Generals 3 Flyers 2
The Bentley Generals have played prettier games, but in their eyes their 3-2 victory over the Fort St. John Flyers Monday before an overflow crowd at the Arena was a thing of beauty.
The Generals jumped into a 3-1 lead then hung on in the third period to win the best-of-five McKenzie Cup senior AAA hockey series 3-2 and advance to the Allan Cup, starting next Monday in Kenora, Ont.
Both teams showed a lot of heart and determination and put on a good show considering they were playing their fifth game in as many days. The win was the second in a row for the Generals, who won the series opener 4-0, then lost 4-3 in overtime and 6-3 before winning 5-1 Sunday.
“We found a way,” said Generals head coach Brian Sutter. “There’s no leagues that play five games in five days, but it was a credit to their guys and credit to our guys, both teams gutted it out. It wasn’t pretty, but we deserved it.”
What turned out to be the winning goal seemed almost appropriate in a game where neither team was willing to give an inch.
Sean Robertson was credited with the winner at 10:16 of the second period when Tyler Haarstad’s pass form the corner deflected off his skate past goaltender Clayton Pool.
“In Game 5 like this you just throw stuff at the net and it went off (Robertson),” said Haarstad. “It was a huge goal for us.”
Haarstad typified the players on both teams as he had his knee drained Monday, wrapped it and took a regular shift after sitting out the last two games.
“A couple games ago I hurt the (right) knee when I was banged into the boards and I sat out the last two games,” he explained. “But the doctor said I could play, so I drained it, wrapped it and iced it. There was no way I was going to miss Game 5.”
Haarstad was just one of the “foot soldiers” Sutter praised, also mentioning Brandin Cote, Karey Pieper, Scott Hood, and Scott Doucet.
“Foot soldiers are generally at the front and they were front and centre for us,” he said. “The Bensmillers (defenceman Chance and forward Kurt) were big and I have to mention (goaltender) Scott Galenza and Joe (Vandermeer) played his ass off.”
Vandermeer was named the series MVP and gave the Flyers credit for not laying down.
“They battled all the way and took it to us in the third period. But we stayed with it and got the job done,” said Vandermeer. “Our experience had a lot to do with that. We have a good core of guys who have been through this before and that helps considerably. They were able to relay that to the rest of the guys.
“It was a war out there, but I’m sure they’re beat up just like us. And really some of our guys were better the last two games than they were in the first three.”
Vandermeer stressed they weren’t about to let the game slip through their fingers like they did in Games 2 and 3 when they let leads slip away.
“The whole season was on the line,” he said. “This is what we worked for.”
Haarstad agreed.
“They have a hell-of-a team and kept coming at us, but we kept our heads up, stuck to our systems and worked hard.”
The Generals jumped into a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Darryl Laplante and Kurt Bensmiller only to see Kimbi Daniels beat Galenza on a breakaway while shorthanded.
Robertson’s goal was the only tally in the middle stanza with Kevin Werner beating Galenza on a screened shot on the power play at 7:33 of the third period.
The Flyers held an 11-7 edge in shots in the final frame, but Galenza stood tall.
“We’ve faced their goaltender on and off over the years and this was the best I’ve seen him play,” said Flyers head coach Darrell Leahy. “That’s the first time he’s played all five games against us. Credit to him.”
He also gave his team credit.
“I’m proud of our guys that was a hell of an effort. We had an edge in the third period. It was like the rink was tilted and the referee put his whistle away. If we would have got into that mind set in the second, instead of the third, it might have been different. We were definitely coming on and had them backing up. But then we can’t take anything away from them either. Quite possibly the winner of this series will win the Allan Cup.”
Sutter agreed.
“These teams could well be the best two senior teams in Canada,” he said.
The Generals also gave a lot of credit for their success to the fans, who were lined up two or three deep at spots.
“You can’t say enough about the fans, the people of Bentley and our supporters from Central Alberta,” Sutter said. “It’s pretty special.”
“They are like a seventh guy for us,” said Haarstad. “If you can’t get up for this then you can’t get up for anything.”
• Galenza finished with 23 saves while Pool made 33 saves for the Flyers . . . Alberta had now won 13 of 18 McKenzie Cups and have never lost at home . .. Robertson won the tournament scoring race with six points . . . Galenza finished with a 2.53 goals-against-average.
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com