Copperheads open 2026-27 season with home loss to Cochrane

The Coaldale Copperheads opened the 2026-27 HJHL campaign on a losing note, falling 3-1 to the Cochrane Generals Saturday night at the Coaldale Sportsplex.

The game between the historically evenly-matched squads went scoreless until the 9:40 mark of the second period, when the Generals’ Gairen Bona, on a pass from Evan Sine, potted the game’s first goal.

The Copperheads’ Brett Hudey was able to tie things up just past five minutes into the third on the powerplay, in a game which saw three of the four goals scored with the man-advantage, including one of the last two goals by Cochrane six minutes apart to give the visitors the victory.

For the Generals, it was their second game in as many nights, after they dropped their opener on the road in Sylvan Lake Friday by a score of 6-2.