Its officially half way through the season and the Sherwood Park Crusaders and Blackfalds Bulldogs played their first game against each other this season.
Aaron Brown scored the Teddy Bear goal at 5:36 of the first period his 3rd of the season while on the Power Play. The assists on the goal to Brendan Ross and Layne Loomer. Aaron Brown has had a great last 2 games.
Brendan Ross made it a 2-0 game on a pass from Layne Loomer with the other assist going to Hunter Brown at 12:42 of the first period.
Trent LeDrew who has proven to be a great addition since joining the team notched his first AJHL goal at 13:17 of the opening period to make it a 3-0 game. Assists on the goal to Brendan Ross and Hunter Brown. This is LeDrew’s 3rd season of junior hockey as the Windsor, Ontario native played the previous 2 seasons with the Brockville Braves of the CCHL.
Shots in the first period were 16-3 for Blackfalds.
20 year old captain Logan Hauer got the Crusaders on the board to make it a 3-1 game on the Power Play at 2:45 of the second with the assists to St Cloud commit Brock Souch and Canisius Golden Griffin commit Dominic Payne.
Jayden Joly gave the Bulldogs a 4-1 lead at 9:04 of the middle frame with the assists on the goal going to Luke Dahlen and Carter Patterson.
Zac Maxwell made it a 4-2 game when he scored for the Crusaders with the assist going to 20 year old Surrey, BC native Holden Cardinal at 13:22 of the second period. Morrow had absolutely no chance he got peppered with a bunch of shots and guys whacking at him.
Brock Souch scored his 16th goal of the season on the Power Play assisted by Fort St James, BC Wisconsin commit Diego Johnson and the Crusaders now only trail by 1.
Shots on goal in the second period were 14-8 for the Crusaders.
The “Cru” thought they scored early in the third to tie the game, but there is a rule where you can’t hold the other teams goalie which they were doing to Morrow. No goal. Crusaders forward Lochlan Kozicky was leg locking with Morrow.
Hunter Brown scored his 12th goal of the season from Carter Patterson and David Brandes to make it a 5-3 at 8:08 of the third period.
Brendan Ross scored his second goal of the game into the empty net to make it a 6-3 final with the assist going to Alexander Dimitriadis.
Shots in the third were 13-8 for the Crusaders with the shot final at the end of the game having the Bulldogs out shot the Crusaders 32-30.
Ethan Morrow played solid for the Bulldogs making 27 stops on the 30 shots that he faced. Erik Roest on the other end made 26 stops on the 31 shots that he faced.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Hunter Brown 2) Brendan Ross 3) Carter Patterson
Attendance in Blackfalds was 670.
Bulldogs next game is Thursday December 7th in Fort McMurray against the Oil Barons followed by a game the following night Friday in Bonnyville against the Pontiacs. The Bulldogs next home game is Tuesday December 12th against the Whitecourt Wolverines.
Alexander Dimitriadis and Layne Loomer team Canada West for the World Junior A Tournament. The tournament which takes place in Truro, Nova Scotia will run between December 10 and December 17, with Canada West kicking their tournament off on the 10th against Sweden.
