Sherwood Park Crusaders (22-11-2) VS Lloydminster Bobcats (24-7-1) December 16th, 2015 – 7:00 PM
Media: AJHL Web TV
It was a weekend to forget for the Sherwood Park Crusaders this past Friday and Saturday as the team dropped both their weekend games on the road to the Drumheller Dragons and the Brooks Bandits by a combined score of 16-4.
Saturday’s loss to the Brooks Bandits, 10-1, was the worst defeat of the season for the Crusaders and the first time in over ten years the Crusaders allowed ten or more goals against. It marked the largest margin of defeat since January 14th, 2006 when the Crusaders lost 9-1 to the Grande Prairie Storm and the first time since 2009 to allow nine or more goals as Sherwood Park fell 9-5 to the Spruce Grove Saints on January 27th.
That being said the Crusaders have an opportunity to redeem themselves Wednesday night when they return to the Sherwood Park Arena and divisional play to take on the Lloydminster Bobcats.
Sherwood Park enters Wednesday night’s contest sitting in fifth place with 46 Points in the Viterra North Division, three Points behind the Bobcats for fourth place and the cut off line for Home Ice in the first round of the Gas Drive Cup Playoffs.
The RBC Cup hosts have had the Crusaders number this season, leading through the first four games with a record of 3-1. Sherwood Park is 1-0-1 in their last two games against the Bobcats, the most recent game was a 2-1 Overtime loss on November 14th at the Sherwood Park Arena.
Both teams enter Wednesday’s contest with a two game losing streak.
Players to watch: For the Crusaders…no matter if it’s Zac Klassen or Zach Dyment starting in goal for the Crusaders, a bounce back effort will be needed as both saw action this past weekend, Dyment allowing seven Goals and Klassen nine Goals, Defenseman Joel Webb had three Assists in the game against Drumheller and will look to continue his production from the backend…For the Bobcats, much like the Crusaders being without Tyler Maltby, they are without the services of Forwards Noah Bauld and Troy Van Tetering who are fifth and sixth in team scoring respectively. FWD Kevin Darrar leads the team with 27 Points and FWD Morgan Messenger leads the Bobcats with 14 Goals. Goaltender Alex Leclerc stymied the Crusaders last time the two teams met allowing one goal on 33 Shots, the Quebec Native has a league leading 1.89 G.A.A and a .932 Save Percentage.
-Story by Taylor Medak