The Cochrane Generals training camp gets underway tonight. (file photo)\

The Cochrane Generals training camp gets underway tonight and before you know it they'll be lacing up to kick off the 2024-25 season of the Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL).

Tonight, new goalie coach Trevor Devnich will be evaluating eight to nine goalies, including last year starters Isaiah Madigan and Braydon Yonin. Tomorrow, the main camp opens and continues until Sunday.

New Cochrane Generals head coach Derek Bell is fired up for the start of the hockey season. 

"We were at three showcase camps and sent out a lot of emails to young guys out there to welcome them to the camp and stuff," says Bell. "I think we're going to end up right around 40 to 45 players in camp."

Bell says they capped the number of goalies trying out for the club.

"We want to make sure that these young men are getting the right experience for the dollars that they're paying."

The Gens will make some cuts after camp but go into the pre-season with a large bench.

"We'll keep good number of guys out there to make sure that we always take the best look we can with all of our young players coming up," says Bell. "I mean, we're going to get a lot of young 17-year-olds from Cochrane especially wanting to come play junior hockey. We want to give them as much time and ample opportunities to showcase themselves, but still also not hang on to them too long so they can also go back and develop further with their own AA team in town as well."

Pre-season gets underway on Sept. 6 in Airdrie in the first of a home-and-home series against the Thunder. The Gens are at home on Sat. Sept. 7. They hit the road on Sept. 13 to play the Mountain View Colts for their final exhibition game.

The Gens play their first six games of the regular season on the road, the first in Airdrie on Sept. 20. They host the High River Flyers in their home opener on Oct. 11.

The Cochrane Generals new head coach Derek Bell signs on the dotted line with Gens president Rick Richards, left, and Gens board member Tony Murphy in April.

Derek Bell was named head coach in April. Since then, the team's staff has been finalized. Jarvis Bender is associate coach and Connor Stephenson returns as assistant coach. Andrew Guss, who wrapped up his career with the Gens last season, has come on board as an assistant coach. Trevor Devnich is the new goalie coach.

Rick Richards remains president, former head coach Kurtis Jones is the new vice-president and Dave Chamberland is advisor. Angela Sellwood is the new general manager and Gordana Ripplinger remains assistant GM.