The Coaldale Copperheads are in the midst of the Division Final of the Heritage Junior Hockey League.
After reverse sweeping the Okotoks Bisons in the semi-finals, the team is hoping to continue the trend of upsetting teams ahead of them in the standings as they continue to battle the Cochrane Generals.
The Generals finished first overall in the HJHL but the Copperheads feel they have a good shot to once again shock the league.
“Any team you face in playoffs now, it’s a different type of game now. Everybody tends to play a lot harder so we just got to be ready for any game because to win the league you are going to have to go through the best teams,” said head coach Derek Wiest.
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The Copperheads had not had much success during the regular season against Cochrane as they only had one win in four games but they know anything can happen in the playoffs.
After winning a wild game one, the snakes dropped the next two games on the road but they rebounded well with a game four win.
“There’s so much emotion in the playoffs, you can really only take it game by game and not look too far ahead,” said captain Ryan Swier.
The team will look to rely on veteran players like Swier, who has eight points in eight playoff games, in the last couple matchups against Cochrane.
There are plenty of players on the roster who have playoff experience after a few deep runs the last few seasons and the coaching staff will look to those players to lead.
So far the Generals have outscored the Copperheads in the series 17-15 which is something the team is hoping to improve on moving forward especially in regards with speciality teams.
“Power plays and penalty kills are large when it comes down to it, we’re pretty good five on five but it always helps getting those extra goals,” said forward Calvin Swanson.
The snakes have amassed 14 power play goals in 13 games so far this post season and will look to add more to that total.
The Copperheads will be on the road for game five, puck drop is 730 p.m.
