SOUTHEAST PRAIRIE THUNDER - 2012 ALLAN CUP CHAMPIONS
Every year, Senior hockey teams in pursuit of Canada's national 'AAA' amateur crown, map a plan to capture the Allan Cup.
Across the country, an endless list of volunteer-driven fundraising, scheduling, marketing, and most importantly, finding talent to fill out a competitive roster, takes place. Each spring, the list of contenders is eventually narrowed down from provincial playdowns and provincial representatives are declared.
Another chapter in Manitoba's long history of Allan Cup success began in Grunthal, MB in 1999 with the Grunthal Red Wings. The team won 2 Manitoba Senior titles before relocating to Steinbach, MB in 2008 and rebranding into the Southeast Prairie Thunder.
Claiming the Manitoba Senior title 4 times between 2007-2012, they made their first appearance at Canada's national senior 'AAA' championship in 2009 in Steinbach. The Prairie Thunder would battle their way to the final, losing 4-3 in heartbreaking double overtime to the Bentley Generals.
The team would come up short again in 2010 and 2011, but in 2012, General Manager Marv Kornelson had put together his strongest team ever, including a last-minute signing of former NHLer Terry Yake of Mather, MB.
After sweeping the Manitoba Lightning 4 straight to take the Manitoba Senior title the club headed to Lloydminster, SK for the 2012 Allan Cup tournament.
In Lloydminster, the Prairie Thunder edged the Rosetown Red Wings 2-1 then hammered the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts (Nfld) 5-2 in tournament play, before soundly beating Grand Falls again in the semi-finals 7-2.
Meeting Rosetown in the 2012 Allan Cup final, the teams were locked at 1-1 after 40 minutes with Tim Plett netting the Prairie Thunder marker. Despite being outshot 33-29, after 3 years of heartbreak, the Thunder were not to be denied. Brad Purdie's goal at the 8:48 mark of the 3rd proved the winner with Anders Strome and tournament MVP Deven Leblanc adding insurance markers for a 4-1 victory. The Southeast Prairie Thunder had captured Canada's top amateur hockey crown, the Allan Cup.