Bulldogs Lose Close One To Crusaders 5-3

Hockey Hookey day and one of the best games I think the Bulldogs have played all year. Rare to say that in a loss but that game could of went either way and was back and forth all game. Both goalies played excellent and had no chance to save any goal scored.

Trent LeDrew opened up the scoring for the Bulldogs at 7:37 of the first period with the assists going to Ryan Shaw and Luke Dahlen. LeDrew just got the tail end of a beautiful Shaw pass and snuck it by Eric Roest getting his third goal of the season. The name Trent LeDrew sounds like a cowboy from a western movie.

Former Drumheller Dragon Adam Raesler tied the game up for the Crusaders 1:22 later at 8:59 of the opening period. With the assists going to 20 year old Sherwood Park native Zac Maxwell and Canisius commit Dominic Payne. Weird shot came in on the goal and the rebound went right to Raesler who had a wide open net. Martin Brodeur himself couldn’t of saved that.

Brock Souch gave the Crusaders the lead at 14:01 when he scored on the Power Play. Assist on the goal went to Dominic Payne. I wish that I could get a replay on the penalty that lead to the Power Play for this goal. (Flohockey TV is delaying the replays now by a few days on the site) But Trent LeDrew got called for cross checking when a Crusaders player fell into the boards. He was no where near him. No one was near this kid. He just fell. It was such a shockingly stupid call that it was suggested to a police officer in the stands to go down and make sure the ref wasn’t driving a vehicle after the game. He was seeing stuff! That could be a danger if he was on the road. Because really if you thought you seen that on the ice lord knows what you could imagine seeing driving down the road.

Ryan Shaw snipes his 9th goal of the season at 19:07 of the first period with the assists on the goal going to Tanner Willick and Carter Cormier.

Shots in the first period were 10-9 for Blackfalds.

Former Powell River King Ryder Ringor at 17:20 of the second period to make it a 3-2 Crusaders game. With the assist on the goal going to Zac Maxwell.

Logan Hauer scores his 23rd goal of the season at 18:04 of the second frame to make it 4-2 for the Crusaders.

Shots in second period were 15-7 for the Crusaders.

The Sherwood Park Crusaders HATE body checking in hockey. Especially when it is clean. So much so that some players feel that it gives them a right to run players with no intention other than to injure the opposing player. Which they attempted to do at the start of the third period. If the league really went back and looked at this player that got suspended and the sheer stupidity of his actions over the course of few seasons they would suspend him for a long period for sure. As a fan of any opposing team though you want him in there playing as he is more than likely to cause his team a game than help them win even though he is a very skilled player. I have seen him do it several times too. So you knew the anger would come and the Bulldogs got a 5 minute Power Play.

Ryan Shaw scored on the Power Play to cut the Crusaders lead to 4-3 at 15:01 right as most of the kids were exiting the building. Assist on the goal went to Brendan Ross and Carter Patterson.

Cooper Sharp who was traded from Camrose after the WJAC to the Crusaders scored in the empty net to make it a 5-3 game at 18:53 of the final period. Unassisted.

Shots in the third period were 8-5 Blackfalds. The Crusaders however outshot the Bulldogs in the game 29-25.

Erik Roest stopped 22 of the 25 shots he faced for the win for the Crusaders. While Gabe Gratton stopped 24 of the 28 shots he faced for the Bulldogs.

Three Stars were 1) Ryan Shaw 2) Dominic Payne 3) Logan Hauer

Attendance was 1,008.

Bulldogs next game is Saturday January 20th when the Olds Grizzlys come to town. Puck drop at 6pm.

Former Sherwood Park Crusader and member of Canada West at the WJAC Diego Johnson is now playing for the Madison Capitals of the USHL.