BONNYVILLE, AB – The Sherwood Park Crusaders snapped their season high eight-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over the Bonnyville Pontiacs on the road Friday night.
Sherwood Park would open the scoring just over five minutes into the hockey game on the power play courtesy of William Zapernick.
The goal on the man-advantage would foreshadow what was to come at the RJ Lalonde Arena on Friday night.
Zapernick’s 13th of the season would be the first of three Crusader goals in the first period. Forward Garrett Clegg and Defenseman Tyler Jette would score 31 seconds apart to make things 3-0 with less than three minutes to go in period one.
Jette’s goal was his second of the season as he appeared in his first game since February 4th.
The Pontiacs would also get on the board in the first just after Jette made it 3-0 for the Crusaders.
Things would open up even more for Sherwood Park in the second period as they would add another three on the board.
Defenseman Michael Bentz would score his first AJHL goal, and eventual game winner, at 12:14 of the second frame while the Crusader power play would cap off a 75% night with goals from Brandon Wallis and Ty Readman late in the period, giving Sherwood Park the 6-1 lead after 40 minutes.
Bonnyville would not go away in the third, but the game would be well out of reach as they would score early in the third and then just under 17 minutes later to make the score a little closer at 6-3.
It was a big night for many Crusaders.
William Zapernick would lead the way with a goal and two assists and nine others would see the scoresheet, Peyton McIsaac and Tyler Jette had multi-point nights as well.
Goaltender Brandon Vogel would stop 42 of 45 shots, including 23 in the third period. Vogel made several key saves in the first and second periods to preserve the Crusader lead.
The win was Vogel’s first since January 19th.
Both teams will do things all over again on Family Day (Monday February 19th) in Sherwood Park at 2:15pm.
BOXSCORE: Crusaders 6 Pontiacs 3