Bring on the Fort St. John Flyers.
Kevin Smyth’s power-play goal at 11:59 of the third period was the winner as the Bentley Generals slipped past the Stony Plain Eagles 2-1 Wednesday in the seventh and deciding game of the Alberta senior AAA hockey final before 2,000 fans at the Red Deer Arena.
The victory gave the Generals a berth in the best-of-five McKenzie Cup series with the Flyers, the British Columbia representative.
The entire series will be played at the Arena, starting next Thursday, and the winner will represent the Pacific Region in the Allan Cup tournament April 13-18 in Steinbach, Man.
Wednesday’s game was the Generals’ 19th of the 2008-09 post-season.
“But we’re by no means done. We’re only halfway started,” said Smyth, shrugging off suggestions that the team may be tired.
The Generals lost the 2008 Allan Cup final to the host Brantford, Ont., Blast and are itching to get another shot at a national title.
“We have to finish what we came to do,” said Smyth. “We’re excited about winning the province in front of our home fans and now we have a big series against B.C., so we’ll just keeping playing.”
The McKenzie Cup series will run through April 6 if all five games are required.