Generals take game one - Ferraro to U18's

BENTLEY GENERALS 5 FORT ST. JOHN FLYERS 2

(Red Deer, AB)

The Bentley Generals drew first blood in their McKenzie Cup series with the Fort St. John Flyers Thursday night, winning game one 5-2 before another capacity crowd at the Red Deer Arena.

It was all Generals in the first, as Kevin Smyth scored twice and assisted on another, and Bentley led it 4-0 thru 20.

Give the Flyers credit though, because as overmatched and travel-lagged as they looked in the first, they came out much harder in the second, and cut the lead in half.

In the third, it was Bentley that made a few adjustments, and put the game away with a goal from Chris Martini.

Newly-added Goaltender Cody Rudkowsky (Stony Plain) was solid in net, stopping 27 shots for the win.

Rudkowsky (pictured here making a save in the Senior AAA Final AGAINST the Generals) was named MVP of the Provincial playoffs, and was prompty snapped up by Bentley after the series.


PERIOD 1
Bentley Generals at 17:59 - Ryan Manitowich from Brett Thurston and Tyler Haarstad

Bentley Generals at 11:57 (PP) - Kevin Smyth from Kurt Bensmiller and Curtis Austring

Bentley Generals at 5:43 (PP) - Kurt Bensmiller from Kevin Smyth and Sean Robertson

Bentley Generals at 1:18 (PP) - Kevin Smyth from Kurt Bensmiller and Curtis Austring

PERIOD 2
Fort St. John Flyers at 12:50 - David Alexander from Todd Alexander

Fort St. John Flyers at 6:21 (PP) - Ian Munro from Ryan Carter

PERIOD 3
Bentley Generals at 11:17 - Chris Martini from James Bullock and Tyler Haarstad

Game two in the best-of-five goes tonight (Friday) at the Arena. (7:30 p.m.)


Note: After the game, I spotted former NHL star Theo Fleury downstairs. Fleury will play for host Steinbach in the Allan Cup, April 13-19. Theo is very close with Generals head coach Brian Sutter. Also playig for teh host club will be Ted Fleury, Chris Nielsen, and Greg Hawgood.

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FERRARO NAMED TO CANADA'S U18 TEAM

Even though it was a given, Hockey Canada made it official today, including Rebels forward Landon Ferraro on it's World Under-18 squad.

Ferraro is one of eight WHL'ers on the squad, along with Kootenay's Brayden McNabb, Saskatoon's Stefan Elliot, Prince George forward Brett Connolly, Byron Forese of Everett, Regina's Garrett Mitchell, Swift Current's Cody Eakin, and Saskatoon forward Curtis Hamilton.

The only Alberta native on the club is Calgary's Dylan Olsen, who plays with the AJHL's Camrose Kodiaks.

Canada opens up the tourney April 9th against Germany in North Dakota. For now, the team is practicing and bonding in Minnesota.

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At the Red Deer City Sports Awards last night.

Former RDC Athletic Director Al Ferchuk was recognized with the Lifetime Sport Achievment award.

Notre Dame High School Vball coach Chris Wandler was named coach of the year

Biathlete Zina Kocher wins top female athlete, while Trampoline expert Kyle Soehn wins the male award.

Gymnast Megan Louis takes home junior female athlete, while Kyle Soehn wins the male award.


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Bentley Generals vs Ft. St. John Flyers Game 1 of McKenzie Cup

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Two of the Red Deer rebels top prospects will be matched up in the AAA Midget Pacific regionals. Joel Lowry and the CGY Buffaloes visit Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the Vancouver NW Giants.

The best of threeseries begins tonight in Burnaby. All three games will be webcast live at www.bchockey.net/MML

The winner moves on to the Telus Cup April 20-26 in Selkirk , MB.