Photo Credit: James Maclennan
The Spruce Grove Saints kicked off the 2026-27 season with their Home Opener on Friday Night against the Sherwood Park Crusaders. It was a busy night for fans as there were numerous activities going on outside Heavy Metal Place leading up to the game, as well as activities going on the scoring sheet.
Dmitry Pavlov would open the scoring for the Crusaders 6:34 into the game. Finn Kallay would knock the puck away in the offensive zone to Pavlov who was open in the slot and fired it into the top corner. Arseni Vorobyov would pick up an assist as well.
The Saints responded quickly with a goal of their own. Richard Krnac and Lucas Achim would work the cycle in the corner before Krnac fed it to Brett Barnes at the top of the slot who unleased a one-timer into the back of the net 8:33 into the game.
The Crusaders would regain the lead later in the period on the rush as Chance Burlison would send a pass off of Kallay’s stick right to Max Anderson who snapped it in at the 14:26 marker.
The crosstown rivalry was renewed in the second period as ten penalties were asses between the two teams. In the late stages of the second period, William Odelius took a four-minute double minor penalty for illegal equipment. On the second portion of the double minor, goaltender Joseph Quintilio would start the power play breakout with a pass to Felix Haibock, who charged down the middle of the ice and split three Crusaders defenders and deposited a highlight reel goal to even the game at 2-2.
Shortly after, Pavlov would send the Saints back to the power play after taking an illegal check to the head minor penalty. Achim and Junior Podein worked a give and go play that ended up going across the ice to Alexy Lachaine who quickly sent a wristshot by a screened Crusader netminder in Justin Robinson. That power play goal gave the Saints a 3-2 lead at 16:39 in the second period.
The Crusaders would tie the game up with a quick power play goal 7:19 into the third period. Dylan Rousselle passed it from the middle of the point to Samuel Leonard on the left wing, who found Kamyl Chemrouk on the back door. Saints goaltender Quintilio got a piece of it, but not enough as the puck snuck by him into the back of the net.
Minutes later, the Saints would regain the lead with Podein collecting a rebound off a point shot from Brodie Kay. Haibock would shoot the puck off a Crusader defender before it bounced to Lachaine who slid the puck by Robinson. That would make it a 4-3 game in favour of the Saints at the 11:21 mark of the third period.
The Saints didn’t make it easy on themselves to close out the game with some penalties in the final minutes. The Crusaders would go on a 5-on-3 power play with Brett Barnes and Kohyn Pipke in the penalty box for Spruce Grove. Quintilio and the penalty killing unit came up with big saves, blocked shots, and timely clears to kill off both penalties. That continued in the final minute when Scott Sandilands took a double minor penalty for high-sticking to give the Crusaders one last power play opportunity. Adam Perron helped seal the deal by blocking a shot and clearing it down the length of the ice. The Saints would hang on for the 4-3 win on opening night of BC Hockey League action.
Saints Head Coach Martin Lachaine took the final stretch of the game as a learning opportunity, “I think that in any moment where you have adversity in a team, you’re building stronger and stronger links between the players. So, at the end of the day, I think it was maybe bad timing to have a few penalties, but looking at it from now after the game, it might have been maybe the greatest thing that can happen to this team early.”
The Saints are back in action at Thompson Family Arena on Sunday with the Okotoks Oilers in town for a 2:00 pm puck drop.
Tickets can be purchased at tickets.sgsaints.ca
