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Lacombe Generals

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Lacombe Generals
CityLacombe, Alberta
LeagueAllan Cup Hockey West
Operated1999–2019
Home arenaGary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex
ColoursBrown, Blue, Black
     
General managerCanada Jeff McInnis
Head coachCanada Sean Robertson[1]
CaptainCanada Don Morrison
WebsiteGeneralshockey.ca
Franchise history
1999–2016Bentley Generals
2016–2019Lacombe Generals

The Lacombe Generals were a Senior AAA ice hockey team from Lacombe, Alberta, Canada that played in the Chinook Hockey League. The Generals are four-time national champions, having won the Allan Cup in 2009 and 2016 in Steinbach, Manitoba, and in 2013 in Red Deer, Alberta and in Lacombe, Alberta 2019.[2][3][4] The club, resurrected by proud Bentley boy Travis “Trapper” Stephenson was formerly known as the Bentley Generals from 1999–2016, and played out of the Bentley Arena in Bentley, Alberta, as well as the Red Deer Arena. The team folded in 2019 due to concerns with the organization of senior hockey in Canada.

History

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The Bentley Generals hockey club was formed in 1999 and began play in the Chinook Hockey League. The team won its first provincial senior 'A' title in 2001. The following year, the Generals registered as an 'AAA' club and competed in the Allan Cup playdowns for the first time. Former NHLer Kelly Buchberger was a member of the Generals in 2005, while the team also attempted to play Ryan Smyth during the 2004–05 NHL lockout, though Smyth was ruled ineligible to play.[5][6]

The Generals, coached by former National Hockey League player and coach Brian Sutter, qualified for the Allan Cup for the first time in 2007.[7]

In 2009, the Generals, once again coached by Sutter, won their first Allan Cup with a 4-3 win in double overtime over Manitoba's Southeast Prairie Thunder. In 2013, the Generals hosted the Allan Cup in Red Deer, Alberta and captured their second title by defeating Newfoundland's Clarenville Caribous 3-0 in the championship game. The Generals returned to Steinbach in 2016 and defeated the host Prairie Thunder again by a score of 4-3 in overtime to win their third Allan Cup. In 2019, the Generals won their fourth Allan Cup defeating the Innisfail Eagles 5-2 in the final game. The Generals have been Allan Cup finalist six other times: 2008, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017, and 2018.[8]

In December 2015 it was announced that the Generals were relocating to Lacombe, Alberta for the 2016–17 season, citing a drop in attendance as a reason for the move.[9] The partnership with the City of Lacombe was made official in the summer of 2016.[10] The Generals played in the newly renovated Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex in the Can Pak Ice Complex, formerly known as the Barnett Arenas.[10]

The move wasn't the only change the Generals would make for the 2016–17 season. In July 2016 it was announced head coach Ryan Tobler would be stepping down to work as an assistant coach with the ECHL's Colorado Eagles. In August 2016, it was announced longtime Generals player Curtis Austring would be Tobler's successor.[11]

After hosting, and winning, the Allan Cup in 2019, the Generals announced they would cease operations. The reasons given cited concerns with the organization of Allan Cup Hockey West, the league they belonged to: several teams had withdrawn recently making it difficult to sustain play.[12]

Season-by-season record (Regular season)

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Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Results Playoffs Provincials Allan Cup
2000–01 24 11 13 0 - 114 107 22 4th ChHL
2001–02 24 16 8 0 - 125 90 32 2nd ChHL
2002–03 24 20 4 0 - 183 60 40 2nd ChHL
2003–04 28 23 4 1 - 181 79 47 2nd ChHL
2004–05 24 19 3 2 - 165 67 40 1st ChHL
2005–06 24 21 1 - 2 123 42 44 1st ChHL
2006–07 24 20 3 - 1 163 63 41 1st ChHL
2007–08 20 15 5 - 0 115 56 30 2nd ChHL
2008–09 24 23 1 - 0 159 51 46 1st ChHL Champion Champion Champion
2009–10 20 19 1 - 0 112 49 38 1st ChHL Champion Champion Final Loss
2010–11 20 19 1 - 0 117 42 38 1st ChHL Champion Champion Final Loss
2011–12 24 16 8 - 0 110 60 32 2nd ChHL Champion Semi Final Loss DNQ
2012–13 16 15 1 - 0 94 31 30 1st ChHL Champion Champion Champion
2013-14 24 21 3 - 0 111 53 42 1st ChHL Champion Champion Semi Final Loss
2014–15 24 23 1 - 0 128 39 46 1st ChHL Champion Champion Final Loss
2015–16 18 14 3 - 1 84 43 29 1st ChHL Champion Champion Champion
2016–17 22 19 3 - 0 116 69 38 1st ChHL Champion Champion Final Loss
2017–18 24 18 4 - 2 115 66 38 2nd ACHW Champion Champion Final Loss
2018–19 18 10 6 - 2 69 57 22 1st ACHW Champion Champion Champion
Total 426 342 73 3 8 2,384 (5.60/gm) 1,124 (2.64/gm) .815 12x 1st 12x 4x

Allan Cup Championships = 4 (2009, 2013, 2016, 2019)
Allan Cup Finals = 10 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
Allan Cup Appearances = 13 (2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)

NHL alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "Longtime General named team's new head coach | Lacombe Globe". Archived from the original on August 13, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  2. ^ April 20, Brice Roy/Globe Staff More from Brice Roy/Globe Staff Published on; April 20, 2013 | Last Updated; Edt, 2013 10:38 Pm (April 21, 2013). "Bentley Generals make Allan Cup history".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Bentley Generals win Allan Cup". www.hockeycanada.ca.
  4. ^ Milton, Steve (April 15, 2014). "Opinion | Allan Cup: Real McCoys beat Bentley to move to semifinals". The Hamilton Spectator – via www.thespec.com.
  5. ^ Van Diest, Derek (December 11, 2005). "Senior hockey caters to former junior, pro players". Edmonton Sun. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ "Bentley Generals History". bentleygenerals.ca. Archived from the original on April 27, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  7. ^ Tychkowski, Robert (April 18, 2007). "Sutter shows the way". Edmonton Sun. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ "Coaches | Red Deer College". Archived from the original on March 21, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  9. ^ "Lacombe Express - Bentley Generals set to move to Lacombe". December 17, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  10. ^ a b "Gary Moe Auto Group becomes official sponsor of sports complex". Lacombe Globe. Lacombe Globe. June 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ^ nurun.com. "Longtime General named team's new head coach". Lacombe Globe. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  12. ^ Vaughan, Todd (May 28, 2019). "Lacombe Generals withdraw from ACHW and cease operations". Lacombe Express. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d Maki, Allan (April 14, 2013). "Bentley Generals set to begin quest for Allan Cup glory". The Globe and Mail.
  14. ^ Blood, Sweat and Beers Archived March 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Peter Vandermeer". www.legendsofhockey.net.
  16. ^ "Craig Weller Stats and News". NHL.com.
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