The Lacombe Generals begin their journey back to the Allan Cup championship on Sunday as they take on the Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs in the first round of the Senior AAA Provincials.  The Allan Cup West League champs dominated their season series against the fifth place Chiefs, winning all six games and outscoring them 43-12.  Despite that forward Kyle Bailey says they won’t be taking their provincial semi-final opponent lightly.

“I don’t think that’s really indicative of their team...they have a lot of talent upfront and they can make things happen. We’ll have to be on our game and it’s a seven game series...it’s long, it’s a marathon.  ‘Take it one game at a time’ which is the oldest cliché in the book but Sunday we’re starting on the road, we gotta have a big effort and we’ll be ready to go.”

The Gens are coming off a weekend that saw them defeat the Stony Plain Eagles and the Allan Cup host Rosetown Redwings to take the Allan Cup West League Championship.  And while that result has no bearing on their path back to the Allan Cup, forward Alex Macleod says it is definitely a momentum booster.

“Usually it’s been through a seven game series so this is a bit different. So it really gets you prepared for that mind set. Right now everything is on the line, lay it on the line, give it everything you’ve got and hopefully we get the win.”

Head coach Sean Robertson also said that with the absence of their captain Donny Morrison due to injury, several players have stepped into the leadership role.

“Kyle Bailey is a guy that a lot of guys lean on and it’s not really through what he says, it’s through what he does, the way that he approaches things.  Brennan Evans has stepped up a lot, Ian Barteaux has stepped up a lot...guys on the back end.  We’ve asked for certain things from them and they have no qualms about giving it to us and maybe changing a couple of things that do but that’s leadership in my opinion.”

The Gens begin their best of seven matchup against the Chiefs in Fort Saskatchewan on Sunday at JRC Arena at 2:30, with Game 2 back home at the Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex for a Family Day Monday tilt, also at 2:30. The series continues next weekend with Game 3 in Lacombe on Feb 24 at 7:30. You can get your tickets at the door.