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Lacombe Generals pick up first exhibition win against Rosetown

Generals pick up 3-2 win on Barteaux gamewinner
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The Lacombe Generals played their second exhibition game of the season against the 2017 Allan Cup hosts Rosetown Red Wings. Todd Colin Vaughan/Lacombe Express

The Lacombe Generals came into second exhibition game of the year looking to have a stronger outing after the Red Deer College Kings dropped an 8-1 decision in the opening game of the Generals annual pre-season tournament.

The Generals managed to put that game behind them, going on to win 3-2 in an exciting hockey game against their rival - the Rosetown Red Wings.

It would be the first time the Generals stared down the Red Wings since last year when the wings hosted the Allan Cup in Saskatchewan.

The first period would be be dominated by the Generals, even though the scoreboard didn’t reflect the constant pressure Lacombe skaters put on the Wings defenders.

The Generals were finally able to break through after a tired penalty by Rosetown led to Tanner Korchinski banging home a shot off the faceoff, putting Lacombe up 1-0 heading into the second frame.

Lacombe would continue to keep the puck extensively in Rosetown’s zone, but it would be the Wings that would jump out to a lead in th second period.

Nik Amundrud and Brayden Atkinson would score consecutively in under a minute to put the Wings up early in the period 2-1.

The Generals would bounce though after another solid powerplay effort which saw the Generals hedge in the wings for over 90 seconds until finally Jeremy Beirnes ripped a shot in the slot past the Wings’ netminder, tying the game at two goals a piece heading into the final period.

The Wings would play Lacombe tough but veteran Defenceman Ian Barteaux would have the last laugh after ripping home a slap shot from in close, putting Lacombe up 3-2 with 10 minutes to play.

“It was nice to T it up from close in,” he said. “It is always nice to score. Even better that it was the game winner.”

The Wings would have one final shot to tie up the game after General Matt Brown took a cross-checking penalty with 30 seconds to play, putting Lacombe down two-men with the extra attacker.

Rosetown would manage to hit the post with under 10 seconds to go, but the Generals would hang on to win 3-2.

Barteaux said their game was rusty but had positive signs.

“For the most part we put together a pretty good 60 minutes,” he said. “I though our compete level and effort was quite good for the start of the season. The skills and the little things will come.”

Lacombe now looks ahead to their regular season opener against the Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs on Oct. 12th.

Barteaux said this season is about conditioning in advance of hosting the 2019 Allan Cup.

“Guys have families, occupations and responsibilities other than training year round or even during the season,” he said. “If we can get to the gym and practices on Wednesday, that will put us in a better sport physically as well as strategically.”