Bulldogs fell short to the Crusaders last night. Losing Game #1 of the BCHL Alberta Division Semi Finals 5-3. On Friday night at the Sherwood Park Arena, they kept it close until the Crusaders pulled ahead in the third period to take Game 1.
Crusaders wearing their light jerseys at home. Still trying to figure out what exactly the Crusaders mascot is suppose to be. Mascots that aren’t animals kind of look goofy. They should put a big puck on his head or something. The camera shots taken in the game are very poor quality too. I was debating even putting them in the post as they are almost too hard to see what is even going on in them.
Hunter Brown opened up the scoring for the Bulldogs at 3:31 of the first period. Unassisted.
The Cru’s Hunter, Hunter Price tied the game up 8 seconds later with the assists going to Kale Dach and Noah Wills.
Matheson Mason scores for the Bulldogs 2-1 at 14:56 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Aaron Brown and Carter Cormier. That Mason’s first goal since joining the Bulldogs which is a bit surprising as he always seems to be involved with offensive opportunities.
Shots on goal in the first period were 11-10 for the Crusaders
Ethan Merner ties it up at 2-2 when he scored for the Crusaders at 1:56 of the second period with the helpers going to Cameron Caron and Dominic Payne. Caron is a Black Ace for the Crusaders playing in his second game. Caron is from Dracut, Massachusetts. Caron was playing High School Hockey in New Hampshire most of this season. He is committed to Northeastern University for 26-27.
Nick Wellenreiter scores to give the Crusaders the lead and make it a 3-2 at 9:11 of the middle frame with the helpers going to Captain Logan Hauer and Connor Gengle
Then Easton Adrian scored to tie game at three a each at 18:36 of the second period. Unassisted. That is Adrian’s first goal as a Bulldog.
Shots on goal in the second period were 14-13 for the Crusaders
Dominic Payne scores for the Crusaders at 7:32 of the third period to make it a 4-3 game for the Crusaders. The assists on the goal went to Noah Wills and Hunter Price.
Ethan Merner scores on the empty net to make it 5-3 and seal the game for the Crusaders with 1:30 left in the game. The assists went to Ryder Ringor and Connor Gengle. I say it alot but pulling the goalie way too early like the Bulldogs do almost all the time I think is a way bigger risk than the never times it pays off. Nothing breaks the confidence of a team more than watching a trickler seep into the empty net.
Shots on goal in the third period were 18-10 for the Crusaders. The Crusaders outshot the Bulldogs 43-33 in the game.
Erik Roest stopped 30 of the 33 shots that he faced for the win for the Crusaders. Wilson Maxfield stopped 38 of the 42 shots that he faced for the Bulldogs
Three Stars were 1) Ethan Merner 2) Erik Roest 3) Dominic Payne
Attendance in Sherwood Park was 929
Bulldogs next game is game #2 on Saturday in Sherwood Park at 7pm.
Scores Around The League
| Okotoks Oilers | 0 | Brooks Bandits | 4 |
| Alberni Bulldogs | 3 | Chilliwack Chiefs | 1 |
| Vernon Vipers | 3 | Penticton Vees (OT) | 4 |
| Salmon Arm Silverbacks | 6 | West Kelowna Warriors | 1 |
| Victoria Grizzlies (OT) | 2 | Surrey Eagles | 1 |