For the second time, Cochrane Generals goalie Erik Garber has been named the Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) Player of the Week for the week ending Dec. 9.

Garber, 19, stopped 66-of-67 shots faced during the week, compiling an impressive 0.67 goals-against average and a .985 save-percentage in two appearances.

The Kirkland, WA product had just over 29 minutes of relief work on Friday night against the Okotoks Bisons, stopping 19-of-20 shots he faced. He then followed that up with a 47-save shutout, his first of the season, in a rematch against the Bisons on Sunday.

Garber now sits with a 5-2-0 record this season, along with a 2.78 goals-against average and a .916 save-percentage.

Garber has found his groove since coming back from an ankle injury that sidelined him for about a month.

“Once I came back I just felt the groove in my game and it has been going well since.”

“When I’m feeling good and I’m on my game it’s great to get in as many games as possible, especially after having to sit out for about a month. That really made me miss the game and made me anxious to come back.”

Getting that first shutout was the result of a total team effort, he says.

“We got outshot by quite a bit but they really reduced the number of quality shots that Okotoks had and the shots we were taking were all good quality scoring chances."

“The team played well in front of me and it gave me the opportunity to play the best I can be.”

That win was definitely a momentum builder for the Gens after losing two days earlier in Okotoks, he believes.

"After Friday, we regrouped and showed how we can play when everyone’s clicking. I think it can go up from here and we can play well after a great team effort against Okotoks because they aren’t an easy team to play against. Bringing them to our barn and beating them 5-0 is definitely a confidence builder for the team.”

A 6-3 win over Strathmore on Tuesday night was important but Garber says they can’t let their guard down against the Wheatland Kings.,

"I thought we handled them well but we also have to be ready because we play them three more times this year. They’re going to be big games because we’re close in the standings so we can’t take them lightly at all."

Garber now gets a well-deserved rest for tonight’s road game against the Three Hill Thrashers.

Garber joined the club last season and previously received HJHL player of the week honours in November 2017.

The Gens are at home for their final game of 2018 on Sunday against the High River Flyers. Game time is 3:30 p.m. at the Cochrane Arena.

Injuries and illness have been plaguing the Gens and a two-week Christmas break might be exactly what the doctor would order.