Tanner Korchinski is most in his element while patrolling the blue line.
Now, the ex-Flin Flon Bomber mainstay and Flin Flon-born defenseman applies his trade in the Alberta senior hockey ranks.
For the past two seasons, Korchinski has played with the Lacombe Generals, a team which has won two Allan Cup titles as the Canadian senior champions. This past season, the club played in Allan Cup Hockey West, combining five of western Canada’s top senior clubs.
As the name may suggest, Allan Cup Hockey West (ACHW) is much more serious than any small-town beer league. The level of play is higher, with multiple players with professional experience suiting up – including former NHLers. At the end of the season, multiple teams end up with a chance to play for national senior hockey supremacy.
Korchinski was recruited by the Generals during his time with the University of Alberta-Augustana. After leaving Flin Flon and playing three seasons with the Bombers, Korchinski spent five seasons with the Augustana Vikings, based in Camrose.
Following his final season with the club, Korchinski got a call out of the blue.
“That summer, I got a call from the general manager and he asked if I wanted to play. I’m still not sure how he got my number, I’m thinking he talked to my coach first,” mentioned Korchinski.
“It was kind of a nobrainer for me.”
Since joining the club, Korchinski has taken on a useful two-way role, tallying 17 points in 37 games as a defenseman. Over that time, the Generals have 37 wins in 46 games.
The team is a perennial title contender, having won eight of the last 10 league championships.
“In Lacombe, we’re expected to win every year. That’s the culture there, that’s what they believe in, it’s what they preach, it’s how it goes,” said Korchinski.
Once the regular season wraps up, the team qualified for the Allan Cup in Rosetown, Sask., playing from April 9 to 14. The host Rosetown Red Wings also play in the ACHW, barely topping the Generals for the league regular-season title.
In pool play, the Generals tied the Red Wings 1-1 with another game against the Ontario-based Stoney Creek Generals ending as a 5-3 Lacombe win.
Finishing first in their group, the team earned a bye to the semi-finals, beating the Elsipogtog Hawks 4-1 and punching their ticket to the finals.
Playing against Stoney Creek in the final, lightning failed to strike twice for Korchinski’s team, with the game ending as a 7-4 loss. Lacombe’s national title bid came up just short.
Korchinski said expectations in the tournament, much like the regular season, were simple – championship or bust.
“It’s the same with the Allan Cup – if we don’t make it to the finals or make it far, it’s a letdown year. It was a success making it to the finals, but losing the final game is obviously not how you want to end your season. It was all in all a pretty good year, we just fell short in the final game,” he said.
Now, Korchinski hopes to play for the team again next season, even if playing for Lacombe can be a logistical challenge sometimes.
Korchinski still lives in Camrose, where he played for Augustana. It’s an hour and a half drive away from his team’s home rink, meaning a long drive for games every weekend. Sometimes, the drive to some road games is shorter than the drive to play on home ice.
“There are some pretty late nights,” said Korchinski, who added he felt it wasn’t a big deal. “It was a little bit of an adjustment in my first year, but now, you get used to it.”
While the high calibre of play and the travel can take its toll, Korchinski said he can’t imagine doing anything else.
“I’ve talked to a lot of guys about going back. I think I’d be stupid not to. I don’t really know anything else – what else would I do on weekends? I’ve been doing this for how many years, I need to keep playing,”
Besides, there’s one big motivator for next year.
“Lacombe is hosting the Allan Cup next season too, so that’s more of an incentive to go back. That’s something to look forward to,” he said.
