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There has been many a complaint about the organization and pool system of this year’s Founders Cup, and how it all came to be is something we’ll want to look at a little more closely in the next few days, but for now why don’t we save it for when it isn’t overshadowing the four teams that are all set to slug it out in today’s semi-finals? Put your vitriol in your back pocket for safekeeping and take a look at the young men who are just one game away from potential Founders glory.

4:00 PM MST: Calgary Mountaineers vs. Red Deer Rampage

HOW THEY GOT HERE: Red Deer is in the semis, not Saskatchewan as was posted earlier. I was confused. Maybe because THE OFFICIAL FOUNDERS CUP WEBSITE SAID IT WOULD BE SASKATCHEWAN. CONGRATULATIONS RED DEER.

The Mounties topped the tough Pool A by virtue of their goals for and goals against totals. Round of applause for tender Tanner Serwatkewich, please. In the round robin, Calgary tore down Red Deer, Winnipeg, and Saskatchewan and let a bit of penalty trouble come between them and a win against the Clarington Green Gaels, which would account for their record of 3-1. In a matter of hours we’ll see what clutch players like Jesse Hunter, Thomas Bruton, Phil Chilakos, Matt Besplug and Cody Friesen have left in the tank.

7:00 PM MST: Clarington Green Gaels vs. Edmonton Warriors

HOW THEY GOT HERE: Well what do you say about Clarington that hasn’t already been said. They cruised to a 4-0 record in the round robin, more than doubling up on several strong teams. Zach Palmer, Shayne Jackson, Zack Higgins and Ryan Serville were the very worthy round robin all-star nods on a roster full of names that could’ve been on team one or two. But before we decide to do away with the semis and championship game and skip right to chiseling CLARINGTON on the trophy, let’s remember that when it comes to being a dominant sports team, there’s a pretty distinct line between being the Chicago Bulls of 1996 and the New England Patriots of 2007.

As far as the Edmonton Warriors go, well, it hasn’t been such a straight-forward and pride-filled journey. In fact it took a vicious 25-7 bullying of the Winnipeg Gryphons yesterday to get the hosts to where they are but don’t hate the player or the game, hate the set-up. In the Edmonton Warriors we’ve got one of the top two teams in Alberta B ball with a gifted goaltender as well as one of the most well-rounded players in the entire B loop in defender, captain and drawman Thomas Chibri. The only question mark is the offense, who certainly have the chops to make this game a messy one but have been known to take a night off here and there. After putting on such a clinic yesterday, we’ll see if David Lehman, Adam Stuckless, Chris Britton and Mark Lawrence saved enough scoring for their Ontario foes.

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