Sherwood Park, AB: The Sherwood Park Crusaders are proud to announce that Arjun Atwal, Carter Savoie (University of Denver), Michael Benning (University of Denver), and Carter Gylander (Colgate University) have been named to the 2019/20 Viterra North All-League team.
Arjun Atwal wrapped up his fourth year with the Crusaders and the captain for the 2019/20 season. Atwal finished the year with 107 points (35 goals, 72 assists) which were the most in the AJHL. On February 26th, Atwal was named the 2019/20 AJHL Most Valuable Player making him the fifth Crusader to receive the award.
Atwal?s lineman, Carter Savoie hit the 53 goal mark in the 2020 season making him the first Crusader to hit milestone since Andrew Luciuk in 1995. Along with those 53 goals, the St Albert product contributed with 46 assists to take his point tally to 99 points in 54 games. Savoie was also a member of the AJHL Selects that went to Sochi, Russia, over the summer, Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge in Dawson Creek, BC, and played in the CJHL Top Prospects game in Hamilton, Ontario. This is Carter Savoie?s second appearance on the All-League team.
On the blue line, Michael Benning was one of the two defenceman named the All-League team. The University of Denver commit was named the league?s Outstanding Defenceman on February 27th. He became the first Crusader to win the award since Josh Healey in 2013. In his second season in Sherwood Park, Benning finished with a staggering 75 points (12 goals, 63 assists) in 54 games making him the highest-scoring defenceman in the league. Those 75 points were the most by a defenceman since 2018 when Dennis Cesena of the Brooks Bandits did it in 60 games. He is now tied alongside Cesena, Cale Makar (Brooks Bandits), and Keith Brown (Fort Saskatchewan Traders) for tenth all time. Benning was also a member of Team Canada West, the AJHL Selects, and the CJHL Top Prospects.
Finally, Carter Gylander was named the goaltender of the Viterra North All-League Team. The Detroit Red Wings prospect finished first in both goals against average and save percentage with a 2.10 GAA, and 0.923 save percentage. Gylander played in 40 games for Sherwood Park and finished with a record of 34-5-0 and picked up three shutouts along the way.
The organization would like to congratulate the players and their families on this accomplishment.