Sherwood Park, AB: The Sherwood Park Crusaders fell 4-1 to the Spruce Grove Saints in Sherwood Park Sunday afternoon in what proved to be a heated contest between the East-West rivals.
The Crusaders? lack of organization showed in the first period, and they conceded in the second. The Saints got an open chance, allowing rookie Luigi Bennicasa to fire past Carter Gylander (Colgate University). The Saint got his first AJHL goal in the process.
Saints goalie Matthew Davis was kept busy and denied Jarred White (University of Alabama – Huntsville) and Jacob Franczak?s point-blank shots.
The Crusaders needed a lifeline, and it came through Carter Savoief (University of Denver) . The forward twisted and turned through the Saints defence to fire past Davis, tying the game. Both sets of players felt the frustrations, and clashes on-ice started heating up.
Poor cooperation in the defence gifted the Saints an early lead in the third. Graham Gamache put Spruce Grove ahead two minutes in. The Crusaders tried to break down the Saints, but a series of missed chances proved to be the Cru?s undoing.
Two empty netters from Brett Trentham and Brecon Wood sealed a 4-1 win for the Saints. The Crusaders closed out their final regular season home game with a loss, and they now head on the road to close out the season.