Bandits, Oilers and Saints Come off Weekend with Series Lead

Spruce Grove vs. Sherwood Park – The Spruce Grove Saints scored five third period goals to defeat the Sherwood Park Crusaders 9-1 on Sunday night and take a 2-1 lead in the AJHL North Division Semi-Finals.  Dylan Richard led the Saints with a hat trick, including the game winner, as the Saints outshot the Crusaders 40-20.  Game Four in the best-of-seven series goes Monday night at the Sherwood Park Arena.

Bonnyville vs. Whitecourt – The Whitecourt Wolverines defeated the Bonnyville Pontiacs 4-3 on Saturday night to tie the series 1-1.  The series will now switch to Whitecourt for games three and four of the North Division Semi-Final.  Trace Elson’s shorthanded goal was the game winner for the Wolverines at the 12 minute mark of the 3rd period.  Jackson Dudley and Ty Carey both recorded a 3 point night for the Pontiacs.

Brooks vs. Drumheller – The Drumheller Dragons scored five unanswered goals to comeback from a 6-0 deficit against the Brooks Bandits on Saturday night, but eventually succumb 7-5 to the Bandits.  Cam Maclise scored a hat trick in the opening game of the series on Friday and Anthony Petruzzelli recorded a hat trick and the game winner in Game Two.  Brooks leads the series 2-0 heading into a critical Game Three in Drumheller on Monday night.

Okotoks vs. Camrose – It was another tight affair between these two storied rivals on Saturday night, and it all came down to a wrap around goal by John Edwardh and solid goaltending by Jared D’Amico.  Rookie John Edwardh now has both game winning goals in the series after a 2-1 victory.  For the second straight night, the Kodiaks could only beat Oilers' netminder Jared D'Amico once.  The Oilers head to the Edgeworth Centre in Camrose with a 2-0 series lead.  The Kodiaks will host the Okotoks Oilers for Games 3 and 4 of the AJHL South Division Semi-Final on Monday, March 18th and Tuesday, March 19th.