The Bulldogs squeaked by the Sherwood Park Crusaders on Saturday night 5-4. In one of the sloppiest games I think I have ever seen in the building. The only good thing about the game was that even though the Bulldogs didn’t play their best game the Crusaders managed to find a way to play even worse. Probably didn’t help the Crusaders confidence either that they got schakle whacked by the Brooks Bandits 9-1 the night before.
Dakota MacIntosh makes it a 1-0 Bulldogs game at 10:09 of the first period beating Daniel Heroux high upstairs with the assists on the goal going to Otto Hanson and Alexander Dimitriadis.
Kelowna, BC native Ethan Merner responded back for the Crusaders at 12:42 of the first period with the assists going to Logan Hauer and Lindenwood University commit Connor Gengle.
Tanner Willick regained the lead for the Bulldogs at 14:31 of the first period on an unassisted low shot from the point to make it 2-1 Bulldogs. That shot was like threading the needle. How it went that far with out hitting a single object and went straight into the net looked awesome.
Luke Dahlen made it a 3-1 on a beautifully set up Bulldogs goal from Jayden Joly and Brendan Ross at 15:56 of the opening period.
Cade Christiansen scores for the Crusaders to cut their deficit to 1 and make the game 3-2 with the assists on the goal going to Ryan Zaremba and Noah Wills at 16:59 of the first. The Crusaders were allowed to march down the ice on a 4 on 1.
Shots on goal in the first period were 12-10 for the Crusaders
Luke Dahlen pots his second goal of the game when Jayden Joly sent him on a breakaway just 1:14 into the middle period. 4-2 Bulldogs.
Former Salmon Arm Silverback Nick Wellenreiter replies for the Crusaders at 16:31 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to Zac Maxwell and Connor Gengle.
Shots on goal in the second period were 10-7 for the Bulldogs
University of Maine and Dundas, Ontario native Nick Wellenreiter scored his second goal of the game for the Crusaders at 9:04 of the second period to tie the game up at 4. The assist on the goal went to former Canmore Eagle, Calgary Canuck, Fort McMurray Oil Baron defenceman Dylan Bidyk. I had seen that last name before and I assumed it was a family of brothers. I had no idea it was the same kid that played on all the teams.
Tanner Willick scored the game winner with 49 seconds left in the game to make it 5-4 with the assist on the goal going to Luke Dahlen. It really looked like Willick looked for people to pass to and finally thought” Screw this, I’ll just do it myself”.
Shots in the third period were tied at 14 each. The Bulldogs outshot the Crusaders in the game 34-33.
Gabe Gratton made 29 saves on the 33 shots that he faced for the win for the Bulldogs. Montreal native and University of Vermont commit Daniel Heroux made 29 saves on the 34 shots that he faced for the Crusaders.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Tanner Willick 2) Nick Wellenreiter 3) Luke Dahlen
Attendance in Blackfalds was 663
Bulldogs next game is Sunday March 24th in Okotoks against the Oilers at 7:30pm. The Bulldogs next home game is Saturday March 30th at 6pm against the Spruce Grove Saints.
