LACOMBE– It’s a Wednesday night tradition that has become more than just hockey for the Lacombe Generals.
Players arrive early at the Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex, often with their family in tow.
The get together inevitably centers around a hockey practice – preparing the group for the games ahead on the upcoming weekend.
But Generals GM Jeff McInnis always believed they needed to make it more than just X and O’s to keep the players and their families happy.
“Our Wednesday’s are very important to us. That’s not the norm in our brand. We’ve created something here, the members of our club have made Wednesday a great night, with meals and hospitality. It’s cool to see these guys roll in here,” McInnis said.
That’s why forward Jesse Todd hops in a truck and makes the two-hour, one-way trip to practice many cold nights through the winter, usually with defenceman Brett Robertson as the co-pilot or driver.
“Just do it for the love of hockey really. And the group of guys we have here. You just have lifetime friends,” Todd said.
Whether this tradition will help the Generals lock up another Senior Provincial AAA hockey title remains to be seen.
They’ll drop the puck on the best-of-seven series with the Stony Plain Eagles Friday night in Lacombe, and Todd expects a tight checking, hard-nosed battle.
Lacombe beat the Eagles four times in six meetings this season.
“It’ll be a lot more physical than throughout the regular season. It’s going to be fast-paced. Both teams have some depth now,” said Todd, who had 27 points in 22 regular season games.
“Goaltending will be a key to the series. It’s going to be tough to find goals.”
The Generals topped the Eagles last year in six games to win the Senior AAA title, the team’s fifth straight provincial championship.
Todd has been a part of the last two and said the goal is no different this season.
Puck drop Friday night is 8:30 p.m. and after game 2 in Stony Plain, the Generals will be back on home ice March 16.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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