Crusaders fall in overtime, but clinch playoff spot

The Sherwood Park Crusaders, even though it wasn’t the way they wanted, have clinched a position in the 2022 AJHL playoffs.

On the final game of the regular season, the Crusaders hosted the Drayton Valley Thunder. Things got started with a powerplay goal from Logan Hauer at the side of the net, and that was all for the first period. Sammy May and Stephen Kirkpatrick helped take a 2-1 lead for the Thunder into the third period, but just 27 seconds in and Mitchell Joss tied things up. Kadyn Chabot gave Drayton Valley their second lead of the game, but Joss took the reins again and knotted the game at three with 45 seconds left in regulation. This forced overtime, and that was all the Cru needed to snag that last playoff spot. Unfortunately the celebration was dampened as Chabot collected his second of the game as the overtime winner.

Sherwood Park has a week off until playoffs begin, where they will face either the Fort McMurray Oil Barons or the Bonnyville Pontiacs.