The Battle of Alberta returns to the postseason, as for the second straight year, the Sherwood Park Crusaders and Brooks Bandits are set to meet in the BCHL Playoffs.
The Crusaders earned their spot in the second round following a 4-0 sweep of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, while the Bandits defeated the West Kelowna Warriors in a five-game set.
Last year saw the Bandits emerge victorious over the Crusaders in the BCHL’s Alberta Finals, winning the series 4-1. However, says GM Adam Sergerie, the success of the 2024/2025 campaign has the Crusaders feeling confident heading into their second BCHL playoff battle with the Bandits.
“I think this year’s team can go into the series knowing that they have had success at home and in their building,” stated Sergerie. “In years past, we were a bit tentative against them, and rightfully so – they have been the standard for so long. They continue to be very good, but I think we should be approaching this series with a little more confidence,e knowing that we have found some success during the regular season.”
2024/2025 saw your Crusaders and Bandits face off six times, splitting the season series at three games apiece. Both teams enter round two boasting high-octane offenses; the Crusaders finished atop the BCHL’s Interior Division with 252 goals this season, as well as the league’s top two scorers in Jeremy Loranger and Kale Dach. Both Loranger and Dach remain atop the BCHL leaderboard in playoff scoring, with 11 and 9 points, respectively. However, the Bandits not only scored 234 goals of their own through 2024/2025 but allowed a paltry 123 goals, earning Brooks the highest goal differential in the league (+111).
In net, the expectation is a battle between the Bandits’ Zach Zahara (4-1-0) and the Crusaders’ James Venne (4-0-0). Venne was outstanding through round one of the playoffs, earning a 1.96 GAA and a .948 save percentage. His stellar play in round one was essential to the Crusaders’ advancing, said Sergerie, and that trend will continue through round 2.
“James has a chip on his shoulder, and he is out to prove that the regular season wasn’t a reflection of what he is capable of doing,” Sergerie commented. “He thrives in pressure moments, and right now he is leaving no doubt of that.”
Round Two kicks off this Friday and Saturday in Brooks, with your Crusaders returning home for a pair of games on Tuesday and Wednesday. All games can be viewed on FloHockey, with tickets for all games currently available through each team’s respective ticketing platforms.
RESULTS
Sunday, October 22nd, 2024: Bandits def. Crusaders 4-3
Saturday, November 23rd, 2024: Crusaders def. Bandits 2-1
Saturday, November 30th, 2024: Crusaders def. Bandits 3-1
Friday, December 13th, 2024: Bandits def. Crusaders 4-2
Saturday, January 11th, 2025: Crusaders def. Bandits 5-3
Friday, March 21st, 2025: Bandits def. Crusaders 5-3
PLAYOFF STATS & STANDINGS
Crusaders
5th in the BCHL Interior Division
Goals: Jeremy Loranger (6)
Assists: Kale Dach (8)
Wins: James Venne (4)
Bandits
2nd in BCHL Interior Division
Goals: Luke Bibby & Nick Peluso (4)
Assists: Nathan Free & Davide Patella (4)
Wins: Zach Zaraha (4)
Tickets
Game Three: Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025 ⎸ https://tickets.spcrusaders.com/events/35433-bchl-playoffs-r2g3-crusaders-vs-brooks-bandits
Game Four: Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025 ⎸ https://tickets.spcrusaders.com/events/35435-bchl-playoffs-r2g4-crusaders-vs-brooks-bandits
