| Lacombe Generals | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Lacombe, Alberta |
| League | Allan Cup Hockey West |
| Operated | 1999–2019 |
| Home arena | Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex |
| Colours | Brown, Blue, Black |
| General manager |  Jeff McInnis |
| Head coach | Sean Robertson[1] |
| Captain | Don Morrison |
| Website | Generalshockey.ca |
| Franchise history | |
| 1999–2016 | Bentley Generals |
| 2016–2019 | Lacombe Generals |
TheLacombe Generals were aSenior AAAice hockey team fromLacombe,Alberta,Canada that played in theChinook Hockey League. The Generals are four-time national champions, having won theAllan Cup in2009 and2016 inSteinbach, Manitoba, and in2013 inRed Deer, Alberta and inLacombe, Alberta2019.[2][3][4] The club, resurrected by proud Bentley boy Travis “Trapper” Stephenson was formerly known as the Bentley Generals from 1999–2016, and played out of the Bentley Arena inBentley, Alberta, as well as the Red Deer Arena. The team folded in 2019 due to concerns with the organization of senior hockey in Canada.
The Bentley Generals hockey club was formed in 1999 and began play in the Chinook Hockey League. The team won its first provincial senior 'A' title in 2001. The following year, the Generals registered as an 'AAA' club and competed in the Allan Cup playdowns for the first time. Former NHLerKelly Buchberger was a member of the Generals in 2005, while the team also attempted to playRyan Smyth during the2004–05 NHL lockout, though Smyth was ruled ineligible to play.[5][6]
The Generals, coached by formerNational Hockey League player and coachBrian Sutter, qualified for theAllan Cup for the first time in2007.[7]
In 2009, the Generals, once again coached by Sutter, won their first Allan Cup with a 4-3 win in double overtime overManitoba'sSoutheast Prairie Thunder. In 2013, the Generals hosted the Allan Cup inRed Deer, Alberta and captured their second title by defeatingNewfoundland'sClarenville Caribous 3-0 in the championship game. The Generals returned to Steinbach in 2016 and defeated the host Prairie Thunder again by a score of 4-3 in overtime to win their third Allan Cup. In 2019, the Generals won their fourth Allan Cup defeating the Innisfail Eagles 5-2 in the final game. The Generals have been Allan Cup finalist six other times:2008,2010,2011,2015,2017, and2018.[8]
In December 2015 it was announced that the Generals were relocating toLacombe, Alberta for the 2016–17 season, citing a drop in attendance as a reason for the move.[9] The partnership with the City of Lacombe was made official in the summer of 2016.[10] The Generals played in the newly renovated Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex in the Can Pak Ice Complex, formerly known as the Barnett Arenas.[10]
The move wasn't the only change the Generals would make for the 2016–17 season. In July 2016 it was announced head coachRyan Tobler would be stepping down to work as an assistant coach with theECHL'sColorado Eagles. In August 2016, it was announced longtime Generals player Curtis Austring would be Tobler's successor.[11]
After hosting, and winning, the Allan Cup in2019, the Generals announced they would cease operations. The reasons given cited concerns with the organization ofAllan Cup Hockey West, the league they belonged to: several teams had withdrawn recently making it difficult to sustain play.[12]
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs | Provincials | Allan Cup |
| 2000–01 | 24 | 11 | 13 | 0 | - | 114 | 107 | 22 | 4th ChHL | |||
| 2001–02 | 24 | 16 | 8 | 0 | - | 125 | 90 | 32 | 2nd ChHL | |||
| 2002–03 | 24 | 20 | 4 | 0 | - | 183 | 60 | 40 | 2nd ChHL | |||
| 2003–04 | 28 | 23 | 4 | 1 | - | 181 | 79 | 47 | 2nd ChHL | |||
| 2004–05 | 24 | 19 | 3 | 2 | - | 165 | 67 | 40 | 1st ChHL | |||
| 2005–06 | 24 | 21 | 1 | - | 2 | 123 | 42 | 44 | 1st ChHL | |||
| 2006–07 | 24 | 20 | 3 | - | 1 | 163 | 63 | 41 | 1st ChHL | |||
| 2007–08 | 20 | 15 | 5 | - | 0 | 115 | 56 | 30 | 2nd ChHL | |||
| 2008–09 | 24 | 23 | 1 | - | 0 | 159 | 51 | 46 | 1st ChHL | Champion | Champion | Champion |
| 2009–10 | 20 | 19 | 1 | - | 0 | 112 | 49 | 38 | 1st ChHL | Champion | Champion | Final Loss |
| 2010–11 | 20 | 19 | 1 | - | 0 | 117 | 42 | 38 | 1st ChHL | Champion | Champion | Final Loss |
| 2011–12 | 24 | 16 | 8 | - | 0 | 110 | 60 | 32 | 2nd ChHL | Champion | Semi Final Loss | DNQ |
| 2012–13 | 16 | 15 | 1 | - | 0 | 94 | 31 | 30 | 1st ChHL | Champion | Champion | Champion |
| 2013-14 | 24 | 21 | 3 | - | 0 | 111 | 53 | 42 | 1st ChHL | Champion | Champion | Semi Final Loss |
| 2014–15 | 24 | 23 | 1 | - | 0 | 128 | 39 | 46 | 1st ChHL | Champion | Champion | Final Loss |
| 2015–16 | 18 | 14 | 3 | - | 1 | 84 | 43 | 29 | 1st ChHL | Champion | Champion | Champion |
| 2016–17 | 22 | 19 | 3 | - | 0 | 116 | 69 | 38 | 1st ChHL | Champion | Champion | Final Loss |
| 2017–18 | 24 | 18 | 4 | - | 2 | 115 | 66 | 38 | 2nd ACHW | Champion | Champion | Final Loss |
| 2018–19 | 18 | 10 | 6 | - | 2 | 69 | 57 | 22 | 1st ACHW | Champion | Champion | Champion |
| Total | 426 | 342 | 73 | 3 | 8 | 2,384 (5.60/gm) | 1,124 (2.64/gm) | .815 | 12x 1st | 12x | 4x |
Allan Cup Championships = 4 (2009, 2013, 2016, 2019)
Allan Cup Finals = 10 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
Allan Cup Appearances = 13 (2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
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