PHOTO: Alexander Patton (Ticaboo Media)
SPRUCE GROVE, AB – The Spruce Grove Saints earned their first win of the exhibition season as five different goal scorers came together to earn a 5-1 victory over the Blackfalds Bulldogs on Wednesday night at Grant Fuhr Arena.
The Saints fired 21 shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes of play and reaped the benefits of that with four goals in the frame, including three markers in the span of 2:01 toward the end of the period.
Oscar Wu got the scoring going with a long range point shot from the left side that found its way through traffic past the blocker side of Bulldogs netminder Sam Caulfield for a 1-0 Saints lead 6:44 into the hockey game.
Three goals in quick succession allowed Spruce Grove to take control of the opening period and contest and began with Colin Doherty making a strong move to the glove side of Caulfield and slipping the puck through the legs of the Bulldogs netminder at 15:04 of the 1st period that doubled the Saints lead.
Just 30 seconds later, Ryan Johnstone capitalized on a scramble around the front of the net after Austin Peters had his original shot at the top of the crease pushed away by Caulfield before Johnstone cleaned up the rebound and put Spruce Grove ahead by a 3-0 score.
Josh Polak wrapped up the scoring in the 1st period with a tally at 17:05 of the frame, accepting a saucer pass in the left face-off circle from Ethan Kronewitt and sending a shot past the blocker side of Caulfield for the 4-0 lead.
Blackfalds tried to claw their way back in the game with the lone goal in the 2nd period as Lucas McDonald tallied on a power play just 2:52 into the frame but would be the only blemish on an otherwise perfect game from Xander Miceli in the Saints net as he turned aside 25 of the 26 shots thrown his way for the win.
Austin Peters rounded out the scoring in the game with a snap shot from the right face-off circle that zipped over the shoulders of Mikkel Christensen, who took over in goal and concluded and made 9 saves on 10 shots in just over 26 minutes of action.
Caulfield took the loss in goal for the Bulldogs, steering aside 28 of the 32 shots thrown his way in his 33:56 of ice time.
FINAL SCORE: 5-1 Saints
SHOTS ON GOAL: 42-26 Saints
3 STARS:
1) Josh Polak (1-0-1)
2) Austin Peters (1-1-2)
3) Ethan Kronewitt (0-1-1)
The Saints are back in action on Friday night as they host the Sherwood Park Crusaders in their final home game of the exhibition season. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 PM at Grant Fuhr Arena with tickets available for just $5.
2024-2025 season tickets are on sale now, secure your seat at the Grant Fuhr Arena in order to get first chance at picking seats in the soon to be open Heavy Metal Place, opening in early 2025.
Purchase your tickets here at tickets.sprucegrovesaints.ca
