In their first BCHL shootout this season, the Blackfalds Bulldogs were defeated by a score of 3-2 against the Spruce Grove Saints on Saturday night at the Eagle Builders Centre. During the season, the Bulldogs had previously played against the Saints seven times, with four victories, one loss in overtime, and one loss in regulation.
Carter Cormier made it a 1-0 game just 1:18 into the game with the assists on the goal going to Trent LeDrew and Ryan Shaw.
Brendan Ross scored a beautiful goal to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead at 12:21 of the first period with the assists going to Luke Dahlen and James Johnson.
Shots on goal in the first period were 14-9 for the Saints
In the second period Nolan Dupont got his stick slashed while on a breakaway and got a penalty shot. DeKok stopped him on what was a good scoring chance to prevent the game from being 3-0.
Shots on goal in the second period were 9-3 for the Bulldogs
Calgary native Josh Polak scored his first junior hockey goal at 15:57 of the third period while on the Power Play to get the Saints onto the board and put them within one. Assists on the goal went to 20 year old former Drumheller Dragon Tanner Dawkins and former Fort McMurray Oil Baron Ryder Matter.
Chicago native Alexander Babich tied the game up for the Saints with an extra attacker an the goal pulled with a minute left in the game to make it 2-2. The assists on the goal went to Adam Lang and Keifer Miller.
Shots on goal in the third period were 8-7 for the Saints.
Shots on goal in overtime were 8-5 for the Bulldogs. Which was some of the best back and forth hockey I have seen in that building. The overtime period entertainment wise sure made up for the second and third period of the game which were quite boring to watch.
Shot out
| SAINTS | Ethan Sundar | ✔️ | BULLDOGS | Dakota MacIntosh | ✖️ |
| SAINTS | Keifer Miller | ✖️ | BULLDOGS | Brendan Ross | ✖️ |
| SAINTS | Ryder Matter | ✖️ | BULLDOGS | Jayden Joly | ✖️ |
Ryan DeKok made 31 saves on the 33 shots that he faced for the win for the Saints. Gabe Gratton made 28 saves on the 30 shots that he faced.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Brendan Ross 2) Ryan DeKok 3) Wilson Maxfield
Attendance in Blackfalds was 651
Bulldogs next game is Friday April 5th in Okotoks against the Oilers. The Bulldogs next home game and final regular season home game of the season is Saturday April 6th at 6pm against the Spruce Grove Saints.
In the Alberta Junior Hockey League the Semi Finals are underway. Whitecourt and Canmore are tied at 1-1 and the Calgary Canucks are up on the Drumheller Dragons 2-0 in the series. The Canucks beat the Dragons last night 3-2 in overtime in front of over 1,000 fans at the Max Bell. Former Bulldogs Jack Plandowski and Cody Pisarczyk. I would love to see Drumheller and the fans of the team win the AJHL. But I sort of have to cheer for the ex Bulldogs. There was alot of rumbling as Drumheller had scored in overtime and the goal was disallowed due to the net being off. Which looked questionable and in my opinion was a goal that should of counted. It will be rocking in Drumheller on Tuesday night.