Semi-finals set at Telus Cup

The Moose Jaw Generals were twenty minutes away from extending their season another two days, but it wasn’t meant to be.

The host team lost out in the preliminary at the 2014 Telus Cup, falling 4-2 to the Chateauguay Grenadiers in their final round robin game, which was a must-win to advance into the semifinal.

“We just wanted them to empty the tank and come back into the room with no regrets and they did that,” said Ray Wareham, head coach of the Generals.  “I thought we were fantastic again, but just couldn’t get a break and one little mistake and it’s in the back of our net.

“The kids were fantastic and worked their butts off all week, you just wish it would have turned out a little differently for them.”

As the clock ticked down, you could see the emotions on the bench for the Generals, especially the players that were playing in their last midget AAA game.

“(Grant) Naherniak and (Trey) Tendler were pretty emotional, three-year guys that gave up a chance to play junior to come back for this,” said Wareham.  “They played their hearts out and they should be very proud of themselves.”

“We wanted to compete in this tournament, 45 days off and lots of people were ruling us out, but I’m pretty proud of everyone in there, we worked pretty hard together and almost had a shot at it,” said captain Trey Tendler after the loss.

Moose Jaw took a 2-1 lead into the third period, but three third period goals for the Grenadiers, including two into an empty net, spelt the end for the Generals.

“We’re really happy that we came back in the game,” said Martin-Olivier Cardinal, captain of the Grenadiers.  “We showed some character and that’s a big part of our team.”

Chateauguay had come back to in game seven of their league final from a 2-0 deficit, so Cardinal said that gave them confidence that they could do it again with their season on the line.

“We just got our fore check going and sacrificed our body in the defensive zone,” he said on what they were able to do rally back from defeat.  “We played tight in the D zone and then brought pucks to the net.”

After a scoreless first period, Regan Nagy and Braydon Delorme scored two goals early in the second to give the Generals a 2-0 advantage.  Cardinal scored on the power play late in the second for Chateauguay to cut Moose Jaw’s lead to one heading into the third.

The Generals couldn't find that insurance marker early in the third period and it ended up costing them.

“They just kind of got that lucky bounce and it bounced right off my back,” said goalie Grant Naherniak.  “You can’t really do anything about those, it’s just the way the game goes, you win some you lose some and that’s just the way hockey is.”

“We got scrambley at times, but so did they,” added Wareham.  “They just ended up getting a break and we weren’t able to get one and that’s the end result.”

Needing a win to advance to the weekend, the Generals pulled Naherniak with just over a minute to go in the game.  Moose Jaw couldn’t get any sustained pressure in the offensive zone however and Brandon McCulloch sealed their fate with an empty net goal.

“It’s always a dream to win a championship, but when you see those pucks go into that empty net, you’re whole body just shuts down and you don’t have any control over your emotions,” said Naherniak, who stopped 25 of 27 shots in the loss.

Just an inch away was the story of the week for the Generals as a couple bounces the other could have changed their tournament, but in the end it just wasn’t meant to be.

“We had some chances and it was like that all week, but couldn’t be more proud of the kids,” said Wareham.  “The way they worked and handled themselves, it was good to see.”

The Grenadiers will now play the Toronto Young Nationals in the semifinals at 6:00pm on Saturday.  The other semifinal will have the Prince Albert Mintos taking on the Okanagan Rockets at 2:00pm.

The early games on Friday saw Okanagan beat up on Toronto 11-2 in the morning game, while Prince Albert picked up their second straight shutout, beating the Halifax McDonalds 3-0.