Jayden Joly got a hat trick and Matthew Hennessey made 19 saves to earn the shut out as the Blackfalds Bulldogs defeated the Sherwood Park Crusaders 4-0. It was not a good night for “The Cru”. The Bulldogs seen Sherwood Park once in January and once in exhibition play so far this season. It could just be me or maybe the 2 of them playing against each other but the Crusaders have to be one of the most boring teams to watch in the league. Last time the 2 faced off was in Blackfalds and it was a make up game, the Bulldogs won in overtime 1-0. Erik Roest was in the net tonight for the Crusaders, Roest made 46 saves against the Bulldogs last time they met.
About half way through the first period David Brandes just got done serving a penalty, got on the ice and it looked like he hit a “Cru Member” from behind. He might have, either way the ref never noticed it or felt a reason to call it. Kody Willick broke out of the zone and found Jayden Joly who easily broke past the crowd and sniped one past Cru Goalie Erik Roest to make it 1-0.
At 10:44 of the second period while 4 on 4 Brendan Ross gave a nice saucer pass to Joly for his second of the game and makes it 2-0. Things are not looking good for “The Crew”.
Brendan Kluny (no relation to George) got a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for a hit to the head on Kasey Hiemstra. What is “The Crew” doing? The Bulldogs had a 5 minute power play against Okotoks on Saturday and did nothing with it. But while killing the penalty Sherwood Park somehow managed to get a too many man penalty🤣🤪🤡. 5 on 3 Bulldogs. With that Jason Siedem scored on a Brett Meerman pass to make it 3-0. The AJHL site gave it to Meerman but it was Siedem. The Bulldogs are getting back at Roest for not letting them score as much last game.
Then the officials started debating a goal, which “The Crew” claimed they scored, it could of went in but all I think about was this that happened last time the Bulldogs played these guys. This is the game where the Bulldogs played them and scored and it was disallowed. So tit for tat although I am not sure if that even went in there.
Then Jayden Joly jammed away in a scrum and scored his third of the night and 23rd or the season getting a hat trick in back to back games. Makes it 4-0
There was no scoring in the third period. Kurt Gurkan took a hit from Liam Cox-Smith and went down the tunnel to the dressing room and I think he came back out wearing jersey #6. Why I do not know.
Other Notes
Bulldogs next game is Friday against Calgary in Calgary. Bulldogs next home game is Saturday February 25th against the Drumheller Dragons.
Attendance was announced at 511 at the Sherwood Park Arena
Bulldogs out shot “The Cru” 32-19.
Olds defeated Canmore 4-3 on Family Day. Too bad as Olds is already eliminated from the playoffs. Thought it would of been nice for Olds to get in the post season. Maybe next year. Olds has not made the playoffs since 2016/17. The team that finished below them in the south that did not make the playoffs with a horrid 8-50-1-1 record was the Calgary Mustangs. Which ironically enough are the Blackfalds Bulldogs franchise of today.
Crusaders netminder Erik Roest faced 32 shots on the night.
Brooks squeaked by Drumheller today 2-1 in front of 2,008 fans in Brooks.
The Okotoks Oilers have 4 games remaining after today this year. 2 are against Brooks and the other 2 against Drumheller 🤪🤣👍
The CJHL just released its Top 20 list. The only 2 AJHL teams on that list are Brooks (1) and Spruce Grove (5) and that is it, even in the honorable mention. It is a nice list and all to make others in the country feel good. Lets be realistic though, the top 16 spots on that list should all be AJHL teams. How a team from the SIJHL is even on that list or considered to be the same level of hockey as the AJHL is laughable🤪.
