The Sherwood Park Crusaders return home after a four game swing in the Viterra South Division, and the results are middling.
The latter two games of the trip, starting with the Okotoks Oilers, was a similar story to that against Calgary. However, it was Reiger Lorenz that opened the scoring shorthanded in the first period. Just over four minutes into the second, Zac Maxwell stuffed home a powerplay goal to tie the game at one. Unfortunately for the Cru, recently reinstated Ty Yoder took the lead back and neither goaltender would give up anything else, as the game would finish 2-1 in favor of the Oilers. Gus Byin made the start for the Cru, making 28 saves in the contest.
Saturday’s matchup in Olds was a more pleasant outcome, as after a scoreless first, Zac Maxwell and Ryan Arnold both found the back of the net. Tyler Green potted one to cut the lead in half with 38 seconds left in the frame, but third period markers from Bruce MacGregor and Evan Arnold restored and padded the Crusaders’ lead to close out a 4-1 finish. Lochlan Gordon made 22 saves in his first start of the season in a Crusaders uniform, after starting the year in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks.
The Cru now venture back to their home rink on January 19th where they will take on the Fort McMurray Oil Barons for the second to last time this season.