47 minutes on the bus usually isn’t that bad. The Olds Grizzlies are going to have 47 minutes I would assume of complete silence on the bus. Unless times have changed I doubt they are going to grab Tommy Boy and watch it on the TV movie on the ride home. Well they have phones now anyway. I doubt they stopped at Piccolo’s for some Pizza for the ride home, no one scored in the Piccolo’s hot minute anyway.
The first ten minutes of the game was a tad sloppy. The Bulldogs got 2 of the strangest goals I have seen in a long time. (Kody Willick and Brendan Ross) I don’t think there was a single person in the stands that didn’t feel a little bad for Grizzlies goalie Marcus Cumberworth. Its a little funny when the goalie gets shafted huge by a strange bounce, but seeing it twice😲 After Plandowski and Siedem scored the Grizzlies went hibernating. Well they were done earlier than that.
Olds scored to open up the second period and make it 4-1, But Wallace immediately scored to regain the 4 goal lead and make it 5-1. Wallace then scored again 10 minutes later. Hanson also scored along with the Grizzlies netting one more to end the second period at 7-2.
Olds scored at 1:06 just missing the hot minute (not that it would of mattered wrong team, although it did appear that Olds did score goals on their own net at other times tonight). Then it was all Blackfalds with 4 more goals making the final score 11-3. Finishing out the scoring was Loomer, Gurkan, Hanson, and Dick scoring a beauty out of the penalty box on a pass from Jake Geraci with 9 seconds left in the game.
Side Notes:
The Bulldogs outshot the Grizzlies 49-26.
15 different Bulldogs made the score sheet. I know that is the most goals I have ever seen the Bulldogs score at a game but am not sure if it is their most ever.
Crowd was announced at 745 one of the larger crowds this season hopefully it keeps up. The time of year and night may of had something to do with it with other places having large crowds also with Bonnyville getting 786, Canmore getting 940, and Spruce Grove getting 1,038. Only Drayton Valley drew less getting 480 which is still good for Drayton.
Tonight’s game marked the first games for 2 new bulldogs. Goaltender Tristan Boileau and defenceman Evan Mitchell. When they announced the starting lineup of tonight’s game and they announced Boileau the image of Dennis Lemieux immediately came to mind. If he had a grandson maybe🤔🤔
If it matters much after tonight’s game the Bulldogs were the least penalized team in the South Division and the third lowest in the league.
The main reason one would have to believe that the Grizzlies didn’t play well was the notable absence of their heart and soul of the team. Their back bone #1. Super fan Duck Dynasty. I missed seeing him in the crowd. He always comes to Blackfalds wearing his Olds Grizzlies jersey yelling at the refs calling them idiots and shaking his head and telling the Olds players to keep their sticks on the ice. It was sad not seeing him there I hope he is ok. If you would hear this dude mutter to himself in the stands you would literally think he was legend.
I know I made a joke about Olds having a bad bus ride home earlier, which they probably will. But it won’t be as bad as one I knew of 25 years ago. A coach on a now defunct team was so mad at his team for losing. He made them all stay in their gear, get on the bus, drive the hour trip back home then bag skated them. I couldn’t image the law suits today🤪
Bulldogs next game is tomorrow New Years Eve January 31st in Olds
Bulldogs Next Home Game- January 3rd VS Sherwood Park Crusaders (the make up game from when the roads were bad).