The Lacombe Generals are facing an uncertain future today after a letter circulated online Monday night from the Generals to the heads of the Allan Cup West Hockey League indicated that the Generals were withdrawing from the ACWH.

The reason behind the letter is simple: following two teams dropping out of the league in the last year, the Fort. Saskatchewan Chiefs and the Rosetown Redwings, the Generals would only have two teams to play, which is not a sustainable model for this level of competitive hockey.

Gens General Manager Jeff McInnis is frustrated with this outcome, as he says it was nothing to do with the financial aspects of the Generals, but certain rules and regulations in the league need to be adjusted to make it easier to build a team that can field a solid line-up year after year.

"It's frustrating that its come to an end. We need the landscape to change for our Allan Cup contentions. That's the basis of it, we don't have a lot of teams to play and we have a lot of infrastructure that needs to change so that we can spur some growth because Lacombe loves their Generals and the Generals love Lacombe. But it's not like that everywhere else, we don't have a whole bunch of teams across the country and especially in our area that we can play that have a situation like that."

McInnis says, despite the Generals being solid when it comes to finances, team support, and having the infrastructure to play in, not every team is as supported as they are.

"We enjoy running a hockey team all season and playing in a league and having games, and the rewarding camaraderie that happens when you start in September and goes all season. Well take away that, and say 'ok we'll just play a few games and try to get to the Allan Cup at the end', that's not what we've grown up on, that's not our business model, that's not who we are. We have no interest in playing a few games against Innisfail and a few games against Stony Plain and I guess that's all we have. What fun is that?... it's unsustainable, it's just so frustrating." 

A letter sent to the ACHW from McInnis was circulating online Monday night.

(Photo courtesy of Wade R. Giesbrecht @TheSnipeshow on Twitter)

The letter was also being tweeted out by local hockey insiders, as well as tweeted out by the official account of the Innisfail Eagles, the team the Generals defeated to win the Allan Cup on home ice this year.

McInnis says the future of the team is paused at the moment as they try to figure out their next move, one which could involve them becoming part of the Senior AA league that includes team from Sylvan, Red Deer, and Eckville, but it's still too early to say for sure what their next step is.

One thing is for sure, and that's the current Generals format is no more.

This past year, the Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs folded their team, and the Rosetown Redwings announced on May 10th, that they would also be leaving the ACHW at the end of the season. 

Following this announcement, the future of the entire ACHW is in jeopardy, as only the Stony Plain Eagles and the Innisfail Eagles remain.

We will provide you with details as they become available.