Crusaders split weekend against crosstown rivals, the Spruce Grove Saints

The Sherwood Park Crusaders played a weekend home-and-home series versus the Spruce Grove Saints, their crosstown rivals. It was their first meeting in the regular-season BCHL between the Edmonton suburban teams. Heading into the weekend, the Crusaders were looking to stay on pace with the top of the division, while the Saints sought out their first win of the season.

Game 5 vs. Spruce Grove Saints

Fans in attendance on Friday night were gifted with goals. The Crusaders and Saints lit the lamp 13 times, but, luckily for the home fans, it was Sherwood Park that came out on top. The Cru came away with a 9-4 victory led by Jeremy Loranger, who scored his first BCHL hat trick. Robin Benoit started the scoring in his first game for the Crusaders since coming up from the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL). He finished with two goals and was one of eight players to have a multi-point game. James Venne was fantastic between the pipes again, stopping 37 of 41 shots for a .902 save percentage.

Game 6 @ Spruce Grove Saints

The goals didn’t come quite as easy for Sherwood Park the next night in Spruce Grove. The Saints found themselves up 3-1 after 20. Christian Chouha scored the Crusaders’ lone goal of the first, but the team came out rallying in the second, scoring a couple to tie the game. Cooper Sharp and Matthew Croxall beat Xander Miceli, evening the game heading into the third. Disappointingly, the Crusaders weren’t able to beat Miceli again, and the Saints came away with a 4-3 win after scoring late in the third.

Notes:

Logan Kennedy made his first BCHL start on Saturday night versus the Saints, stopping 34 of 38 shots.

The Crusaders are now tied for the most goals in the league with the Trail Smoke Eaters, with one less game played.

The Crusaders are third in the Interior East Division, two points behind the Brooks Bandits in first place.

Jeremy Loranger is first in league scoring with 13 points in six games. His linemate Kale Dach is in the top ten as well, in eighth.

Coming Up:

The Crusaders hit the road next week for three games, with two happening at the BCHL Showcase. They’ll be in Chilliwack on October 11 to face the Chiefs and then, over the weekend, they go up against the Surrey Eagles, the current BCHL champions, and the Langley Rivermen. They’re back in Sherwood Park on October 19, taking on the Penticton Vees. You can purchase tickets now at tickets.sherwoodparkcrusaders.ca.