Generals 4 Chiefs 2
BENTLEY — The Bentley Generals were a touch rusty after a two-week layoff, but it didn’t last long.
The Generals fell behind 1-0 early but charged back to record a 4-2 victory over the Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs in the opening game of the best-of-seven Alberta senior AAA hockey championship Friday.
“We didn’t know what to expect after the layoff, especially in the first period,” said Generals assistant coach Jason Lenz. “Our skating was fine, but we weren’t that sharp around the net. But we got better as the game wore on.”
The Chiefs grabbed a 1-0 lead at 7:05 of the first period on a goal by Matt Hunter, but Kurt Bensmiller evened the count for the Generals with a power play marker at 14:09. The Generals grabbed the lead in the middle stanza as Darryl Laplante scored at 15:00 and Scott Hood got a shorthanded marker at 17:04.
However, the Chiefs made things interesting when Cory Rutt connected on the power play 10 seconds after Hood’s marker.
Travis Brigley gave the Generals some breathing room with a goal early in the third period while on a two-man advantage.
Bensmiller and Brigley both had a goal and two helpers while Scott Galenza finished with 21 saves in goal. The Generals had 30 shots on Fort Saskatchewan netminder David Tetrault.
“It was a big win for us, with it being the first game and at home,” said Lenz, who wasn’t surprised to see a fairly low-scoring game.
“It always seems to be low-scoring between us two, we both play a little more defensive style against each other” he said. “Mind you it’s the time of year where good defence and goaltending are important.”
Galenza may have wanted the first goal back, but overall was solid, according to Lenz.
“All we ask is that he makes the easy saves and then make a few big ones when it counts the most, and he did just that.”
The series continues today in Fort Saskatchewan with the third game Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Bentley. The fourth game is March 27 in Fort Saskatchewan with the fifth game, if needed, April 3 at the Red Deer Arena at 2 p.m. If necessary the sixth game goes April 6 in Fort Saskatchewan and Game 7 April 10 at the Arena.