They're that brush fire that quitely smouldered all winter long under a blanket of snow and when the first spring wind stirred the embers...a rolling ball of fire was let loose. Before the Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs even saw the smoke...they'd already lost control. They lost everything. An Allan Cup berth, more specifically, was the casualty.

And now that roaring wall of flame is at the doors here in Bentley tonight looking to light up the Generals. And the longer the Eagles are allowed to burn...the harder they become to extinguish.

The Army needs to explosion-proof the fortress and there are a few fire bugs which need to be properly identified: Wade Waters, the Eagles red hot goaltender, has given up just 4 goals on his last 96 shots. As important as Waters is to the Eagles...he might not even be the man responsible for starting this fire.

Consider: Scott Gillis. A late season signing in Stonyburgh who was "just another player" until he popped a pair of shorthanded goals in the 3rd period of game 5. Gillis added the series winner a couple weeks later. And of course...Justin Cox. The top scorer in the CHL last year who we had not seen any spark from during the 2013 regular season. Cox has caught fire in Provincial playoffs...fuelling his team with 9 points in 7 games. Auchenberg, Hennes and Andresen were also prominent in the previous series.

Oh...we're confident enough in the Generals ability to fight this fire...but wow...what a surprise. The Generals and the Eagles are playing for the Alberta SR AAA banner for the umpteenth time...all time. They might not meet each other next month in Red Deer when the Allan Cup happens but this is the last stop til' then.

Momentum, pride, confidence...it's all relevant. And don't kid yourselves...the Provincial Banner...is big time goal for both teams as well.

But maybe more than anything else...the Generals just need to feel this heat. They've been a steady, hard working and dominant team up to this point. Now they're about to be tested by this passionate and classic rival. There was a similar test which the 2012 Generals failed...when they lost to Horse Lake in Alberta Semi-finals last year and it ended their season.

This time...it can't techincally end anyones season. But it sure could pump a tank load of water on someone's fire.

Game time tonight is 20:00HRS Army Time.