The Allan Cup tournament begins today in Rosetown, Sask. and by Tuesday night, the Lacombe Generals will play their first round robin game against the Rosetown Red Wings.

On Wednesday, they will play the Stoney Creek Generals before the playoff rounds starts the next day.

“Guys are really chomping at the bit and looking forward to this. Guys are focused  and realize if we don’t come home with the Allan Cup, it’s going to be a failure,” says head coach Sean Robertson.

“I think the mindframe is in the right place and we’re very, very excited but we’re also cautiously optimistic.”

The Generals are three time Allan Cup Champions and have been to the senior AAA men’s championship nearly every year over the last decade.

Faced with mostly unfamiliar opponents, Robertson says they have to focus more on themselves.

“What I’ve picked up from however many Allan Cups is, you don’t worry about anybody other than the team you’re facing,” he says.

“You try not to watch the other games because you might not end up  playing those teams and there’s no point putting thoughts in your head about them. So you worry about what’s directly right in front of you.”