The Lacombe Generals came up just short of the ultimate prize Saturday with a 7-4 loss to the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts in the Allan Cup Final.
Penalty trouble hurt the defend champs in their pursuit of back-to-back titles, as the Cataracts went 4/8 on the man advantage to sink the Generals.
Evan Oberg opened the scoring for the Generals with a backhand top corner in the first period, but the Cataracts responded quickly with a power play marker and penalty shot goal to open up a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.
Grand Falls-Windsor tallied three quick goals in just 3:29 to open the second period and really zapped any momentum the Generals were able to generate in the first.
Eric Galbraith got Lacombe on the board at 5:31 of the second.
The Cataracts notched their sixth goal of the night 7:55 into the third, before Chris Rauckman tipped home a point shot and Teggan Moore chipped in a rebound to bring the Generals within two goals late.
Cataracts forward Stuart Macrae put the final nail in the coffin with 24 seconds remaining on an empty net goal which also netted him a hat trick.
The victory was the first Allan Cup for Grand Falls- Windsor and just the third time a team from Newfoundland has won the trophy.
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