The Lacombe AA Generals closed out their 2019-2020 series on February 9th in Daysland, where they lost game the final game of their five-game quarterfinal series against the Daysland Northstars. 

Lacombe started out the series with a victory in game one but Daysland came back strong and won both games two and three, But in game four, Lacombe came back for revenge and hungry to move onto semi-finals. 

In the fifth and final game, Reed Watts, General Manager and player for the Generals said both teams were well-acclimated to each other and played the final game carefully. 

“We played like we’re very aware of the repercussions. Both teams played smart games. They got a little loose early in the second we scored three. The tables turned we started playing a little fast and loose started taking penalties, just like they had done earlier in the period, and then they scored three.”

The Northstars won 5-4 and will be progressing onto their semi-final game against the Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs. 

Watts says they knew the series wouldn’t be easy. 

“I don’t think anybody would have thought a sweep by either team was in the cards. It’s two teams we like to play physical they like to play physical. At the end of the day, the team that comes out of this series, which is obviously Daysland now, is going to be a little bit hurting because we both play that physical brand and that defensive brand of hockey,” said Watts. 

Through the team’s history as both the Eckville Eagles and playing in Big Valley, the team has come across the Northstars time and time again in play-offs and there has been a longstanding rivalry. 

“They’re always hard-fought series. There is not a lot of love between us and I think that kind of shows with some of the penalties in the series and just tight checking and animosity whether it be between the whistles or after the whistles there’s not a lot of love between us,” said Watts. 

Heading forward, Watts expects much of the same team members to return to the Lacombe AA Generals with the exception of a few players who are ready to hang up their skates for good. Lacombe will finish 5th in the playoff records.