BC Senior Men’s AAA champion Powell River Regals will host Alberta’s representative Stony Plain Eagles in a best-of-five series to see who will travel to Lloydminster to represent the Pacific region in the 2012 Allan Cup.
Regals earned the right to host the McKenzie Cup after they swept Fort St. John Flyers for the Savage Cup two weeks ago.
Stony Plain had a more difficult time getting here when Horse Lake Chiefs pushed them to a seventh game after a cruel twist early in the series.
Horse Lake actually won the first game 4-1 but had the result overturned after it was learned they had an ineligible import player on the roster.
For their part, the Regals looked very good dispatching the Flyers in three straight and manager Tod English said, “It was a pleasant surprise to be able to win the way we did.”
The short series allowed the Regals to get in some valuable game time against a very strong opponent.
“I think we shocked ourselves more than anyone,” said assistant Captain Andy Welsh.
“We were getting set for a long, hard series,” he said, “but we were able to pull out wins every game.”
Welsh added he is confident with whoever is in goal for the team. “That’s so important if you’re confident with your goaltending,” he said, “and our defence is solid too and that’s the backbone of your team.”
Fans will see a lineup very similar to the one that won the Savage Cup and also a firm commitment from the two goaltenders, Justin Mulholland and David Brumby.
The series against the Eagles promises to be every bit as competitive as the series against the Flyers but the Regals may have an edge.
“They had a long series against Horse Lake,” said English, “and now they have to travel to here. That should give us a big advantage.”
Speaking of travel, home ice advantage comes at a cost and the Regals are on the hook for the Eagles’ travel and accommodation expenses.
For that reason English is extremely grateful to his sponsors, especially Valley Building Supplies, Adams Concrete and MacIntosh & Norman, who are sponsoring a guaranteed $1,000 50/50 on the first three nights of the series.
“We know that it’s tough with the economic downturn we’re experiencing,” said English, “so we’ve lowered our ticket prices a bit from the Savage Cup.”
Adults are $10 while seniors and students pay $8 with children five and under getting in for just a toonie.
The best-of-five series has games starting at 7:30 pm from Thursday, April 5 to Monday, April 9 at Hap Parker Arena.
