Generals ready for Allan Cup

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The Bentley Generals of the Chinook Hockey League are making back-to-back appearances at the Allan Cup and are looking to get retribution on the Clarenville Caribous, who beat them in the semifinals a year ago.
Generals forward and Strathmore native Keenan Desmet, is confident in the team’s chances of being champions this time around.
“I’ve been playing there for three years and there are four Strathmore guys – Brett Thurston and I reside here that play up there. Brett Robertson and Kyle Sheen are from Strathmore originally and they moved on to Calgary,” said Desmet. “Bentley is a great organization, they treat us well there. We’ve been to the Allan Cup the last three years I’ve been there and it’s a class act organization.”
Desmet likes the playing style that the senior triple-A circuit provides and knows there will be some tough competition at the tournament.
“Going to the Allan Cup, there’s lots of ex-pro guys and good hard hitting hockey,” said Desmet. “I call it the closest to old style hockey as you can get like the clutching and grabbing, hitting … guys are a little bit slower but it’s still great hockey and it’s for the love of the game still.”
The Generals have added some new young guys and he admits it will help the team in what will be a good challenge out east.
“I think this year is unique because we got a tight knit group, everybody respects each other and knows their roles on the team and Clarenville guys who are hosting it, they’ve been out to get us the last four years,” said Desmet. “They’ve set their sights on us the first game we play them and it’ll be a good challenge for us.”
There will be some familiarity with the teams, but a lot of them have gained new players.
“It’s all a surprise when we get there, it’s pretty much get on the ice and see how good they are,” said Desmet.
The Allan Cup will run from April 13-18 in Clarenville, NL. The Generals will begin play against the host Caribous on April 14.