The Stoney Creek Generals are headed to the Canadian Men’s Senior AAA Hockey Championships after eliminating the Brantford Blast to win the J. Ross Robertson Cup.

Stoney Creek punched its ticket for the national championship by beating the Blast 5-3 at Gateway Ice Centre on Saturday night, taking the best-of-seven series in five games.

The Generals are now preparing for the Allan Cup national championship tournament, happening April 11-16 in Steinbach, Man.
Stoney Creek has already won the Allan Cup Hockey Ontario championship.

In Saturday night’s action, Stoney Creek erased a 3-0 deficit with goals by Matt Smith, Jarrett Konkle and Nathan Pageau. Smith’s second goal of the night gave Stoney Creek a 4-3 lead midway through the third period.

Konkle iced the game with one second remaining, scoring into an empty net.

Tony Falasca, Stoney Creek’s general manager, said outstanding production from four lines and solid goaltending paved the way to victory in game five.

“It’s been like that all year long,” he said. “We always run other teams down.”

Goals by Derek Medeiros, Jamie Williams and Cameron Sault put Stoney Creek in an early hole, but Generals goaltender Daniel Svedin limited the damage from there.

With the game still at 4-3 late in the third, the Generals’ netminder foiled two Brantford chances from point blank range.

Falasca, who expressed concerns over officiating during the series, said Stoney Creek overcame a disproportionate number of short-handed situations, thanks to production from all of its lines.

“The boys fought it off and they knew they were going to have to do that. They kept the game close,” said Falasca.

After giving up a whopping 47 penalty minutes to just 13 for Brantford in a 7-2 Stoney Creek win on Good Friday, both teams were assessed 12 minutes on six infractions on Saturday.

Sean Blanchard led the Generals with two goals and three assists in Friday’s win at the Brantford Civic Centre.

Falasca said former NHL player Ryan O’Marra was also a force on the ice. The former Anaheim Duck and Edmonton Oiler scored one goal and two assists while imposing a physical presence.

Stoney Creek is built to score, averaging seven goals a game during the regular season. But Falasca noted the team has also won tight, defensive games while eliminating the Dundas Real McCoys and Brantford Blast in consecutive playoff series.

Falasca expects some fierce competition when the Generals represent the Ontario region at the national championships.

“We’re actually playing some all-star teams,” he said, noting some teams may bolster their lineups with new talent.

Falasca promises his team will be ready.

Along with the top line of O’Marra with Matt Smith and the ACH’s leading playoff scorer Nathan Pageau, Stoney Creek has Andrew Radjenovic, Mike Ruberto and Jarrett Konkle, who are all averaging better than a point per game.

Five of the six Allan Cup tournament teams have already been decided, with the Atlantic Canada representative still to be determined.

Stoney Creek will be one of two teams named Generals, along with the Pacific representative Bentley Generals, based in Red Deer, Alta. Other confirmed teams include the Shellbrook Elks (Saskatchewan), Île-des-Chênes North Stars (Manitoba) and the host team, South East Prarie Thunder.

After announcing his team would compete would a championship at the start of the ACH season, Falasca said the Generals are halfway there.

“We’ve realized half our goal,” he said. “The other half is to win the Allan Cup. And the boys know that now.”