I am not a betting man but I would wager that this was the last game this season that the Bulldogs will see the Spruce Grove Saints. The Blackfalds Bulldogs concluded their regular season on a victorious note, defeating the Spruce Grove Saints 4-2 on Saturday evening at the Eagle Builders Centre. To commemorate their final home game before the playoffs, the team hosted a Fan Appreciation Night and a team awards ceremony.
In March, Blackfalds forward Brendan Ross surpassed the franchise record for most goals scored in a regular season with 43, and also achieved the most career points as a Bulldog with 157. Tonight, he broke another franchise record, earning the most points in a regular season with 95. Throughout the AJHL and BCHL leagues, the two teams faced each other nine times. The Bulldogs emerged victorious in five encounters, with one overtime loss and another at their most recent match on March 30, marking their first shootout of the season. Overall, the Bulldogs secured third place in the BCHL’s Alberta Division, amassing 85 points in 68 games, with a record of 39-22-6-1. The Saints currently rank last, with 56 points in 65 games at 25-34-5-1.
Alexander Babich made it a 1-0 game for the Saints at 4:58 from Ashton McNelly. Maxfield went to stop the puck behind the net and never quite got set up in time. Babich a 20 year old from Chicago will attend Trine University next season which is in Angola, Indiana.
Shots on goal in the first period were 16-8 for the Saints
Carter Cormier tied the game up for the Bulldogs at 3:28 of the second period with the assists going to Otto Hanson and Ryan Shaw.
Jayden Joly tipped in a Ben Feenan point shot to take the lead for the Bulldogs and make it 2-1 at 6:55 of the second period with the second assist on the goal going to Luke Dahlen.
Jed Magarrell replied back to tie the game up for the Saints at 12:01 of the second period with the assists going to Evan Sundar and Stephen Kirkpatrick.
Shots on goal in the second period were 9-6 for the Bulldogs
Brendan Ross scores to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead just 1:23 into the final period. Not only did the goal give the Bulldogs the lead it has Ross tied with former Bulldogs Captain Brett Meerman for most points in a Bulldogs regular season with 94. Very fitting that the assist on the goal went to the other long standing Bulldogs and all time games played leader Jayden Joly. Brendan Ross should also win the AJHL top scorer of the year award. After all he had more points than the kid that won it when they stopped letting the BCHL teams play.
Dakota MacIntosh and Jed Magarrell dropped the gloves at 8:21 of the third period. Not certain on what caused it. A few shifts earlier Magarrell looked really upset because MacIntosh touched his stick. Either way that is the first real fight that didn’t involve Kody Willick that the Bulldogs have had.
Brendan Ross scores at 18:42 of the third period while on the Power Play to become the single season Bulldog point record holder. The assists on the goal went to Jayden Joly and James Johnson.
Shots on goal in the third period were 7-6 for the Saints. The Saints outshot the Bulldogs 29-23 in the game.
Wilson Maxfield made 27 saves on the 29 shots that he faced for the win for the Bulldogs. Alex Schweiller mad 19 saves on the 23 shots that he faced for the Saints.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Brendan Ross 2) Jayden Joly 3) Wilson Maxfield
Attendance in Blackfalds was 848
Bulldogs next game is Friday April 19th in Sherwood Park against the Crusaders for Game #1. Game #3 is the Bulldogs next home game and that is Tuesday April 23rd in Blackfalds against the Crusaders.
Other Notes: James Johnson seems to be getting the Carter Patterson treatment from the refs sometimes out there. (Getting questionable penalties due to his size)…… Sherwood Park beat the Brook Bandits in their final game of the season, but both teams could of not really cared, sort of the Bulldogs game, the games mean absolutely nothing for the standings….. Whitecourt and Canmore are playing on Sunday. Whitecourt is up in that series 3-2. The winner will face the Calgary Canucks in the final. Imagine going into a coma in November and waking up now in April and reading that.
This save by Scheiwiller on Ross was awesome. And on the bright side it saved me a hat in the long run. Ross cleaned out almost all my crappy mesh hats from the 80’s this season.
