BENTLEY GENERALS 3 FORT ST. JOHN FLYERS 2
(Red Deer, AB)
For a third consecutive season, the Bentley Generals have punched their ticket to the Allan Cup. The Generals wrapped up the McKenzie Cup series Sunday night with a 3-2 win over the Fort St. John Flyers at the Red Deer Arena. Bentley wins the three games to one, outshooting and outchancing the Flyers at almost every turn.
That didn't make it easy though.
Flyers goaltender Troy Hunt made 44 saves, many of the spectacular variety, a performance that was fairly indicative of the scrappy effort his teammates put forth all series.
Kevin Smyth opened the scoring just 25 seconds into the first period, and when Ryan Manitowich scored on a breakaway at 18:23, it looked like Bentley might take game two in a route.
Kurt Bensmiller made it 3-0 on a second period powerplay, but the Flyers came right back getting two quick goals Rod Stevens and Ian Munro to cut the deficit back to one.
Bentley outshot Fort St. John 12-9 in the third, but couldn't find a way to get the insurance marker, setting up for a nail-biting finish.
Holding down the fort was G Cody Rudkowsky, back in the net after being shelled for six goals in Friday's game two.
Kurt Bensmiller was named McKenzie Cup MVP after potting three goals and seven points in the four game series.
The Allan Cup begins next Monday (April 13th) in Steinbach, Manitoba.
More to come this week......
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The AAA midget Calgary Buffaloes, led by Rebels prospect Joel Lowry (the son of Hitmen coach Dave) are headed to the 2009 Telus Cup after defeating the Vancouver NorthWest Giants (led by Rebs prospect Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) 3-2 in the third and deciding game of the Pacific Regionals.
Both Nugent -Hopkins and Lowry scored for their respective teams in the final game. Hopkins was named series MVP after scoring four goals over the three contests.
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Another day...another Brent Sutter story.
This time from Eric Francis in the CGY Sun, who speculates that Sutter is almost assuradely destined for home, and THEN will become the new head coach of the Calgary Flames in 2010-2011.
Now, Francis is pretty much the king of throwing S*** at the wall to see if anything sticks, and loves to write merely to get a reaction. And......he'll usually get it.
I suppose there's something to be said for a "love me, hate me, just read me" tabloid mentality.....at the same time, I think it's pretty clear sometimes that what Francis doesn't know could fill a warehouse.
But he sells papers. I know I read him every week.
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You know spring is reallyhere when the MLB season kicks off. I'm a big Jays guy, and will be watching as they host the Detroit Tigers in the season opener tonight.
It could be a long year for Jays fans. You can read some of my thoughts here:
http://www.reddeerexpress.com/express/edition03/sports-002.html
Some friends and I had our annual baseball draft yesterday afternoon......I know sometimes fantasy pools can carry with it a "living in your moms basement" sort of reputation, but I love 'em. NHL, NFL, and MLB.......It keeps the games interesting and relevant, no matter how your favorite team is doing.
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Monday, April 6, 2009
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2 comments:
Francis is partly right.
Sutter is coming home next year but he will not be coaching Calgary. He will be coaching Edmonton. McTavish will get canned this off season and Sutter will take the Devil's to the Eastern Final where they will lose to the Bruins. He will have given everything he could to the Devils for two years and Lou will accept his resignation for "family reasons" wherupon he will sign with the Oilers. He will get back just in time to see the Rebels have their first above .500 season in a long time and he will get the credit even though it should go to Jesse Wallin and his coaching staff for their mentoring of their young prospects and the patience they showed with them this year.
You heard it here first from the Central ALberta hockey insider. When this all comes true I will blog again and say I told you so.
Only problem with that is that the Oilers, much like the Habs, really seem to prefer to hire their team alumni when signing new coaches/asst. coaches/gms (whether they have zero coaching experience or not).
I swear to god, if MacTavish were ever in a persistent vegetative state, they would probably hook him up to a ventilator on the bench, and just add Kelly Buchberger or Mark Messier as another assistant coach.
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