BENTLEY GENERALS WIN 2013 ALLAN CUP
RED DEER, Alta. – For the second time in five years, the Bentley Generals have won the Allan Cup, claiming Canada’s 105th National Senior Championship with a 3-0 victory over the Clarenville Caribous in Saturday’s championship game at Red Deer Arena.
Chris Neiszner broke a scoreless tie 14 minutes into the second period, Scott Doucet doubled the lead four minutes later and Keenan Desmet rounded out the scoring in the third as Bentley became the fifth host team in the last decade to win the national championship. Dan Bakala stopped all 35 shots he faced for the first championship game shutout since 2004.
The Generals, who appeared in the final for the fifth time in the last six years, went through the tournament undefeated, beating the Rosetown Redwings 2-0 and Kenora Thistles 5-2 in preliminary round play before a 3-2 win over Kenora in Friday’s semifinal.
Bentley won the Allan Cup in 2009, and lost in the championship game in 2008, 2010 and 2011.
Jason Churchill made 30 saves for the Caribous, who were looking for their second national title in three years.
The Allan Cup is one of the oldest club-team hockey competitions in North America, having been first competed for in 1908. Only once in the past 106 years, in 1945, has an Allan Cup champion not been crowned.
Dundas, Ont., will host the 2014 Allan Cup in April 2014.
For more information on the 2013 Allan Cup, please visit www.allancup.ca.