Last night in Game 3 of their best-of-seven BCHL first-round playoff series, the Sherwood Park Crusaders hosted the Blackfalds Bulldogs at Sherwood Park Arena and came away with a 5-3 victory. Both teams started the game looking pretty flat, especially in a first period that lacked much spark, and the dark, cavernous arena—with its ugly mesh netting—didn’t exactly create the most electric atmosphere for playoff hockey. The attendance was rough on both sides, even with the series heating up; it looked thinner than what the teams drew during the regular season, and from the TV view, the crowd seemed even smaller than the reported 612, with a noticeable chunk of the fans actually there from Blackfalds. The Bulldogs will need to find a way to steal one tonight in Game 4 to avoid falling behind in the series, because so far this matchup hasn’t been the most thrilling watch on television—honestly, among all the BCHL teams (and even going back to their AJHL days), Sherwood Park games can feel like some of the toughest to sit through from a broadcast perspective. It just comes across as a bit miserable at times.
The Crusaders made it a 1-0 game at 5:39 of the first period when 20 year old Repentigny, Quebec native Quincy Supprien scores his 1st of the playoffs. The assists on the goal went to Michael Mikan and Conner Broadhead.
Former Bonnyville Pontiac Rockston Ror-Chow makes it a 2-0 Crusaders game on the Power Play at 18:52 of the first period after a give away when the Bulldogs couldn’t clear their zone. The assists on the goal went to Brant Romaniuk and Bode Sampair.
Shots on goal in the first period were 12-6 for the Crusaders
Nikita Meshcheryakov gets the bulldogs on the board with a backhander upstairs at 3:09 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to Dean Toskos and Nikita Ivashchenko.
The Crusaders scored back immediately on a fluke bounce while the Bulldogs were day dreaming, maybe still celebrating their goal who knows. Lucky Charms at 3:23 of the second period former Ottawa 67 Ryan White made it a 3-1 game for the Crusaders. The helpers on the goal went to Braeden O’Keefe and Quincy Supprien
Shots on goal in the second period were 12-5 for the Bulldogs
Nicholas DiPaolo scores a beauty with a great pass from Danny Hussa at 4:13 of the third period to get the Bulldogs within one. The other assist on the goal went to Alex Bosland.
St. Catharines, Ontario native Braeden O’keefe scores for the Crusaders on the Power Play at 11:35 of the third period. The assists on the goal went to Michael Mikan and Stevie Grumley. This was right after the Bulldogs went down and had a great chance short handed to score leaving them a tad short on men when the Crusaders went down the other way.
Luke Dahlen scores right after to get the Bulldogs back within one to make it 4-3 at 12:03 of the third period. The assist on the goal went to Braydan Smith. After the goal the refs all sit around talking about lord knows what. This Crusader coach never quits complaining. He is so hard to take serious along with the team especially due to him bringing in that meat head earlier in the season. That alone gives him no credibility in anyones eyes.
A Lazy effortless play handed the Crusaders a late goal when they just sat and watched Kent Moors stroll in to easily score a give me goal like he was the make-a-wish kid at 17:52 of the third period. The assist on the goal went to Quincy Supprien.
Shots on goal in the third period were tied at 6 each. The Bulldogs outshot the Crusaders 24-23
Both goalies were great as always with Crusader Filip Vavro stopping 21 of the 24 shots that he faced for the win. For the Bulldogs Oliver Kiraly stopped 18 of the 23 shots that he faced.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Kent Moors 2) Quincy Supprien 3) Evan Stastny
Attendance in Sherwood Park was 612
Bulldogs next game is Wednesday April 8th for Game 4 in Sherwood Park
