It was do-or-die on Wednesday night in Sherwood Park, as your Crusaders looked to stay alive in game 4 of the BCHL Playoffs. After a 4-0 loss on Tuesday night, the Cru looked to take the series back south and pick up their first victory in a 3-0 series.
Wednesday’s game saw the Crusaders finally able to solve Bandits’ goaltender Zach Zahara following their shutout loss the previous evening. In fact, both teams were able to find twine plenty throughout game four. Unfortunately, it was the Bandits who were able to put the biscuit in the basket with a little more consistency in round two’s fourth game. Luke Bibby (1 goal, 3 assists) and Ethan Beyer (2 goals, 1 assist) led the charge for the boys from Brooks, with your Crusaders falling victim to a 6-4 scoreboard, and therefore, the end of the 2024/2025 campaign.
We wrap.
First Period
Both the Crusaders and Bandits were tentative to start the potentially deciding game four. Though both teams were able to pick up some high-quality chances of their own, the first media break was reached with no goals and no penalties to speak of.
Business quickly picked up, however. The game’s first goal came just over 13 minutes into the 1st period, with Marko Stojkov picking up his first goal of the postseason. Shortly afterward, with just over five minutes left to play, your Crusaders picked up the first powerplay of the game. Within seconds, the Cru were able to capitalize, with Kale Dach picking up his first goal of the 2nd round.
The final minute of the period saw a parade to the penalty box. With just under a minute left, the Crusaders found themselves back on the powerplay, as the Bandits’ Nathan Brown was called for roughing. However, the man advantage was short-lived, as Masun Fleece picked up a high-sticking call with just over 30 seconds left. However, just seconds afterward, Ethan Beyer of the Bandits earned himself an unsportsmanlike conduct minor, sending your Crusaders into the intermission down by two goals, but up by a man.
Second Period
Unfortunately, despite the powerplay, your Crusaders were unable to extend their lead to kick off the second stanza. Conversely, it was the Bandits who were next to pick up a goal, with Cooper Pierson picking up his fourth of the playoffs to cut the Crusaders’ lead in half.
It wouldn’t be the end of the Bandits’ scoring, unfortunately. Less than a minute after their first goal, Ethan Beyer collected his first of the postseason to tie the game at 2. Within seconds, the Bandits took the lead, courtesy of Luke Bibby’s sixth goal of the BCHL playoffs.. Shortly after, it was Dante Siciliano picking up his third of the postseason. Within six minutes, the Bandits had scored four goals, taking themselves from a 2-0 deficit to a 4-2 lead.
In spite of a tough start to the second, the Cru were able to close the floodgates, capitalizing just seconds after Siciliano’s tally. Unsurprisingly, it was the captain, Kale Dach, with his second of the game, bringing the Crusaders within a goal of the Bandits.
Unfortunately, the tides hadn’t fully turned, but continued to shift intermittently. Shortly after Dach’s goal, Maxime Ly took an interference penalty, with Bandits defenceman Ethan Beyer able to collect his second goal of the game to extend the lead to 5-3. Shortly after, Jeremy Loranger found the back of the net, tallying his eighth goal of the postseason and third point of the game. With just 12 seconds left, Brooks was able to find twine once again, and after a wild second period, your Crusaders headed to the dressing room down 6-4.
Third Period
Though the first portion of the third was uneventful, business ramped up near the seven-minute mark. A late hit to Kale Dach saw the fists start flying, with Dalton MacGillivray and Davide Patella taking early trips to the shower after chucking knuckles. However, unlike the second period, both your Crusaders and the Bandits locked down defensively, with both sides limiting their opponents’ opportunities. When the Bandits pressed, James Venne was more than up to the challenge, shutting the door through the third stanza.
Unfortunately, the lack of goals left the scoreboard looking nearly the same as it did to close out the second period, and left your Crusaders on the wrong side of a 6-4 loss.
Final Score: Bandits 6, Crusaders 4
Series: Bandits win the series 4-0
News & Notes
- Kale Dach ended the evening with three points (2 goals, 1 assist)
- Dalton MacGillivray picked up a pair of assists for the Cru prior to his fight
- Goaltender James Venne made his eighth straight start through the playoffs, making 34 saves on 40 shots.
- Jeremy Loranger was your Crusaders’ leading scorer in the 2024/2025 playoffs, picking up 14 points (8 goals, 6 assists) through 8 games.
Next Up:
2025/2026!
Season passes for 2025/2026 can be found by clicking HERE. Crusaders fans, thank you for a memorable first full season in the BCHL. We’ll see you next year!
