Chiefs 5 Generals 3
Garrett Kindred refused to allow his team to go down in four straight.
The Fort Saskatchewan netminder turned aside 42 shots Saturday night in the Chiefs’ 5-3 victory over the visiting Bentley Generals, who were on the verge of sweeping the best-of-seven Alberta senior AAA hockey championship.
The Generals hold a 3-1 lead in the provinclal final with the fifth game to be played Saturday at the Red Deer Arena. The puck drops at 2 p.m.
Bentley led 1-0 after one period of Game 4 on a goal by Kurt Bensmiller, but the Chiefs outscored the Generals 3-1 in the middle frame, getting goals from Kyle Pess, Russ Purdy and Eric Sonnenberg. Diarmuid Kelly notched Bentley’s second-period marker.
Fort Saskatchewan increased its lead to 4-2 when Jamie Marshall connected at 8:48 of the third period, but Bentley defenceman Erik Lodge closed the gap with a goal five minutes later. Corey Rutt sealed the deal with an empty-net tally in the final minute.
Scott Galenza made 26 saves for the Generals, who were one-for-five on the power play as opposed to two-for-seven for the Chiefs.
A sixth game, if necessary, will be played April 6 in Fort Saskatchewan and a seventh contest, if needed, will go April 10 at 8 p.m. at the Arena.
The provincial winner will advance to the Allan Cup tournament — the Canadian senior AAA championship — April 19-24 in Fort St. John, B.C. The Generals are the defending Allan Cup champions.