Storm drop feisty affair 6-3 against Crusaders

Sep 27, 2021 | 10:15 AM

Four games into the 2021-22 AJHL season, a concerning trend is beginning to develop for the Grande Prairie Storm.

For the third straight game, the Storm gave up three or more goals in the second period, as Sherwood Park scored four times during Sunday’s middle frame en route to a 6-3 win over Storm.

Grande Prairie has now been outscored 11-5 in the second period of their four games to date this season.

Brett Ursulak scored twice for the Crusaders, who also got goals from Carmelo Crandell, Jaron Desnoyers, Tyler Bates, and Logan Hauer.

Connor Rooney scored twice for the Storm, while 16-year-old Grayden Alexander scored his first career AJHL goal in his regular-season debut.

After going just one for 18 in their first four games, the Sherwood Park power play went three for eight on Sunday.

One of those goals came during a five-minute man advantage late in the second period, after Storm goalie Nolan McDowell was assessed a match penalty for using his blocker in an altercation with the Crusaders’ Josh Rule.

McDowell allowed four goals on 23 shots before being ejected. Jonathan Labrie stopped 13 of 15 shots in relief.

At the other end, Gus Bilyk made 27 saves in the Sherwood Park goal.

The Storm close out their three-game homestand Tuesday night when they host Whitecourt in a 7 p.m. start at Bonnett’s Energy Centre.

by Jeff Henson