The Crusaders had a better second half to the pre-season over this past week.
The guys in green defeated the Spruce Grove Saints 6-1, and the Blackfalds Bulldogs 3-2 to finish off their pre-season schedule.
“We are getting more familiar with our style of play” said General Manager and Head Coach Brennan Menard when asked what the difference was between the last two weeks of play.
“We’ve made some strides, the speed at which we are playing has improved, and that put us in situations that gave us an advantage, and we scored, then we got some goaltending from Jack and Filip as well, which was great.”
On Wednesday, September 10th, the Crusaders would score a total of four times in the first frame. Forwards Tommy Coccaro, Brec Christenson, Max Ly, and Joseph Sinclair all scored to cap off a dominant first period for the Cru’.
The Crusaders followed up with two more goals, including Max Ly getting his second of the game, while defenseman A.J. Valenti would get his first career junior A goal to put Sherwood Park up 6-0 going into the final frame.
The Saint would get a goal on the power play thanks to a Brett Barnes rip; however, the Crusaders would walk away with their first pre-season win. Goalie Filip Vavro stopped 27 of 28 in his first career junior A win.
On Saturday the 13th, much like the previous game, the first period was all Crusaders hockey. Forward Max Ly would get his third pre-season goal just three minutes into the opening frame.
Crusaders outshot the Bulldogs 11-3 in the first.
The Crusaders would then double-dip the chip, shoutout Seinfeld, as Max Ly and Joseph Sinclair would both score in the opening ten minutes of the second. The Bulldogs, however, would not go unanswered in the frame as former Crusader Mathew Croxall would bury his second of the pre-season just past the halfway point of the period.
Going into the final frame, another former Crusader, Nicholas Dipaolo, would score his first of the pre-season to make it a one-goal game. However, that would be the only goal scored in the third as Goalie Jack Scali would shut the door for his first Career junior A win, stopping 23 of 25 shots in the victory.
Sherwood Park starts the regular season on Friday the 19th, where they will hit the road to take on the Okotoks Oilers.
The following Saturday, the 20th, the Cru’ hosts the Spruce Grove Saints for their home opener.
UPCOMING GAMES
Friday, September 20th: Crusaders Home Opener vs. Spruce Grove Saints
🎟️: https://tickets.spcrusaders.com/events/38333-spruce-grove-saints-vs-sherwood-park-crusaders
Saturday, September 27th: Crusaders vs. Brooks Bandits
🎟️: https://tickets.spcrusaders.com/events/38334-brooks-bandits-vs-sherwood-park-crusaders
