Tyler Fyten

All hopes of the Cochrane Generals three-peating as Heritage League champions were ended in a flash as the Airdrie Thunder swept them in the best-of-seven Central Division final series.

The Generals’ showing, which included two disheartening defeats in double-overtime in games one and three, was a far cry from a week prior when the team topped the Three Hills Thrashers three games to none to win their semifinal series.

Generals head coach Dana Boothby said his team had the talent to win but made far too many mistakes down the stretch.

Cochrane Generals netminder Tyle Fyten watches the puck sail into his net during game three of the Heritage League Central Division final best-of-seven series against the Airdrie Thunder. The two-time defending champion Generals were swept in four games. Photo by Patrick Price.

“One thing that we need to learn, we have got a young team, is they need to learn how to win,” Boothby said. “At times when we had our opposition down and they didn’t finish their checks . . . you want to respect your opposition and at times we didn’t. I hope they learn that lesson because sometimes it’s not just about hockey, you have to learn how to win, how to do the little things.”

Cochrane captain Kurt Briggs led the post-season charge with 14 points in seven games. After the game, the veteran defender said holding the lead in the series proved to be a challenge his team simply could not rise to.

“The biggest thing was we let them back in all the time,” said Briggs, who will leave the Generals with two championships to his credit. “We couldn’t hold the lead. We were working hard but we made some mistakes and they took advantage.”

Along with Briggs, blueliners Mike Cann and Sean Erwin have also played their last games in Generals uniforms. Defensive responsibilities next season will likely fall on newcomers like Kashtin Gordon and Gideon Neufeld as well as any new recruits the Generals can bring in, Boothy said.

“We have got to find some good, young D-men coming through the program and they will have lots of opportunity next year to get lots of ice time,” Bootby noted.

Generals forward Kyle Tucker knocks Connor Mein of the Airdrie Thunder to the ice during game one of the Central Division final. Photo by Patrick Price.

On the front end, the Generals will likely retain all 12 of their current forwards, including the potent top-line trio of Danny McSween, Darren Schmautz and Jonny Pictin, who all finished in the top 10 in Heritage League regular-season scoring.
The biggest hole to fill next season may be between the pipes as three-year Generals netminder Tyler Fyten plans to retire. Rookie Garret Fraser did post a 6-3-1 record in relief duties for Fyten during the regular season but may tryout for some Junior A programs before committing to the Generals again.

Boothby, who will keep his spot behind the bench next season, said that while his team’s end result was disappointing he hopes the lessons of defeat aren’t lost on his group of young men.

“Usually you have got to go into a series and lose before you learn how to win,” he said. “Looking back, the guys worked hard, they committed. We had a good season with a bunch of rookies, you know it’s tough to repeat and it’s really tough to three-peat.
“The Generals are in good shape, they battled hard and I’m proud of the whole bunch.”

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