Powell River Regals are preparing to take a run at their fourth Allan Cup which will be held in Lloydminster, Alberta/Saskatchewan, this April.
Canada’s only border city is home to the Border Kings who are planning an event in 2012 that will headline Hall of Famer Brett Hull and St. Louis Blues’ announcer Kelly Chase.
Border Kings have won the Allan Cup twice and report 800 of 844 reserve seats and half of the rush seats already sold.
Before the Regals make that trip however, they have to win the Savage Cup and the Mackenzie Cup, both of which will be held at Hap Parker Arena in Powell River.
Regals have iced Coy Cup teams over the last couple of years, winning it in 2010 but found themselves without coastal competition this year.
Both Sechelt Hitmen and Mid Island Blazers told the Regals they couldn’t continue for a variety of reasons which left Powell River with few options.
“It’s disappointing to see Mid Island and Sechelt take the year off,” said Regals’ spokesperson Tod English, “but we will continue to support these teams and interested ones in Kerry Park area and Whistler.”
Along with these two possibles, Hockey BC’s senior men’s representative, Mike Fraser reports, “A guy named Jason Delorme from Kelowna, who played with the Regals when they went to Belarus, is really interested in getting a team together for next year.”
Senior men’s AA is going very strong in the central interior but the Regals’ cost to travel that distance for the minimum six games is just too hard on the budget.
AAA hockey doesn’t require the Regals to play any games prior to the Savage Cup but they have planned a handful of games to prepare for the tournament in March.
At this point money dictates the schedule and English said, “Financially speaking it’s cheaper for us to play away than to play at home and we need to play some quality teams.
“We do have a couple of games planned on the March 10 weekend,” he said, “with games against UBC and Simon Fraser on the mainland. Then we’ll have a training weekend and get right at it against Fort St. John.”
English and Rick Hopper plan to co-coach the Regals for at least the Savage Cup and are hard at work to put a competitive lineup together.
“Rick has tons of experience,” said English. “Right now we’re on full-time recruitment to ice a competitive team so it’s all hands on deck. It’s nice to have another committed individual with his credentials.”
Regals are going to have to rely on alumni to fill a number of spots left vacant by some pretty good local players.
Brandon Cummings, Trevor Burnett and Tyson Boucher have left Powell River for better job opportunities and veterans like Scott Mastrodonato, Chad Vizzutti and Randall Smisko have hung up their skates.
English isn’t worried though saying, “We probably have 15 or 16 guys lined up and everybody knows somebody so we’re very optimistic.”
Hockey BC is as well, with Fraser saying, “Fort St. John and Powell River are both Allan Cup champions so we expect a good series.”
The Savage Cup between the Regals and the Flyers will take place March 22-26 with the winner moving on to host the Alberta champion for the MacKenzie Cup.
