The Cochrane Generals want to create a more intimidating atmosphere for visiting clubs and a better hockey experience for fans and players alike and believe the best place is the old Cochrane Arena.

Late last week, the club announced it will be playing its 2018-19 season at the old arena, 609 4th Ave. N., and will continue to hold their regular practices at Totem One at the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre.

Head coach Travis McMillan says he believes the arena is more conducive to creating the right atmosphere for the club and a packed house there will put opponents on edge.

"The atmosphere at some of our hockey games was a bit dull at times and that's half the battle right there. If you have a hockey team that comes into the rink and is automatically intimidated by the atmosphere then you're already ahead of them before you even touch the ice."

He heaps praise upon the SLS Family Sports Centre and calls it a top-notch facility but believes the Cochrane Arena is a better fit.

"In terms of our growth and development as a program to attempt to be on par with a junior 'A' environment, I thought it was best for the team to have an identity somewhere else."

"We could probably pull more of our fans to the old rink and pack it. I'm looking forward to seeing 200,  300 at every home game. That's my goal."

"I want to pack that place and give the Cochrane faithful and the Town of Cochrane something they rally around it. Something like, 'Hey let's old barn, let's go watch some good hockey and have a fantastic time'. I think it's a bit of a domino effect, more fans, more fun, that kind of thing.

He pulls from personal experience at the old rink.

"I've played in that rink when I was a kid playing against Cochrane. It was a fantastic place to play and when I was a kid it felt the crowd was right on top of you."

He believes players will thrive in the atmosphere, much like they do in places like Coaldale, Ponoka and Olds.

"My mentality as a coach is you want a program that is attractive to players so they can come to play, they can excel, they can grow and then they can move on to the next level."

The Cochrane Arena has a smaller parking lot, but he doesn't believe it will create an issue.

HJHL Schedule will be released soon

The 2018-19 Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) schedule will soon be released. A scheduling meeting has been held and the final touches are being added before its finalized.

In pre-season play, the Gens will be playing home-and-home series against both the Mountainview Colts and Airdrie Techmation Thunder. The HJHL regular season opens Sept. 14.

The Gens first practice is on Sept. 4 and McMillan says they have invited about 30 players to play. HJHL rosters need to be cut to 25 by Dec. 1 and to 23 by Jan. 10.