The South East Prairie Thunder and Bentley Generals will renew acquaintances Saturday afternoon.

The Prairie Thunder, who lost 4-3 in double overtime to the Generals in the 2009 final in Steinbach, defeated the host Clarenville Caribous 4-1 in the semifinals on Friday night in Newfoundland & Labrador and will meet Bentley at 4 p.m. in the 2015 Allan Cup championship game.

South East coach Brad Purdie says his hockey team is looking forward to playing one more game.

“That was our goal coming in,” said Purdie. “We accomplished our first feat which was getting that bye - that was huge. The rest really did us a lot of good tonight. We had some help come in and those guys contributed huge. Our guys are really excited for Saturday.”

Defensively the Thunder were almost perfect Friday night against the host team.

South East goaltender Steve Christie stopped 43 of 44 shots including all 17 he faced in the third period.

“We've had this game plan in place since Rosetown knowing at times we were going to be short bodies," Purdie said. "Just try to keep it simple, try to play a patient game and capitalize on our opportunities. We tried to force teams to dump the puck in and Steve Christie's able to get out there – he's like a third defenseman back there. It's working for us now so I don't see why we should change it.”

Del Cowan had a three-point night for the Thunder with a goal and two assists.

Riley Dudar, Dustin Hughes and Nick Cowan had the other South East goals.

Chad Denny had the lone goal for Clarenville.

Colin Dueck scored 20 seconds into overtime to lift Bentley past the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts 5-4 in the other semifinal.

Coach Purdie says the Generals will be tough.

“They are certainly going to come out and be physical. They've got a big team. Obviously they got a very good team getting all they way to the final. We're going to look to continue to play the same game – stay disciplined and wait for our chances."

Bentley won the Allan Cup in 2009 & 2013.

The Prairie Thunder won the Canadian National Senior “AAA” Hockey Championship in 2012 in Lloydminster.


photo by Doug Mathieson