This article needs additional citations for verification .(November 2018) |
Sherwood Park Crusaders | |
---|---|
City | Sherwood Park, Alberta |
League | British Columbia Hockey League |
Founded | 1976 |
Home arena | Randy Rosen Rink |
Colours | Green and White |
General manager | Adam Sergerie [1] |
Head coach | Brennan Menard |
Franchise history | |
1976–1978 | Edmonton Crusaders |
1978–present | Sherwood Park Crusaders |
The Sherwood Park Crusaders are a junior A ice hockey team in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). They play in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, with home games at Sherwood Park Arena Sports Centre. The team was originally a member of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), But joined the British Columbia Hockey League on February 1, 2024
The Edmonton Crusaders joined the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) in 1976 playing out of the Jasper Place Arena. The AJHL franchise was revived from a dormant entry controlled by Jim McCaddie. The Edmonton Crusaders played two seasons in the AJHL.
In 1978, a group of Sherwood Park businessmen, headed by John Fisher, Frank Chase, and Al Bishop, moved the franchise to Sherwood Park. John Fisher, a Sherwood Park resident and former Alberta Oilers' player, became the first coach of the Crusaders.
During a game on February 21, 1980, twenty-year-old captain Trevor Elton was hit cleanly along the boards by a player on the St. Albert Saints in St. Albert, Alberta. Elton landed and went into convulsions and died later that night while in hospital. [2] The 1980–81 team was coached by Gregg Pilling, and finished first place in the South Division.
During the 1985–86 season, Brett Pearce suffered a major injury which left him paralyzed. During the same season, the Crusaders capture the AJHL North Division championship. In 1986–87, the Crusaders won their first regular season championship, followed by another division title in 1989–90. The Crusaders made it the league playoff finals in 1985, 1986, and 1990, but never won the playoff championship. On July 2, 1996, Crusaders' general manager and part owner, Al McDonald died from cancer.
At the conclusion of the 1998 season, the team was purchased from Art Cox by a group of local businessmen headed by Tom Maxwell. The group has since turned the club into a non-profit society. The 1998–99 season had the team finish in last place in the North Division with a 13–44–3–2 record. In 1999, the entire team was rebuilt with mostly younger players and finished with a 7–52–3–2 record, the worst Junior A record in the 1999–2000 Canadian Junior Hockey League season.
The 2000–01 season had a new head coach in Doug Schum and qualified for the playoffs with a 20–29–6–2 record before losing to St. Albert Saints in three games. The Crusaders lost only five players going into the 2001–02 season and replaced Schum with head coach Dan Auchenberg. The team started slow in the season and then went on a 15-game winning streak to finish third in the North Division. Head coach Dan Auchenberg won the AJHL's Coach of the Year for the team's turnaround. They then swept their first round playoff series against the Lloydminster Blazers before a losing to the Drayton Valley Thunder in six games.
The team continued its improvement winning their four of their first five games before returning goaltender, Chris Denman, was injured and the team began trading for and rotating many goaltenders, including female goaltender Shannon Szabados for eight games. Szabados, who would later play for the Canadian women's national team for over a decade, earned two shutouts and a 7–1 record. The Crusaders finished the season with 43 wins, earning a first place finish in the North Division and the regular season title. In the first round of the playoffs, the Bonnyville Pontiacs were swept in four games. The playoff format for that season gave the team a second round bye and a 19-day layoff. The team then lost to the St. Albert Saints in five games in the division finals.
In the 2003–04 season, the team lost several of their veteran players, but head coach Auchenberg and goaltender Szabados returned. The team finished the season in fourth place in the North Division and were swept out of the playoffs in the first round by Drayton Valley.
On January 20, 2024, it was announced that the team, along with four other AJHL teams, would join the BCHL in the 2024-2025 season. [3]
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T/OTL = Ties/Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Season | GP | W | L | T/OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1976–77 | 60 | 5 | 55 | 0 | — | 10 | 182 | 376 | 7th Overall | did not qualify |
1977–78 | 60 | 30 | 29 | 1 | — | 61 | 276 | 260 | 4th Overall | Lost quarterfinals, 3–4 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders |
1978–79 | 60 | 12 | 48 | 0 | — | 24 | 230 | 350 | 7th Overall | did not qualify |
1979–80 | 58 | 19 | 39 | 0 | — | 38 | 253 | 330 | 7th Overall | Lost quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Red Deer Rustlers |
1980–81 | 60 | 36 | 23 | 1 | — | 73 | 294 | 284 | 1st North | Won quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders Lost semifinals, 2–4 vs. St. Albert Saints |
1981–82 | 60 | 23 | 37 | 0 | — | 46 | 254 | 306 | 5th North | did not qualify |
1982–83 | 60 | 25 | 34 | 1 | — | 51 | 296 | 356 | 4th North | Lost quarterfinals, 0–4 vs. St. Albert Saints |
1983–84 | 60 | 28 | 31 | 1 | — | 57 | 287 | 302 | 3rd North | Lost quarterfinals, 3–4 vs. St. Albert Saints |
1984–85 | 60 | 37 | 20 | 3 | — | 77 | 319 | 243 | 1st North | Won quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. Hobbema Hawks Won semifinals, 4–0 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders Lost finals, 2–4 vs. Red Deer Rustlers |
1985–86 | 52 | 30 | 19 | 3 | — | 69 | 261 | 206 | 2nd North | Won quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders Won semifinals, 4–1 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons Lost finals, 3–4 vs. Calgary Canucks |
1986–87 | 60 | 43 | 13 | 4 | — | 90 | 274 | 192 | 1st North | Won quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders Lost semifinals, 3–4 vs. St. Albert Saints |
1987–88 | 60 | 18 | 41 | 1 | — | 37 | 205 | 301 | 5th North | did not qualify |
1988–89 | 60 | 39 | 19 | 3 | — | 81 | 322 | 243 | 1st North | Won quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. St. Albert Saints Lost semifinals, 0–4 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders |
1989–90 | 60 | 26 | 33 | 1 | — | 53 | 293 | 304 | 4th North | Won quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons Won semifinals, 4–3 vs. Lloydminster Blazers Lost finals, 2–4 vs. Calgary Canucks |
1990–91 | 56 | 16 | 39 | 1 | — | 33 | 204 | 287 | 8th Overall | Lost quarterfinals, 0–4 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders |
1991–92 | 60 | 16 | 40 | — | 4 | 36 | 303 | 397 | 8th Overall | Lost quarterfinals, 0–4 vs. Olds Grizzlys |
1992–93 | 56 | 17 | 38 | — | 1 | 35 | 211 | 293 | 8th Overall | Lost quarterfinals, 4–5 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders |
1993–94 | 56 | 35 | 20 | — | 1 | 71 | 247 | 208 | 2nd Overall | Won quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Lloydminster Blazers Lost semifinals, 2–4 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons |
1994–95 | 56 | 29 | 26 | — | 1 | 59 | 253 | 234 | 5th Overall | Won quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. St. Albert Saints Lost semifinals, 0–4 vs. Olds Grizzlys |
1995–96 | 60 | 27 | 30 | — | 3 | 57 | 229 | 250 | 6th Overall | Lost quarterfinals, 3–4 vs. St. Albert Saints |
1996–97 | 60 | 31 | 26 | — | 3 | 64 | 223 | 227 | 6th Overall | Lost quarterfinals, 2–4 vs. St. Albert Saints |
1997–98 | 60 | 23 | 35 | — | 2 | 48 | 199 | 256 | 10th Overall | did not qualify |
1998–99 | 62 | 16 | 44 | — | 2 | 34 | 198 | 323 | 7th North | did not qualify |
1999–00 | 64 | 10 | 52 | — | 2 | 22 | 186 | 323 | 7th North | did not qualify |
2000–01 | 64 | 27 | 29 | 8 | — | 62 | 235 | 245 | 6th North | Lost preliminary series, 0–3 vs. St. Albert Saints |
2001–02 | 64 | 38 | 21 | 5 | — | 81 | 260 | 193 | 3rd North | Won Preliminary series, 3–0 vs. Lloydminster Blazers Lost quarterfinals, 2–4 vs. Drayton Valley Thunder |
2002–03 | 64 | 43 | 13 | 8 | — | 94 | 259 | 165 | 1st North | Won Div. Quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs Bye Lost Div. Finals, 1–4 vs. St. Albert Saints |
2003–04 | 60 | 30 | 25 | 5 | — | 65 | 184 | 189 | 4th North | Lost preliminary series, 0–3 vs. Drayton Valley Thunder |
2004–05 | 64 | 14 | 43 | 7 | — | 35 | 159 | 275 | 8th North | did not qualify |
2005–06 | 60 | 15 | 35 | 10 | — | 40 | 142 | 215 | 8th North | did not qualify |
2006–07 | 60 | 22 | 28 | 10 | — | 54 | 150 | 199 | 7th North | Lost preliminary series, 0–3 vs. Grande Prairie Storm |
2007–08 | 62 | 28 | 25 | 9 | — | 65 | 191 | 206 | 5th North | Lost preliminary series, 2–3 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs |
2008–09 | 62 | 41 | 20 | 1 | — | 83 | 223 | 169 | 3rd North | Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–1 vs. St. Albert Steel Lost div. semi-finals, 2–4 vs. Grande Prairie Storm |
2009–10 | 60 | 33 | 18 | 9 | — | 75 | 206 | 181 | 4th North | Lost div. quarter-finals, 0–3 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs |
2010–11 | 60 | 29 | 25 | 6 | — | 64 | 175 | 198 | 6th North | Lost div. quarter-finals, 0–3 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs |
2011–12 | 60 | 37 | 19 | 4 | — | 78 | 231 | 199 | 4th North | Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–2 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs Lost div. semi-finals, 1–4 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons |
2012–13 | 60 | 28 | 25 | 7 | — | 63 | 184 | 183 | 7th North | Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–1 vs. Grande Prairie Storm Lost div. semi-finals, 2–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints |
2013–14 | 60 | 29 | 28 | 3 | — | 61 | 192 | 208 | 4th North | Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs Lost div. semi-finals, 3–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints |
2014–15 | 60 | 28 | 25 | 7 | — | 63 | 173 | 176 | 5th North | Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–1 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons Lost div. semi-finals, 2–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints |
2015–16 | 60 | 39 | 19 | 2 | — | 80 | 240 | 194 | 5th North | Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–1 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs Lost div. semi-finals, 0–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints |
2016–17 | 60 | 32 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 67 | 233 | 235 | 5th of 8, North 11th of 16, AJHL | Lost div. quarter-finals, 1–3 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs |
2017–18 | 60 | 27 | 31 | 2 | — | 56 | 209 | 241 | 5th of 8, North 9th of 16, AJHL | Lost div. quarter-finals, 2–3 vs. Grande Prairie Storm |
2018–19 | 60 | 44 | 14 | 2 | — | 90 | 254 | 159 | 1st of 8, North 2nd of 16, AJHL | Won Div. Semifinals, 4–2 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons Lost Div. Finals, 2–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints |
2019–20 | 58 | 49 | 9 | 9 | — | 98 | 271 | 128 | 1st of 8, North 1st of 15, AJHL | Postseason cancelled |
The following former Crusaders have gone on to play in the NHL:
The following former Crusaders have gone on to play for the Canada national women's ice hockey team:
The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) is an association of Canadian junior A ice hockey leagues and teams and was formed in November 1993, emerging from the Canada West Association of Junior 'A' Hockey. The champion of the Canadian Junior Hockey League wins the Centennial Cup.
The British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) is an independent Canadian Junior ice hockey league with 22 teams in British Columbia and Alberta. It was classified as a Junior 'A' league within the Hockey Canada framework until it became independent in 2023. Since becoming independent, the league characterizes itself simply as a Junior ice hockey league.
The Centennial Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament organized by Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), which determines the national champion of junior A ice hockey. It is a ten-team round robin featuring the winners of all nine CJHL member leagues as well as a pre-selected host city.
The Okotoks Oilers are a junior A ice hockey team in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). They play in Okotoks, Alberta, Canada with home games at the Okotoks Centennial Arena.
The Brooks Bandits are a junior A ice hockey team in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). They play in Brooks, Alberta, Canada, with home games at the Centennial Regional Arena. The team was formerly in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), until they joined the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) in February 2024.
The Drayton Valley Thunder is a junior ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). The Thunder are members of the Canadian Junior Hockey League and are eligible to compete for the Doyle Cup and National Junior A Championship. They play in Drayton Valley, Alberta, Canada, at the Drayton Valley Omni-Plex.
The Spruce Grove Saints are a junior A ice hockey team in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). They play in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada, with home games at Grant Fuhr Arena. The team was originally a member of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), but joined the British Columbia Hockey League on February 1, 2024.
The Fort McMurray Oil Barons are a Junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). They play in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada at the Centerfire Place. The Oil Barons have won three AJHL playoff championships, three regular season titles, and one National Junior A Championship.
The Fort Saskatchewan Traders were an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They played in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada, at the Jubilee Recreation Centre, capacity 2000.
The Merritt Centennials are a junior "A" ice hockey team based in Merritt, British Columbia. They are members of the Interior Division of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). The franchise was established in Kamloops in 1961 and moved to White Rock in 1973 when the WCHL's Vancouver Nats moved to Kamloops and became the Chiefs. The Centennials settled in Merritt midway through the 1973–74 season. They play their home games at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
The St. Albert Saints were a junior ice hockey franchise based in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada, for twenty-seven seasons from 1977 to 2004. Before 1977, the team played in nearby Spruce Grove as the Spruce Grove Mets, and in 2004 the team again moved to Spruce Grove where they now play as the Spruce Grove Saints. In all its incarnations, the team has been a part of the junior 'A' Alberta Junior Hockey League.
Shannon Lynn Szabados is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the PWHPA and the Canada women's national ice hockey team.
The St. Albert Steel were an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). They played in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada at Servus Place with a seating capacity of 2,044. The team relocated to Whitecourt in the 2012 off-season to become the Whitecourt Wolverines.
The 2009 Royal Bank Cup is the 39th Junior "A" 2009 ice hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior Hockey League. 2009 marked the 14th year the Royal Bank Cup has been awarded and the 39th year of modern Junior "A" hockey.
The 2010–11 CCHL season was the 50th season of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL). The twelve teams of the CCHL played a 62-game schedule.
The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) is an Alberta-based Junior A ice hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. The 2023–24 season began with 16 teams, however 5 teams did not finish the season after it was announced that they planned to join the BCHL in the 2024–25 season. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy. The playoff champions receive the Inter Pipeline Cup. The winner of the AJHL playoffs continues on to play in the Centennial Cup tournament, which determines Canadian Junior A champion.
The Whitecourt Wolverines are a junior "A" ice hockey team in North Division of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) based in Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada. The 2012–13 season was their inaugural season in Whitecourt.
The 2011–12 BCHL season marked the 50th anniversary of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). The sixteen teams from the Coastal and Interior Conferences played 60 game schedules.
The Blackfalds Bulldogs is a junior "A" ice hockey team that plays in the Alberta Division of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) based in Blackfalds, Alberta, Canada. Their inaugural season in Blackfalds was in 2021-2022. The team is owned by Doug Quinn and Jodie Quinn. The team plays at the Eagle Builders Centre in Blackfalds. The team will join the British Columbia Junior Hockey League (BCHL) in the 2024-2025 season.
The 2023–24 BCHL season is the 62nd season of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). The seventeen teams from the Coastal and Interior Conferences play 54 scheduled games, including two games as part of the BCHL showcase, which were held in Seattle from October 22 to October 26 2023, in partnership with the NHL's Seattle Kraken.