5-2 win over the Mountainview Colts. They were on the ice for four of the five Gens goals.

It was a four-point night for veteran Ross with a hat trick and an assist on the night and linemates notched a few helpers. Vance Wesley had a pair of assists and Caylin Wildman had one.

McMillan says the line is clicking for the Gens.

“I don’t think that they’ve ever taken their foot off the gas. It’s a very good line to have because those three players can grind in the corners, they can shoot good pucks, they can turn over pucks in the defensive zone in our favour; they’re doing very well together and I’m very happy with their play.”

Ryan Davis and Jaeden Dowling also scored for the Gens and Jordan Fisher had a helper.

The Thunder have won both of their regular season matchups with the Gens, winning earlier this season 12-4.

The Airdrie team racked up an astounding 21 wins in 22 starts this season and are proving to be one of the best junior ‘B’ teams in the province this season.

Sixteen games into the season, the Gens are in fourth but have three games in hand against the third place Strathmore Wheatland Kings.

The Gens have a home and won series against the High River Flyers this weekend, playing Friday night in High River before hosting a game Saturday night at the Cochrane Arena. An odd schedule has seen the High River Flyers already play six more games than the Gens.

On Sunday they head to Claresholm to take on the Lakers.