{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox hockey team | team = Lacombe Generals | bg_color = #D8C195 | text_color = #0060AE | logo = Lacombe Generals.jpg | logo_size = 85px | city = Lacombe, Alberta | league = Allan Cup Hockey West | conference = | division = | founded = | operated = 1999–2019 | arena = Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex | colours = Brown, Blue, Black<br /> {{color box|#D8C195}} {{color box|#0060AE}} {{color box|#000000}} | owner = | gm = {{Flagicon|CAN}} Jeff McInnis | coach = {{Flagicon|CAN}} Sean Robertson<ref name="lacombeglobe.com">{{Cite web |url=http://www.lacombeglobe.com/2016/08/12/longtime-general-named-teams-new-head-coach |title=Longtime General named team's new head coach &#124; Lacombe Globe |access-date=2016-10-03 |archive-date=2016-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813132943/http://www.lacombeglobe.com/2016/08/12/longtime-general-named-teams-new-head-coach |url-status=dead }}</ref> | captain ={{Flagicon|CAN}} Don Morrison | website = [http://www.generalshockey.ca/ Generalshockey.ca] <!---Franchise history---> | name1 = Bentley Generals | dates1 = 1999–2016 | name2 = Lacombe Generals | dates2 = 2016–2019 }}

The '''Lacombe Generals''' were a Senior AAA ice hockey team from Lacombe, Alberta, Canada that played in the Chinook Hockey League. The Generals are four-time national champions, having won the Allan Cup in 2009 and 2016 in Steinbach, Manitoba, and in 2013 in Red Deer, Alberta and in Lacombe, Alberta 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2013/04/21/bentley-generals-make-allan-cup-history/wcm/f5a9cd0d-0960-970d-7333-0940c89f5750|title=Bentley Generals make Allan Cup history|author=Brice Roy|date=April 21, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/bentley-generals-win-allan-cup|title=Bentley Generals win Allan Cup|website=www.hockeycanada.ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thespec.com/sports-story/4467492-allan-cup-real-mccoys-beat-bentley-to-move-to-semifinals/|title=Opinion &#124; Allan Cup: Real McCoys beat Bentley to move to semifinals|first=Steve|last=Milton|newspaper=The Hamilton Spectator|date=April 15, 2014|via=www.thespec.com}}</ref> 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 in Bentley, Alberta, as well as the Red Deer Arena. The team folded in 2019 due to concerns with the organization of senior hockey in Canada.

==History== 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 NHLer Kelly Buchberger was a member of the Generals in 2005, while the team also attempted to play Ryan Smyth during the 2004–05 NHL lockout, though Smyth was ruled ineligible to play.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Hockey/News/2005/12/11/1348403-sun.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309185920/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Hockey/News/2005/12/11/1348403-sun.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 9, 2016 |title=Senior hockey caters to former junior, pro players |author=Van Diest, Derek |access-date=2008-04-09 |date=2005-12-11 |publisher=Edmonton Sun}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bentleygenerals.ca/leagues/custom_page.cfm?clientid=5256&leagueid=19826&pageid=12048 |title=Bentley Generals History |access-date=2013-04-21 |publisher=bentleygenerals.ca |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427154626/http://www.bentleygenerals.ca/leagues/custom_page.cfm?clientid=5256&leagueid=19826&pageid=12048 |archive-date=2014-04-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Generals, coached by former National Hockey League player and coach Brian Sutter, qualified for the Allan Cup for the first time in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Columnists/Tychkowski/2007/04/18/4056734-sun.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025014244/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Columnists/Tychkowski/2007/04/18/4056734-sun.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 25, 2018 |title=Sutter shows the way |author=Tychkowski, Robert |access-date=2008-04-09 |date=2007-04-18 |publisher=Edmonton Sun}}</ref>

In 2009, the Generals, once again coached by Sutter, won their first Allan Cup with a 4-3 win in double overtime over Manitoba's Southeast Prairie Thunder. In 2013, the Generals hosted the Allan Cup in Red Deer, Alberta and captured their second title by defeating Newfoundland's Clarenville 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, and 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rdc.ab.ca/current-students/athletics/kings-queens/kings-hockey/coaches |title=Coaches &#124; Red Deer College |access-date=2015-03-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321183441/https://rdc.ab.ca/current-students/athletics/kings-queens/kings-hockey/coaches |archive-date=2015-03-21 }}</ref>

In December 2015 it was announced that the Generals were relocating to Lacombe, Alberta for the 2016–17 season, citing a drop in attendance as a reason for the move.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lacombeexpress.com/news/362809891.html|title=Lacombe Express - Bentley Generals set to move to Lacombe|date=2015-12-17|access-date=2016-10-03|archive-date=August 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815105905/http://www.lacombeexpress.com/news/362809891.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The partnership with the City of Lacombe was made official in the summer of 2016.<ref name="LACOMBEMOVE">{{cite web|url=http://www.lacombeglobe.com/2016/06/29/gary-moe-auto-group-becomes-official-sponsor-of-sports-complex|title=Gary Moe Auto Group becomes official sponsor of sports complex|date=2016-06-29|website=Lacombe Globe|publisher=Lacombe Globe|access-date=2016-10-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222072123/http://www.lacombeglobe.com/2016/06/29/gary-moe-auto-group-becomes-official-sponsor-of-sports-complex#2|archive-date=December 22, 2016|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> The Generals played in the newly renovated Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex in the Can Pak Ice Complex, formerly known as the Barnett Arenas.<ref name="LACOMBEMOVE" />

The move wasn't the only change the Generals would make for the 2016–17 season. In July 2016 it was announced head coach Ryan Tobler would be stepping down to work as an assistant coach with the ECHL's Colorado Eagles. In August 2016, it was announced longtime Generals player Curtis Austring would be Tobler's successor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lacombeglobe.com/2016/08/12/longtime-general-named-teams-new-head-coach|title=Longtime General named team's new head coach|last=nurun.com|website=Lacombe Globe|access-date=2016-10-03}}</ref>

After hosting, and winning, the Allan Cup in 2019, the Generals announced they would cease operations. The reasons given cited concerns with the organization of Allan Cup Hockey West, the league they belonged to: several teams had withdrawn recently making it difficult to sustain play.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lacombeexpress.com/sports/lacombe-generals-withdraw-from-achw-and-cease-operations/|title=Lacombe Generals withdraw from ACHW and cease operations|last=Vaughan|first=Todd|date=May 28, 2019|publisher=Lacombe Express|access-date=July 5, 2020}}</ref>

==Season-by-season record (Regular season)== '''''Note:''' GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against''

{|class="wikitable" |- align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd" |'''Season''' ||'''GP''' || '''W''' || '''L''' || '''T''' || '''OTL''' || '''GF''' || '''GA''' || '''P''' || '''Results''' || '''Playoffs''' || '''Provincials''' || '''Allan Cup''' |- align="center" |2000–01 ||24 ||11 ||13 ||0 ||- ||114 ||107 ||22 ||4th ChHL |- align="center" |2001–02 ||24 ||16 ||8 ||0 ||- ||125 ||90 ||32 ||2nd ChHL |- align="center" |2002–03 ||24 ||20 ||4 ||0 ||- ||183 ||60 ||40 ||2nd ChHL |- align="center" |2003–04 ||28 ||23 ||4 ||1 ||- ||181 ||79 ||47 ||2nd ChHL |- align="center" |2004–05 ||24 ||19 ||3 ||2 ||- ||165 ||67 ||40 ||1st ChHL |- align="center" |2005–06 ||24 ||21 ||1 ||- ||2 ||123 ||42 ||44 ||1st ChHL |- align="center" |2006–07 ||24 ||20 ||3 ||- ||1 ||163 ||63 ||41 ||1st ChHL |- align="center" |2007–08 ||20 ||15 ||5 ||- ||0 ||115 ||56 ||30 ||2nd ChHL |- align="center" |2008–09 ||24 ||23 ||1 ||- ||0 ||159 ||51 ||46 ||1st ChHL ||Champion ||Champion ||Champion |- align="center" |2009–10 ||20 ||19 ||1 ||- ||0 ||112 ||49 ||38 ||1st ChHL ||Champion ||Champion ||Final Loss |- align="center" |2010–11 ||20 ||19 ||1 ||- ||0 ||117 ||42 ||38 ||1st ChHL ||Champion ||Champion ||Final Loss |- align="center" |2011–12 ||24 ||16 ||8 ||- ||0 ||110 ||60 ||32 ||2nd ChHL ||Champion ||Semi Final Loss ||DNQ |- align="center" |2012–13 ||16 ||15 ||1 ||- ||0 ||94 ||31 ||30 ||1st ChHL ||Champion ||Champion ||Champion |- align="center" |2013-14 ||24 ||21 ||3 ||- ||0 ||111 ||53 ||42 ||1st ChHL ||Champion ||Champion ||Semi Final Loss |- align="center" |2014–15 ||24 ||23 ||1 ||- ||0 ||128 ||39 ||46 ||1st ChHL ||Champion ||Champion ||Final Loss |- align="center" |2015–16 ||18 ||14 ||3 ||- ||1 ||84 ||43 ||29 ||1st ChHL ||Champion ||Champion ||Champion |- align="center" |2016–17 ||22 ||19 ||3 ||- ||0 ||116 ||69 ||38 ||1st ChHL ||Champion ||Champion ||Final Loss |- align="center" |2017–18 ||24 ||18 ||4 ||- ||2 ||115 ||66 ||38 ||2nd ACHW ||Champion ||Champion ||Final Loss |- align="center" |2018–19 ||18 ||10 ||6 ||- ||2 ||69 ||57 ||22 ||1st ACHW ||Champion ||Champion || Champion |- align="center" |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)<br /> Allan Cup Finals = 10 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)<br /> Allan Cup Appearances = 13 (2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)

==NHL alumni== *Travis Brigley<ref name="theglobeandmail.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/bentley-generals-set-to-begin-quest-for-allan-cup-glory/article11195197/|title=Bentley Generals set to begin quest for Allan Cup glory|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=14 April 2013 |last1=Maki |first1=Allan }}</ref> *Jeremy Colliton<ref name="theglobeandmail.com"/> *Trent Hunter<ref name="theglobeandmail.com"/> *Brian Sutter (Coach)<ref>[http://docstudio.tvo.org/story/blood-sweat-and-beers Blood, Sweat and Beers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313130940/http://docstudio.tvo.org/story/blood-sweat-and-beers|date=March 13, 2012}}</ref> *Peter Vandermeer<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=20482|title=Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Peter Vandermeer|website=www.legendsofhockey.net}}</ref> *Darren Van Impe<ref name="theglobeandmail.com"/> *Craig Weller<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/player/craig-weller-8468647|title=Craig Weller Stats and News|website=NHL.com}}</ref> *Ryan Tobler *Drew Bagnall *Brennan Evans *Evan Oberg *Terry Ryan *Jeff Deslauriers *Kyle Greentree *Tyler Weiman

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160808070843/http://www.generalshockey.ca/ Official website] *[http://www.chinookhockeyleague.com/leagues/front_pageCHL.cfm?clientID=3293&leagueID=8735 Chinook Hockey League] *[http://www.eliteprospects.com/team.php?team=6809 Team Profile at Eliteprospects.com]

{{Chinook Hockey League}}

Category:2019 disestablishments in Alberta Category:Defunct ice hockey teams in Alberta Category:Lacombe, Alberta Category:Senior ice hockey teams Category:Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 2019 Category:1999 establishments in Alberta Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 1999