Sherwood Park, AB: Carter Savoie (University of Denver) scored his 50th goal of the season and Arjun Atwal got his 100th point this season as the Sherwood Park Crusaders defeated the Lloydminster Bobcats 7-0 on Family Day.
Jacob Franczak scored the opener in the first period, cutting in from the right and turning to fire past Bobcats goalie Josh Dias.
The second period proved to be entertaining for the large home crowd, and it started with a goal. Michael Benning (University of Denver) fired home from long range, with Atwal and Reid Irwin (University of Denver). Blake Sydlowski made it 3-0 two minutes later.
Tempers soon flared. Nicholas Magis and then Mathew Shatsky dropped the gloves with two Bobcats, and the events on the ice got the crowd fired up.
The fans had more reason to celebrate. Defenseman Max Wutzke saw his shot trickle past Dias for his first AJHL goal. He would not be the only one with something to smile about, as Savoie hit the 50-goal mark with four minutes until the intermission. That goal made him the first Crusader to score 50 goals in a season since Andrew Luciuk in 1995.
Jarred White (University of Alabama – Huntsville) assisted the sixth goal of the game midway through the third period, allowing Tanner Fincaryk to hit a one-timer into the net.
Arjun Atwal reached a century of goals to end the scoring, becoming the first Crusader to reach 100 points in the regular season since Ken Slywka in 1992. He is also the fifth player in franchise history to do so.
Fans had the opportunity to hit the ice with some of the players after the game in the Family Day post-game skate. The players posed for photos and signed autographs.
The Crusaders are back on home ice for the final two home games of the regular season against the Drayton Valley Thunder and the Spruce Grove Saints this weekend.