Review staff
After coming oh-so close to winning it all last season, the Bentley Generals are reloading to take another run at the Allan Cupchampionship – emblematic of senior hockey supremacy in Canada.
Last season the Generals made it all the way to the finals but were defeated 3-1 by the host Brantford Blast.
This season however, things may be a bit different.
According to both The Sports Network (TSN) and the Generals, the team will have a familiar yet well-seasoned coach behind the bench in the form of Brian Sutter and have also received notification that former Calgary Flame star Theoren Fleury has expressed a serious interest in joining the team.
“He coached us the year before last when we made it to the Allan Cup and made it to the semi-finals, but lost out in double-overtime,” said captain and team spokesman Chad Beagle when asked about Sutter.
“Anytime you can bring in a guy like that to help us out in different areas is a plus. The biggest thing with him is that he is a really good game manager and he’s been through a lot of things in key situations,” Beagle added. “The thing a lot of people might not realize about Brian is his love of the game. He absolutely loves it and comes to every practice and game prepared. It’s just like you see him on TV coaching in the NHL – he’s got a passion for the game and a passion for the players.”
Beagle said Sutter’s commitment to return to the Generals is a perfect fit for the former NHL coach who spent time behind the benches of the St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames and the Chicago Blackhawks as well as the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League (WHL).
Beagle said the Generals give Sutter the opportunity to continue coaching at a very high level, however the time commitments aren’t nearly as taxing as those of even a WHL team, which would allow Sutter to spend more time working on his cattle ranch.
If all goes according to plan, Beagle said Sutter will be reunited with Fleury, one of his former stars who played under him while with the Blackhawks and who, despite some previous personal problems, would be welcomed with open arms to Bentley.
“I think that’s what the Bentley Generals are all about. This is our tenth year and to see the older players we’ve had – as well as Theo who’s coming up on 40 years, we’ve had guys like that for the last number of years – Mark Wolfe last year, 37 years old driving up from Calgary and never missed a game or practice,” Beagle said. “In the past we’ve had guys coming from Drumheller, we had a few from Camrose and Edmonton last year, we’ve had lots of guys who’ve played pro and have been paid substantial money to play the game in the past, but they come to us and it’s strictly for the love of the game. That’s why you see some of these guys sticking around for six or seven years. They come back from pro, and they’re not ready to play beer hockey yet. They’re that competitive and they want to get in on the goal of playing for the Allan Cup.”
While Beagle said Fleury has not officially signed with the Generals yet, the team feels he will be a great addition, especially with his former NHL coach being part of the equation.
“As far as that goes we’re not 100 per cent sure about all the details of it, but we are aware that he’s been talking to Brian which is never a bad thing. Obviously, he’s got an unbelievable past – both good and bad, but we know that if he comes in, he’s going to be a good asset for us,” Beagle said.
While Fleury was suspended twice and spent time in the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program, Beagle said the Generals have put those incidents in the past and have wiped the slate clean.
“From everything we’ve heard, he’s come a long way since that time. I think Brian coaching will be the biggest factor about that. They have a past with Brian coaching him in Chicago, so it definitely eases some of the hesitance we had, but with Brian at the helm and with Theo doing a good job in getting his life in order, we know there’ll be a little bit of distraction with the media having a name like that on our team, but we have very experienced players including playing professionally, so I think it’ll turn all out alright.”
This won’t be the first time the Generals will see Fleury playing senior hockey as they faced him two years ago on the road to the Allan Cup when he played for the Horse Lake Thunder.
The Generals also announced that Jeff McInnis who coached the team last season, has been appointed as the new general manager while Wes Gyori is the team’s new president.
Beagle referred to McInnis as “the tireless brains of the Generals” and “the engine that drives the train.”
As for himself personally, Beagle said after suffering a major injury mid-season last year, he has had reconstructive knee surgery and expects to be back with the team this December.
In other news related to the Generals, the Chinook Hockey League announced that the Lloydminster Border Kings will be joining the league to fill a void leftover from last season when the Ft. McMurray Millionaires folded due to ice scheduling conflicts.
The league also released the 2008-2009 schedule, which will see the Generals begin defense of their title on Friday, October 17 when they will host the Rocky Rams at the Bentley Arena. Games time is 8:30 p.m.