Blackfalds Bulldogs vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders, April 4, 2026 at the Eagle Builders Centre. (rdnewsNOW/Jordan Rein)

By Jordan Rein

4-0 win on Saturday

Blackfalds Bulldogs head to Sherwood Park with series knotted up

Apr 6, 2026 | 12:15 PM

After a tough start to the BCHL playoffs against the Sherwood Park Crusaders in game 1, the Blackfalds Bulldogs turned the tables the next night and will head into game 3 with the series tied 1-1.

The best-of-seven kicked off in frustrating fashion on Friday April 3 at the Eagle Builders Centre. Despite controlling the play for much of the game and badly outshooting their Sherwood Park opponents 33-9, the Bulldogs couldn’t find the back of the net for the entire 60 minute stretch.

The Crusaders skated away with a 1-0 win on the strength of a second period goal from Cooper Sharp and a 33-save shutout performance from Filip Vavro.

However, game 2 on April 4 was a different story.

The Bulldogs leapt out of the gate with an energetic, exciting first period. Dean Toskos and Alex Bosland found the back of the net, while Thomas Neu added a shorthanded marker before the end of the opening frame.

Pitch ideas

Central Alberta entrepreneurs take part in Catalyst Incubator program

8m ago

numerous incidents

QEII Highway very icy Monday morning

3h ago

"unprecedented levels of discrimination"

Ponoka Pride Society dissolves, citing limited resources

3h ago

Forward Krisjanis Sarts added some insurance with a second period marker as the Bulldogs would skate away with a 4-0 victory.

Bulldogs goalie Olivér Király — in a shutout performance of his own — turned away 29 Crusaders shots.

Head coach Ryan Tobler says the two teams certainly have a history.

“You play a team seven times in the regular season and you have that history the carried over from the AJHL — there’s certainly a history there.”

Tobler credits the team for facing a tough challenge from Sherwood Park head on in games 1 and 2.

Blackfalds Bulldogs vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders, April 4, 2026 at the Eagle Builders Centre. (rdnewsNOW/Jordan Rein)

Series shifts to Sherwood Park for games 3 and 4

The series now shifts to Sherwood Park for games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday night. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. both nights.

Tobler expects a pair of tough road games, with extra efforts during every shift being key to victory.

“When we’re all on the same page, we’re awfully tough,” he adds, pointing to the Bulldogs best-in-the-BCHL goal differential during the regular season.

The Bulldogs scored 219 goals and surrendered 135 (+84) during the 2025-2026 campaign.

The series will return to Blackfalds for Game 5 on Friday, April 10, with puck drop at 7:00 p.m. at the Eagle Builders Centre.

Game 6 if necessary will be in Sherwood Park on April 12, while game 7 if necessary will be back in Blackfalds on April 14.