Powell River Regals AAA hockey team is about to make a run for its fourth Allan Cup. Regals will have to earn a spot at the spring classic in Lloydminster Alberta/Saskatchewan though and that means winning their 12th Savage Cup against Fort St John Flyers and also a series against the Alberta champion for the MacKenzie Cup.
It has been a while since the Regals have seen the Flyers, as Powell River has concentrated on developing a AA league of their own on the West Coast.
The West Coast Men’s Hockey League, which plays for the Andy McCallum Cup, looked like it was going to flourish but last year both Mid Island Blazers and Sechelt Hitmen decided to take a year off.
That left the Regals out in the cold with the closest senior men’s AA team in Williams Lake so the Regals decided the best way to go this year was AAA. The Coy Cup requires entries to play a minimum of six games while AAA does not have a minimum.
Fortunately, there is still a core of players who live in Powell River or have played with the team in the past. Locals Rick McLaren, Joe Calderone, Derek Jantz, Andy Welsh and Lazlo Tamasik will be joined by veterans Troy Dalton, Dale Lupul, Peter Trumbley, Chris Tarr, Glendon Cominetti, John Murgatroyd, Tyler Gow and Lyle Tassone.
Coach Rick Hopper was with the team the last time they challenged for the Allan Cup in 2010 and fell just short in Fort St John when the Flyers won their first championship.
After that tournament he said, “I just hated going up there and losing. We were so close and it just didn’t fall into place for us. It will be interesting to see what our mix of guys looks like and it will be refreshing because there will be lots of new faces.”
Being the host is a distinct advantage for more than just a familiar dressing room. “The core of guys that used to play from around here has been depleted,” said Hopper, “but if we had had to travel to Fort St John I don’t think we would have the commitment from the players.”
Regals have managed to fill all 36 cards available to them and for that Hopper is grateful. “This isn’t too far for them to come,” he said, “and it’s going to be a lot of hockey in a short period of time—if we’re successful.”
Meanwhile, playoffs are in progress across Canada where five teams are vying to join host Lloydminster Border Kings and ultimately lift the Allan Cup for the 103rd time.
The usual suspects, such as South East Prairie Thunder, Dundas Real McCoys, Whitby Dunlops and Kenora Thistles are still in the hunt while Grand Falls Cataracts have won the right to represent the Atlantic.
A series of particular importance to the Regals is in Alberta where Horse Lake Thunder bounced the always strong Bentley Generals 4-1 last weekend and now move on to play Stony Plain Eagles.
The winner will advance to the MacKenzie Cup hosted by either Fort St John or Powell River April 5 through 9.
