They ventured into Saskatchewan shorthanded and shocked the Rosetown Red Wings winning three straight games in capturing the Rathgaber Cup for the second year in a row.

The South East Prairie Thunder will look to carry that momentum from late March into the 2015 Allan Cup when they meet the Dundas Real McCoys Tuesday (1:30 p.m.) in their preliminary round opener in Clarenville.

Prairie Thunder coach Brad Purdie says his hockey team, which features two goaltenders, five defensemen and eight forwards, will have to duplicate the outstanding effort they put out on the ice in the Manitoba/Saskatchewan series if they want to have any chance of succeeding in Newfoundland & Labrador.

“We're going to have to play a real patient, disciplined game and let the game come us – similar to what we did in Rosetown and hopefully take advantage of the opportunities when we get them.”

Game one will be an interesting test for South East as the Real McCoys won the Canadian National Senior “AAA” Hockey Championship on home ice in 2014.

“We played Dundas last year and I'm not sure if they'll have the same team not being at home. We'll have to wait and see,” Purdie said.

The Prairie Thunder, who won the 2012 Allan Cup in Lloydminster, will play their final preliminary round game Wednesday against the Grand Falls - Windsor Cataracts.

The Atlantic Canada champions beat Dundas 5-3 on day one.

Purdie says going into the Allan Cup with limited knowledge of the opposition isn't a bad thing.

“Sometimes too much information is going to hurt you,” said Purdie. “If we're going to go out there and just play our game – what we kind of put forth and put the game plan together and try to execute – then hopefully they'll have to adjust to what we're doing and not vice versa.”


photo by Shirley Kornelsen