The Lacombe Generals play the Rosetown Red Wings for the Allan Cup Hockey West league championship tonight, after a 7-1 victory over the Stony Plain Eagles on Friday night.

Lacombe carried a 2-0 lead into the third period thanks to goals by Jesse Todd and Teegan Moore.

After that, the Generals offence piled on, with goals from Billy Marshall, Todd, Alex McLeod, Ian Barteaux and Troy Hunter. The Eagles broke goaltender Steven Stanford’s shutout bid with a goal from Todd Fiddler midway through the period.

McLeod said up until the final frame, it was anybody’s game.

“I think we got off to a little slower start than we wanted to. I think that’s a good learning tool going into tomorrow and the rest of the playoffs. We’ve got to come out harder and more focused early on in the game,” McLeod said.

The league championship does not affect Lacombe’s qualification for the Allan Cup tournament, hosted by Rosetown this year.

McLeod said the team still wants to win it.

“I still want that trophy. We still want it. This room wants to win tomorrow. Rosetown kind of got the best of us last time we were out there. They beat us two times. We want to go back in there and show that we’re here for real and we’re not someone they can walk over,” he said.

He sees value in a one-game playoff against Rosetown, on the road, ahead of the Allan Cup, should the Generals qualify because there, playoff rounds will also be winner-take-all.

“It really gets you prepared for that mindset. Right now, everything’s on the line. Lay it on the line, give it all you got and hopefully you get the win.”