FLASHBACK 2012: Southeast Prairie Thunder Capture Allan Cup Championship
For Marv Kornelsen of Grunthal, the road to reaching the pinnacle of Canadian Senior AAA hockey spanned more than a dozen years of unwavering dedication, tireless effort, and personal commitment. That long journey culminated in national championship glory when the Southeast Prairie Thunder captured the Allan Cup in Lloydminster, capping off an undefeated tournament run with a 4-1 victory over Saskatchewan’s Rosetown Red Wings in the national final. The historic championship marked the fourth consecutive trip to the Allan Cup tournament for the Prairie Thunder program. With the victory, Southeast became just the second Manitoba squad in recent history to lift the national championship trophy, joining the 2003 Ile des Chenes North Stars as provincial winners on the national stage.
Make no mistake, the 2012 edition of the Southeast Prairie Thunder was Kornelsen’s team through and through. Having cobbled the franchise together several years prior, Kornelsen sustained the club year in and year out through his tireless work and personal resources. His goal remained constant: an undying commitment to put the best possible team on the ice for the highest level of senior hockey played in Canada, with the ultimate objective of winning a national title. By all accounts, the 2012 roster was the finest team Kornelsen had ever assembled for a national tournament, and that quality proved decisive when the final horn sounded. The championship win also helped erase the heartbreak of 2009, when the Prairie Thunder suffered a painful overtime loss to the Bentley Generals during the Allan Cup final played on home ice in Steinbach.
A Perfect Tournament Run in Lloydminster
The Prairie Thunder dominated the 2012 Allan Cup from start to finish, rolling through the national competition with four straight victories. Southeast opened tournament play with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Rosetown Red Wings, the same club they would ultimately face in the championship game. Netminder Justin Harris stood tall in goal for the Thunder, turning aside 38 saves to secure the opening win. Offensively, Devon Leblanc and Nick Fuher provided the goals for Southeast, while former Manitoba Moose forward Brad Purdie set up both tallies with assists.
Southeast maintained its winning momentum in the second game, earning a convincing 5-2 victory over Newfoundland’s Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts. Brad Purdie led the attack with a four-point performance, scoring one goal and adding three assists. Devon Leblanc also posted a multi-point effort with a goal and two assists, while Nick Fuher, Anders Strome, and Ryan Bonnie chipped in with single goals. By finishing first in their round-robin pool, the Thunder earned a bye directly into Friday’s semi-final, avoiding games on Wednesday and Thursday. Kornelsen noted that the mid-week rest was a critical factor in their tournament success, allowing the team to enter the medal round well rested and refreshed.
That extra rest proved crucial on Friday as Southeast faced Grand Falls-Windsor once again in the semi-finals. The Thunder romped to a commanding 7-2 victory to punch their ticket to the national final. Tim Plett led the charge with a goal and two assists, while veteran rearguard Jared Driedger set up two goals with a pair of assists.
TSN Final and Third-Period Surge
The championship final on Saturday afternoon was broadcast nationally on TSN, matching the Prairie Thunder against Rosetown for national supremacy. Tim Plett opened the scoring for Southeast in dramatic fashion after taking a pass from Terry Yake, racing down the wing, and beating the Rosetown goaltender with a precise shot through the five-hole. Plett, a five-year veteran with the Thunder who had established himself as a dominant player in the Carillon Senior Hockey League with both Steinbach and Mitchell, noted the significance of the goal. “This ranks up there as one of the biggest goals I have ever scored. It was pretty exciting,” Plett said after the championship game.
Plett’s goal held up through an intense, defensive battle until the third period, leaving the national title game deadlocked at 1-1 after 40 minutes. However, the Prairie Thunder took complete control in the final frame, exploding for three unanswered goals to claim the title. Steinbach native Rob Smith set up the game-winning goal scored by Brad Purdie in the third period. Anders Strome and Devon Leblanc added insurance goals to seal the 4-1 triumph, while goalkeeper Justin Harris capped an outstanding tournament by turning aside 32 saves in the final.
Local Roster and the Summer Victory Tour
The national championship squad featured a strong local presence throughout the lineup. In addition to Plett, Smith, and Driedger, the Prairie Thunder championship roster included local players Dale Butland, backup goaltender Landon Kroeker, and player/coach Mike Martens. The victory was particularly special for Martens, who earned his second Allan Cup title after previously winning the national championship as a member of the 2003 Ile des Chenes North Stars.
Following their April victory in Lloydminster, Kornelsen posted a sizeable financial bond to take the Allan Cup on a summer victory tour. The iconic trophy made the rounds to all the players’ home communities across the region over the spring and summer months. By August 2012, with just one or two stops remaining on the tour, the Allan Cup was placed on public display during the Hanover Agriculture Fair in Grunthal. Kornelsen expressed gratitude that the historic trophy remained completely unscathed throughout its summer journey before being returned to Toronto for safekeeping.
Reporting based on historical sports coverage from The Carillon.
