Sherwood Park, AB: The Sherwood Park Crusaders stay on home ice to face the Drayton Valley Thunder Sunday afternoon, with the home side looking to gain more points in the run-up to the playoffs.
The Cru come into the game following last night?s 7-4 win over the Brooks Bandits, a game which saw Carter Savoie bag a hat-trick.
The Thunder have struggled to find wins this season and sit fifth in the AJHL North Division standings. However, they go into Friday night?s game against the Whitecourt Wolverines on a three-game home win streak. Two of those three wins were back-to-back victories over the Grande Prairie Storm.
Drayton Valley has had even more reason to celebrate as of late. Forward Matthew Kinash has recently committed to Brown University for next season, and Jeremy Klessen has been recognized for his 100th game in a Thunder jersey.
Kinash is not the only member of the team that will be heading to NCAA next season. Well-travelled defenseman Jesse Pomeroy has committed to Niagara University, and American forward Henry Wagner will join Yale University.
The Crusaders have won all three meetings against the Thunder this season, scoring 15 goals against them. Arjun Atwal has scored the most points against Drayton Valley with six (1G, 5A), while Tanner Fincaryk bagged a hat-trick the last time the two teams met.
Puck drop is at 2:15 P.M. at Sherwood Park Arena.