SHERWOOD PARK, AB – The Sherwood Park Crusaders picked up their first win on home ice against a Viterra South Division opponent this season with a 5-3 win over the Calgary Mustangs Friday night.
The Crusaders were able to jump out to a 2-0 after the first period as Brandon Wallis scored his eighth of the season at 9:16 and rookie Garrett Clegg continued his goal scoring prowess with his 15th of the year on his trade mark right wing side.
Sherwood Park would add to their lead in the middle period as halfway through the frame Dylan Stewart would net his 25th of the season. New addition Tyson Gruninger added the first of three points on the evening with an assist on the Stewart goal.
The Mustangs would not go away in this one as Goaltender Ashton Abel kept his team in the game allowing three goals on 42 shots as he was peppered all night long by the Crusader shooters.
Calgary would get on the board with a goal from captain Salvatore Scalise late in the second period.
The Mustangs inched closer in the third period with a power play goal from Daniel Rybarik with just over four minutes to play setting up an entertain final few minutes.
Sherwood Park thought they had iced things when Forward Tyson Gruninger scored his first as a Crusader on an empty net opportunity with 49 seconds remaining, putting the Crusaders up 4-2.
After taking a late penalty, the Mustangs would convert on another power play thanks to team leading scorer Joseph Karpyshyn, making it 4-3 with 8.5 seconds to play.
In those final few seconds, Gruninger would score on another empty net to give him two goals and three points in his Crusader debut.
Sherwood Park is back in action Saturday night as they host the Canmore Eagles.
BOXSCORE: Crusaders 5 Mustangs 3
VIDEO: Post Game
VIDEO: Highlights