STEINBACH, Man. — The Bentley Generals, strictly as spectators, got a good look at their first opponent in the 2009 Allan Cup tournament Monday and had to come away impressed.
The host Steinbach North Stars, with former NHL star Theoren Fleury scoring once and setting up two goals, buried the Thunder Bay Twins 5-0 in an evening contest.
The Generals meet the North Stars tonight at 7 p.m. and face the Twins 24 hours later.
Also scoring for Steinbach were Kelly Glowa, Ryan St. Laurent, Neil Gidney and Gerald Tetrault, while Justin Harris stopped all 16 shots he faced. Louis Grenier made 49 saves for Thunder Bay. In the afternoon, Brent Zelenewich turned aside 38 shots as the South East Prairie Thunder - the second Manitoba entry in the six-team, two-pool tournament — blanked the Lloydminster Border Kings 4-0.
Kevin Vandewater, Tyler Palmiscno, Ryan Dyck and Jay Panzer scored for the Thunder, who fired 34 shots at Lloydminster netminder B.J. Boxma.
The Allan Cup quarter-finals will be played Thursday at 3 and 7 p.m, followed by Friday’s 3 and 7 p.m. semifinals and the championship game at 2 p.m. Saturday (TSN).