This was a very frustrating game to watch. This would of been a better night for the Crusaders to have bus problems in Ponoka than in November. After the way the Crusaders played against the Bulldogs their head coach might have to check himself in to a facility in Ponoka. It took the Bulldogs almost 65 minutes and 47 shots to snag a goal that was counted. Sherwood Park looked terrible. I have seen the Crusaders play earlier in the year and they did not look as bad as they did last night. It is like the Bulldogs came out strong and eventually started almost (key word almost) started playing to the female peewee house level that the Crusaders were playing at. (I missed the Jets/Flames game in my warm living room for this).
The thing that shocked probably most of the people in the building was the fact that Crusaders goalie Erik Roest finally just didn’t snap and pull a Goldberg like we see to the right here. (Just don’t grow up like him). The kid was peppered and peppered with shots. No help really either. The Bulldogs weren’t even playing their best hockey and had tons of chances. If Roest wasn’t stopping the puck, the Bulldogs were missing the net, clanging it off the goal post, or coming just short on a chance. Any other night the score would of been 14-0 at the end of the first. I actually want to see the Bulldogs be able to do this to an opposing goalie this year. Or at least get a goalie to pull a move like Antonio Brown of the NFL and just throw your jersey on the ice and skate off🤪🙂
It was a goal.
With under a minute left in the first period Brendan Ross scored. Everyone knew that goal went in. Including the Crusaders. I can see how the refs vision may of been blocked, but everyone seen it. I seen this happen to an NHL team in 2004 in a very important game but they ended up losing. 😲
When everyone complained about it, at the time I thought who cares. The way Sherwood Park is playing and how the Bulldogs were outshooting them I figured they would have about 8 more goals anyway. The shots at the end of the first period were 20-1.
Overtime
Hennessey saved the game with a minute something left in overtime stopping an almost for sure goal. The save itself was amazing, but what was more surprising is that Hennessey was able to not fall asleep earlier sitting down at the other end of the rink. There were times during the game (Mainly in the first two periods) he literally could of went down to the street to Piccolo’s had a pizza and came back and there would of still been no shots on net.
With 5 seconds remaining in Overtime Tyler Wallace just out hustled the Crusaders defender and snuck it past Roest getting his 23rd goal of the season and winning the game for the Bulldogs.
Other Notes
Crusaders goalie 18 year old Erik Roest faced 47 shots. Bulldogs Hennessey faced 18.
Attendance was 491.
In other AJHL games Brooks beat Drumheller 5-3.
No Tanner Willick tonight who was sitting out due to a bad hit last game against Olds. Hopefully he’s ready by Fridays Game against the Okotoks Oilers.
Goalie Tristan Boileau who got the win in net for the Bulldogs against Olds last week was traded to the Lloydminster Bobcats for future considerations. Kind of figured it was a temporary home for him, considering the Bulldogs already have two great goalies. The Bulldogs don’t play the Bobcats again this season and beat them in both meetings. There has also been a Bulldog forward who has not been listed for the last 3 games but is still on the website roster? UPDATE: Just found this on the AJHL website : Jan 2, 2022 Blackfalds trades Bill Gourgon to Carlton Place (CCHL) in exchange for future considerations.
My 3 Stars
- Erik Roest (Crusaders)- I mean come on.
- Matthew Hennessey (Bulldogs)- Played solid what fans always see from him. Saved the game in overtime with a great save.
- Tyler Miller (Crusaders)- Not only did he take the puck out of the net after it went in. Did a great job of pretending “What the hell it didn’t go in”. Academy award winning. I was going to give third star to the post, but Miller deserved it a tad more.