WHITBY -- Plenty of thoughts will creep through the minds of the Whitby Dunlops' staff and players in the next few days. Such is the nature of preparing for the Allan Cup national championship, the optimum prize within the Senior A hockey loop.
Those thoughts will range from success and anticipation to disappointment and pain. The Dunlops have experienced them all before in varying degrees.
One of those four feelings has been the driving force that has led the hockey club to its third straight Allan Cup appearance.
"We've had a little quote called remember the pain," says captain Peter MacKellar in reference to last year's 4-3 loss to the Lloydminster Border Kings in the final. "I think it's haunted a lot of guys. I've been in a lot of championships, won a few and lost a few, but that was the worst one. Knowing you could have won that game, to not come out with the win was a huge disappointment."
Avenging that demoralizing defeat has been the main source of motivation for the Dunlops this season.
"There is no question that it's been our driving force all year," says coach Mike Posavad. "You can only go to the well so many times. You just want to come away with that trophy and we're certainly focused towards that goal."
Whitby also lost in the championship final of 2006, 7-1 to the host Powell River Regals.
With Game 1 scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday in Brantford against the Dundas Real McCoys, who earned the final berth into the tournament following a 2-0 series victory over Thunder Bay to capture the Renwick Cup, the Dunlops have a great opportunity to start the skate down the right path of eliminating the hurtful memories of years past.
However, Posavad says the Dundas team they will encounter is likely to provide a different look than the one the Dunlops disposed of in four games last month to win the Robertson Cup trophy and punch their ticket to the national championship.
"I was at their last game, and they played very well," says Posavad. "There is a lot of experience on that team and we were fortunate in our series, but when you get into these one-game things, anything can happen. I expect it to be a tough game. All the Allan Cup games are competitive and I don't expect anything different on Monday."
Posavad also noted that Dundas was aided by the return of leading scorer Ryan Christie, who didn't play the previous series, and the addition of Tillsonburg goaltender Brett Leggat.
How Whitby performs in the opener will go a long way in determining the mindset heading into the second game of the tournament, which will provide them with an opportunity to gain a measure of revenge that they've sought for nearly a year.
On Wednesday at 1 p.m., the Dunlops will line up against the same Border Kings club that ended their championship dreams in Stony Plain, Alta. last season.
"I'd be lying if I said we weren't looking forward to playing Lloydminster," Posavad stated. "I think all the guys, when you get beat by a team in a game of that importance, you certainly want to have another game against them."
Unfortunately, at this time, little is known of the defending champs.
"They don't have Pointstreak to follow on like we do, but you would think they are going to have a lot of the same guys and a lot of those west teams are really hard-working and play tough and rugged hockey," surmises the coach. "They were like that last year and I would think they'll be the same this year."
That notwithstanding, Posavad refused to anoint the Border Kings as favourites heading into the tournament.
"I don't know if you can call anyone favourites when you get to the Allan Cup based on the past," he says noting that the senior loop across the country differs significantly from other leagues. "There is usually such a turnover with the teams. Even with us, and I haven't gone through it, but we've probably got six or seven new guys in the lineup from last year. It's really tough year-by-year to pick a favourite."
The most recent addition to the roster saw the Dunlops add goaltender Dave Digironimo to the fold alongside incumbent Chad Ford and backup Chris Hardill. Digironimo played for the Simcoe County Tundras this season, and with Dundas the year prior.
The Dunlops (OHF), Border Kings (Western) and Real McCoys (Ontario) comprise division one, while the Brantford Blast (host), the Bentley Generals (Pacific) and a yet to be determined Quebec entry (Shawinigan and Saguenay play a decisive seventh game tonight) will fill out division two.
This is the 100th anniversary of the Allan Cup tournament. Playoffs begin Thursday and the championship game is set for Saturday, April 19 at 3 p.m. at the Brantford and District Civic Centre.