The Blackfalds Bulldogs play against the Spruce Grove Saints at the Eagle Builders Centre on Sunday. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

By Alessia Proietti

Upcoming three-week road trip

Bulldogs bulldoze over the Saints in 5-2 victory

Feb 18, 2024 | 5:24 PM

The Blackfalds Bulldogs bulldozed over the Spruce Grove Saints in a massive 5-2 win during their Sunday matinee at the Eagle Builders Centre.

Partnering with their Foundation, it was also the Bulldogs’ P.U.G. (Pick Up Grades) Day, recognizing middle schools students in central Alberta who have shown great improvement in their grades while reaching social and academic goals set throughout the year.

The Bulldogs opened the scoreboard in the first period when Ryan Shaw picked up the puck near the goal line and scored with a backhander through the five-hole of the Saints’ goaltender Alexander Scheiwiller. Assisted by Jayden Joly and Matheson Mason at 9:17, the team was now up 1-0.

Shortly after at 12:52, Blackfalds’ Brendan Ross managed to score after three attempts in front of the crease. His fourth goal this BCHL season, Hunter Brown and Tanner Willick got the helpers, doubling their lead 2-0.

The home team were greatly outshooting the visitors 16-7 after 20 minutes of play.

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Blackfalds came hot out of the gate in the second period as Dakota MacIntosh scored just over a minute in with a one-timer through the back door. Brown and Ross assisted his third goal of the season, pushing the team’s lead to 3-0.

Both teams one man down, with Spruce Grove’s Ashton McNelly out for goaltender interference and Blackfalds’ Shaw for interference, Ross still managed to score a goal for the Bulldogs at 2:43 with a one-timer from the low slot. Now 4-0 for the team, his fifth goal of the season and second of the game was assisted by MacIntosh and James Johnson.

At this point the Saints’ Scheiwiller was pulled out of the net and replaced with goaltender Ryan De Kok.

But less than one minute later, the Bulldogs proved there was no point as Ryan Neumann scored his second goal of the season with a rebound at the tip of the crease. Celebrating his 20^th birthday yesterday, Mason and Brown got the apples to put the team in a massive 5-0 lead.

The Saints finally made it to the scoreboard at 16:02 when Dylan Ruptash scored on Bulldogs netminder Wilson Maxfield. They trailed behind Blackfalds 5-1.

Shots on goal were an even 10 for each team in the middle frame.

The Saints’ Ruptash scored again at 5:12 of the third period, bringing the scoreboard to 5-2 still in favor of the Bulldogs, and where it remained for the rest of the game.

Spruce Grove picked up the pace in the final period, outshooting the Bulldogs 11-8.

Shots on goal

SGS: 28

BFB: 34

Power play

SGS: 0/3

BFB: 0/3

Three stars

1^st: Ryan Neumann (BFB) – 1G

2^nd: Hunter Brown (BFB) – 3A

3^rd: Dylan Ruptash (SGS) – 2G

Head Coach Doug Quinn said while he is happy with the win, his team letting in two goals following a five-goal lead was a good learning experience for the players.

“When we get up early, it’s kind of human nature. You think maybe the game is going to be easier, we start thinking maybe a little bit too offensively, but we made a couple of turnovers and the difference between winning and losing is hardly anything. A few mistakes, a few turnovers, can change the momentum of the game, and they [the Saints] pushed hard,” he said.

He said Spruce Grove had three good opportunities to gain another point, but Bulldogs goaltender Maxfield made some great saves.

Heading into a four-game road trip tomorrow, he said he hopes the team will have a better game against the Sherwood Park Crusaders in comparison to their last one on February 7, which ended in a 4-1 loss for the Bulldogs.

“I thought that was one of our weaker games in quite a while. They’re [the Crusaders] a highly skilled team and were going to have to be ready to play. I expect us to be ready so it should be fun,” he said.

Quinn says while the Bulldogs have faced various injuries over the past few weeks, no games have been easy, and they now have the reinforcements and depth they need to compete away from home ice.

Blackfalds remains in third place amongst Alberta teams in the BCHL with a record of 3-2-1-0 while Spruce Grove is in fourth at 1-3-1-0.

The Bulldogs will now head on a three-week road trip, with their next game against the Crusaders at the Centennial Regional Arena on Family Day Monday. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. with the broadcast live on Mixlr.

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