Sherwood Park, AB: The Sherwood Park Crusaders took a trip north this past weekend to face-off against the Grande Prairie Storm and Whitecourt Wolverines. They had seen the Storm once already this season beating them 4-1 at the Sherwood Park Arena. They were a little more familiar with the Wolverines, though, having faced them three times and beating them each occasion.
On Saturday, the Crusaders got out to a 1-0 lead shorthanded. Brett Wieschorster (University of Vermont), Michael Benning (University of Denver) and Carter Savoie (University of Denver) teamed up for on a great passing play down the ice that was finished off by Savoie for his 27th of the year. Nathan Morgan tied late in the second and then they gained the lead 40 seconds in the third period with a goal from Brody Dale on the powerplay. Sherwood Park battled back, however. At the 2:44 mark of the third period, Will Zapernick (University of Alabama-Huntsville) prevented the puck from leaving the Storm zone. Tanner Fincaryk capitalized on that and beat Lars Kaliel for his 6th goal of the year. They then had a goal called back from Ty Mueller (University of Nebraska-Omaha) late in the third period after the linesman deemed the play offside. The Crusaders kept pushing though and eventually restored the lead from Savoie who netted with 7th game-winning goal of the season to make it 3-2. Jordan Frey made 30 stops to pick up his 8th win of the year.
On Sunday, they faced the Whitecourt Wolverines in an offsite game at the Pembina Arena in Fox Creek. Arjun Atwal got the scoring started midway through the first period for his ninth of the season. He then doubled his goal tally, and the teams, at the four minute mark of the second period. Savoie added a third on the powerplay, and then Blake Sydlowski got in on the action late in the second period. The Wolverines pulled one back from Brayden Labant but it wasn?t enough as the Crusaders walked away with a 4-1 victory.
After his three-point game against the Wolverines, Atwal passed Tyler Maltby and Cody Kunyk on the all-time franchise points leaderboards to move into 10th all time. Atwal now has 170 points (61 goals, 109 assists) in 132 games for the Crusaders.
Fans can catch the Crusaders in action again this Saturday the Sherwood Park Arena versus the Olds Grizzlys. Tickets are available here.