The Crusaders had a tough game last weekend.
In their only game of the weekend, the Crusaders would lose 7-6 in OT to the Spruce Grove Saints.
Much like the previous game in Vernon, the Crusaders would give up the first goal of the Game as Ben Buckley would get his first of the season to give the Saints the 1-0 lead just two and a half minutes into the game. After that however, was all Crusaders hockey in the opening frame as Joseph Sinclair would get his team-leading fifth of the season on a set up feed from Braeden O’Keefe and A.J Valenti to tie the game up 1-1, just a minute after the opening goal. The Crusaders would then score just over the halfway mark of the first when Quincey Supprien would score off a pretty pass from Jude Bray to give the Crusaders their first lead of the game, 2-1.
Sherwood Park continued the offence into the second period where Tommy Coccaro would get his second shorthanded goal of the season to put the Crusaders up 3-1. Spruce grove would cut the lead in half however just three minutes later when Scott Sandilands would pick up his first career BCHL goal to make it a one goal game, 3-2. The Crusaders would end up regaining the two goal lead three minutes past the halfway point as Captain Stevie Grumley would get the Crusaders league-leading fifth shorthanded goal of the season to put the Cru’ up 4-2 heading into the final frame.
The Guys in Green would pick up right where they left off in the second as just under five minutes into the third, Joseph Sinclair would pot his second of the game from a perfect set-up feed from Assistant Captain Jude Bray, giving Sherwood a three goal lead, 5-2. Saints would get on the board only a minute later as Tre Peck would get his first of the season on the man advantage to make it a 5-3 hockey game. Much like a match of Ping Pong, the game would go back and fourth until Gage Brandon would get his second of the season near the seven minute marker of the game to give the Crusaders their largest lead of the game, 6-3. The Saints would not go down without a fight however, as Carson LLoyd would score his second of the season with just 90 seconds left in the third to make it a 6-4 game. Brandon Funk would then score with just 45 second left in the game to make it a one goal contest. With just 1.4 seconds left, Brandon Funk would get his second of the game off a perfect set up feed from defenseman Carson Lloyd to tie the game up 6-6.
Coming into extra innings, both teams would have their fair share of offensive chances to “ice” the game, however the game winner would land on the stick of Western Michigan commit Felix Haibock just under three minutes into overtime to give the Crusaders their first loss of the season.
“It never feels good to lose a game like that.” Mentioned GM and Head Coach Brennan Menard when asked on his teams performance on Friday.
“We’ve been really strong in third periods this year and have shown a lot of maturity for such a young group, so maybe we took that for a granted. We don’t like losing, but sometimes the game gives you moments that teach more than a win ever could. This is a growth opportunity for our young team with so many fresh faces. We’ll learn from those mental lapses, clean them up, and use this experience to make us better moving forward.”
The Crusaders hit the road this week to take on the BCHL Showcase, where the guys in green take on the Prince George Spruce Kings on Tuesday, October 14th and then the Langley Rivermen on Thursday, October 16th before traveling even further into B.C to take on the Coquitlam Express on Friday, October 17th and then the Victoria Grizzlies on the 18th.
