Will Gretton's three-goal performance lead the Cochrane Generals to a do-or-die playoff win against the Medicine Hat Cubs, Feb. 18.

The Cochrane Generals are now preparing to face the Okotoks Bisons in the HJHL playoffs, but it wasn't without having the Medicine Hat Cubs give them a scare in the opening round. The teams were never more than one goal apart in game three until the Gens scored two in he third to seal the deal, 6-4.

The team exchanged two goals apiece in the opening period with Gens generating the lowest shots on goal in some time. Halfway through the second it was once again tied, 3-3, until Will Gretton was fed by Braden Bain to take a 4-3 lead into the third. That didn't last long. The Cubs scored on a powerplay in the opening moments of the final stanza and it was back to work again for the Gens.

Captain Austin Keller blasted one from the point in what became the game-winning goal. With his third goal of the night, Gretton scored the assurer and the Gens held off the Cubs attack for the final 10-minutes to claim the series.

In the second, Colton Wong got a little redemption. The Cubs scored while he was serving time. He came out of penalty box to get that goal back. Chris Sambrook scored the Gens' opening goal.

After a lopsided 17-0 win in the first game, the Gens lost on the road 3-2 to the determined Medicine Hat Cubs on Feb. 17 to force a thriller of a final.

The south division semifinal five-game series opens in Okotoks later this week. In the other south division matchup, the Coaldale Copperheads face the High River Flyers.

HJHL North Division Playoff Action

The Stettler Lighting broke a 3-3 deadlock with 14 seconds left in play to beat the Mountainview Colts, 5-4, in their quarterfinal series opener in the north division. The Colts came back with two back-to-back wins to take the series.

Blackfalds Wranglers out rodeoed the Ponoka Stampeders two games straight in the other quarterfinal matchup.

The Red Deer Vipers, the top team in the HJHL, are now coming off the bench to face the Colts. The Airdrie Techmation Thunder face Blackfalds in the other north series.