Bentley Generals Senior AAA Hockey Club - Powered By esportsdesk.com

I'm having a hard time figuring out how to re-start a blog which...unfortunatley...I've not updated since late December. Sorry about that, Army. Spring time is (slowly) coming and when it does...I'll be freed up for much more hockey than what I've been able to follow these last couple months.

As it is...the best I can offer is a tenative look ahead at the Alberta SR AAA Finals. We already know our Bentley Generals will be getting another chance to play for a title, after dispatching Stony Plain Eagles in 4 straight games. The Army looked sufficiently ready for the task ahead, when they shut-out Stonyburgh, 2-0 in the 4rth game of that series.

What we don't know is...Who will be the opponent? As I type this...Innisfail has a commanding 3-1 series lead over Fort Saskatchewan. Sutters' squad can advance with a win on home ice next Friday.

Can they close the deal? The consensus is...yes, they can. I tend to agree with the consensus. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if they ended it at the next opportunity. It seems to me, if the Fort Sask Chiefs were going to make this a long(er) series...they would've made some sort of statement to indicate such a thing and up to this point...the cold hold fact of the matter is...that hasn't happened.

But...we're not even a full year removed from the Stony Plain Eagles stealing a semi-final series away from these same Fort Sask Chiefs and I am sure thats part of the speech the Chiefs will be getting as they try and scratch back into a series which I had originally predicted would require the full 7 games to determine a winner.

Mathmatically...I'll give Fort Sask a 20-ish% chance of pulling this series out of the ditch.

Metaphorically...thats muh better than the fate a snowball gets in hell.

For the Generals part...they need to NOT care who their opponent is. Both Fort Sask & Innisfail have proven they can skate with the defending Allan Cup Champs at various intervals this winter. The Army's focus is to be ready for anything.

Secretly...do we believe the players & coaches DO care who they play? I think if you stalked a few players into The Monkey Top and slipped a truth serum into their drink of choice...you would still end up with mixed bag of answers....

Some players...and some coaches...might relish the chance to go head to head with Sutter and the former Generals' of Innisfail. However, there would probably be others who would suggest its been better hockey when they've played Fort Sask and after the Chiefs came to Bentley and beat up on the Gens' about a month ago...thats maybe the opponent the Gens' have the "most" to prove to.

I can't even decide on a personal preference. The idea of being able to have an entire Finals' played within 20 minutes of my garage door has merit for me. The 2-ish hour ride to Fort Sask isn't my idea of a great time. Mind you...I also have developed a bit of a soft spot for the fan-less Fort Saskatchewan team and I can't help but feel for them after all they've been through as a team the last couple years. To my eye...Fort Sask should have qualified for last springs' Allan Cup. They were as good as any team in Canada last year and it seems a littel unjust if they trickle away into an early exit (again) this year. Thing is...if these Chiefs are ever going to reward their time & effort...they need to get things going.

Of course, there is also the ultra-alluring drama of what we already know is a heated rivalry with Innisfail. I have zero "affinity" for the Eagles...but...I respect how GOOD they are as a team and I fully realize the reason(s) they are leading the series with Fort Sask boil down to a bottom line which states....they WANT to accomplish the highest possible goals at this level and they BELIEVE they've got the goods to make that happen.

These are dangerous times, Army. We are going to face a fantastic opponent and its going to be...(I think)...a memorable battle no matter the opponent.

I'll hope to get enough free time to follow up sooner rather than later.

Wade R. Giesbrecht