By Brad Herron
The Eagle
After a year filled with success ended in a disappointing finish at the provincials, Cochrane Generals Head Coach Dana Boothby hopes his team doesn’t think too highly of itself.
Last season, Boothby said some players were “pinching themselves” after winning the Heritage Junior B Hockey League title and advancing to the provincials. But this year, the season won’t be a success without a provincial championship.
“Now they have tasted the league finals and I think they are going to set the bar one step higher. And I am looking forward to it. We’ve definitely got the horses to do it,” Boothby said Sept 6.
With only a week to go before the first exhibition game against the Okotoks Bison on Sept. 13, the Generals held tryouts at the Cochrane Arena Sept 6-7. Boothby said while many players were winded after four practices following a summer of barbecues and cold brews, he sees talent on the roster, enough that he is confident the Generals can repeat as league champions.
Seven over-age players from last year’s roster will try to crack the roster. Of the seven — top-scorer Dave Sissons, team MVP Tanner Boothby, forward Matt Davis-Hall, forward Andrew Twoyoungmen, defensemen Chad Willis and Kevin Melnyk, and backup goalie Evan McFeeters — only four will make the roster for the upcoming season.
Now entering his third season, Boothby has been through the ups and downs as Generals coach. From first-round playoff exits to a league championship, he relied on a select group of players to lead the hockey club.
After losing four players at the end of last season, including the team’s captain, and at least three more this year, a new core will need to be established. He is now searching for “seven or eight” new, committed players to solidify the roster.
“You have to make sure they can all skate, but I am looking for guys that really want to play. It’s fun, but it’s not just rec hockey and it’s a big commitment,” Boothby said.
Even though determination is the chief asset for any General, Boothby is worried regular season games will be lost due to a lack of effort.
“We are going to get beat this season based just on the premise that we are going to show up and not work hard. But I am hoping those losses are going to teach them the lessons,” Boothby said.
With preliminary cuts already done, the Generals will travel to Okotoks to play an exhibition game Sept. 13 at 8:15 p.m. The Generals’ first exhibition game at home is scheduled for Sept. 19 against Okotoks 7:30 p.m. at Totem Arena.
The regular season opens Oct. 3 in High River.

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