Powell River's B.C. Hockey League team was stopped short in its national championship drive when the Kings lost Game 7 of the league final Monday to the Vernon Vipers.
So that leaves Troy Dalton and the Powell River Regals to carry the mantle for the Sunshine Coast capital when they begin their quest for the Allan Cup triple-A senior hockey national title.
Dalton, the 35-year-old former Spruce Kings captain, was along for the ride in 2006 when the Regals won the Allan Cup on home ice.
"That's right up there as one of the best things to happen to me in hockey," said Dalton, 35, who now lives in Vancouver. "In '06 we had six guys who had played in the NHL, including Mike Ridley and Jamie Leach. We had an unbelievable team. The level of hockey is like pro hockey when you get into the Allan Cup. It's pretty special to be a Canadian champion in hockey."
This year's six-team tournament starts next Monday afternoon in Fort St. John when the Regals take on the South East Prairie Thunder of Manitoba in the opening game.
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