The Blackfalds Bulldogs won their season home opener Saturday night against the Drayton Valley Thunder 5-3.
Drayton Valley looks like a whole new team from last year. Mainly because they virtually are a whole new team from last year. Alot of the guys played in the league last year also just with other teams. Hell they got 3 good players from us (Alexey Trishcuk, Ty Gordon, & Ben Winklemann) and a few from Okotoks. Plus the goalies. I was surprised when the Thunder started Calgary native rookie Cameron Doucette after the game that Chazz Nixon had against Brooks the night before. But the Thunder showed everyone last night that goaltending is for sure not going to be the teams weak spot.
They had a nice opening ceremonies. The announcers and game host at the Bulldogs games are absolutely amazing. That is the thing I hear people from out of town compliment the team on the most even more so than the arena.
The Thunder opened up the scoring just 1:39 into the game when Ukrainian (or Ukranian ancestry he has played in North America including minor hockey for years) and former Calgary Hitmen Anton Yatsyshin scored a nice goal slipping it just passed Ethan Morrow. Assist on the goal to former Bulldog Alexey Trischuk.
Brendan Ross however replied scoring his first of the season about 2 minutes later at 3:35 of the first period. With the helper on the goal to Toronto native Edward Moskowitz. I also imagine that is one goal where Thunder netminder Cameron Doucette really wishes he wouldn’t of left his crease. He has a big frame that does a good job stopping pucks, but he sort of has to be in front of the net to do so.
Former Bulldog turned Bobby Orr impersonator Alexey Trischuk ended up regaining the lead for the Thunder at the 11:00 minute mark of the first period on the Power Play. It may not hold up for the whole season, but as of now the Bulldogs just lost a point per game defenceman in Trishchuk 🤔🤔Assists on the Trischuk goal to former Drumheller Dragon Will Christian and Anton Yatsyshin. The Bulldogs outshot the Thunder 10-9 in the first period of play.
Brendan Ross scored his second goal of the game on the Power Play just 1:07 into the second period. Assists on the goal to Layne Loomer and Jayden Joly.
Former Edmonton Junior Oiler Dryden Tomkow scored his first AJHL goal at 7:43 of the second period unassisted. Making it a 3-2 game for the Thunder.
Layne Loomer and his ultimate face shield scored a beauty, his first of the season at 12:12 of the second period on the Power Play. Assists go to Brendan Ross and Edward Moskowitz. Making it a Tie game. In all seriousness as crappy as it would be to wear the full shield the one that Loomer has on not only looks like it would be great to play with it also makes him look like less of a sissy than the guys who wear the wires. I think Gillmore and Denis also wear similar cool like face shields.
Prince George, BC Native Josh Sale scored his first goal as a Bulldog at 14:26 from Jack Plandowski making it a 4-3 Bulldogs game. If I remember correctly the first ever goal scored at the Eagle Builders Centre by a Bulldog, that player hailed from the same city as Josh Sale🤔Probably a useless thing to remember considering I can remember that but I still can not remember where I put my keys last Tuesday🤔🤔And the first goal happened in 2021.
The Bulldogs had a few chances in the third period but Cameron Doucette shut the door denying Ross of a hat trick with a beautiful save. The Thunder ended up pulling their goalie with about 2 minutes remaining in the game. That’s when a very poor pee wee like passing attempt was picked off by Brendan Ross and he simply tapped the puck into the empty net to complete the hat trick and seal the win for the Bulldogs.
Alexey Trischuk played in his 100th AJHL game last night. Brendan Ross did it the night before. Trischuk did it with three teams Drumheller Dragons (43), Blackfalds Bulldogs (55), and Drayton Valley Thunder (2). Brendan Ross did it all with Blackfalds.
Not that it is really relevant but the opening song (or mumbling) when they skate out is laughable. Sounds like they’re getting ready for a drive by shooting with toy guns in moms minivan. But maybe the hoods of Blackfalds are that ghetto and they must represent them🤷♂️🤷♂️Mad gang turf wars by the post office.
The AJHL websites 2 stars were Brendan Ross for the Bulldogs and Alexey Trishchuk for the Thunder.
Ethan Morrow made 22 saves on 25 shots to get the win for the Bulldogs. While Cameron Doucette made 38 saves on 43 shots.
Attendance in Blackfalds was 950
Bulldogs next home game is Tuesday September 19th against the Drumheller Dragons who are 1-1.
They were handing out or selling or something horns at the door. They should do egg night next👍Bring your own rock night🤪