Prairie Thunder on track at Allan Cup

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This article was published 12/04/2017 (2570 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Despite a 6-5 overtime loss to the Lameque Au Pe’tit Mousse in their final round robin game on Wednesday, the Southeast Prairie Thunder have finished first in their pool and have earned a berth in Friday’s semi-finals at the 2017 Allan Cup at Boutouche, New Brunswick.

All three teams in the Prairie Thunder’s pool, including the Thunder, Lameque (from New Brunswick) and the Stoney Creek Generals, finished with identical 1-1 records. The Prairie Thunder blanked Stoney Creek 3-0 in their opening game on Tuesday.

The Prairie Thunder were awarded first in their pool because they had the best goals for and against differential of the three teams and as a result avoided having to play in Thursday’s quarter-finals.

Prairie Thunder manager Marv Kornelsen said making it directly to the semi-finals is key as the team comes in more rested with not having to play that extra playoff game. “Both times we won the Allan Cup, in 2012 and 2015, that is the route we took to the finals.”

In their tournament opener Tuesday afternoon, Tyler Dittmer scored two goals to pace the Thunder while Steve Christie was outstanding in net making 41 saves to post the shutout in the 3-0 victory over Stoney Creek.

In Wednesday’s 6-5 OT loss to Lameque, Dane Crowley netted a pair for the Thunder and Matt Lowry chipped in with a goal and two assists.

Trailing late in the game, Reid Gow tied the game for the Thunder with three minutes left in the third to force the overtime period as Lameque won it just two minutes into the extra session.

Grand Falls-Windsor finished first in the other pool, while Boutouche and the Lacombe Generals (formerly the Bentley Generals) will play in the quarter-finals.

The Bentley Generals defeated the host Prairie Thunder in overtime in last year’s Allan Cup final in Steinbach.