Between 2012-18 and 2022-2026, I was a face you would recognize but not a name you would know at the Sherwood Park Arena volunteering for the Sherwood Park Crusaders. This past weekend I purchased season tickets to their "Suburb Series" rivals, the Spruce Grove Saints.
Sorry Sherwood Park
This will not be a spilling of the tea as to why the allegiance has changed, it is a chance to express another thank you to the unsung heroes of a hockey club. The nameless faces who volunteer (some are paid) their time as goal judges, penalty box workers, clock operaters, announcers, security, ticket sales and scanners, these are people that are vital to Junior A Clubs being successful and each one of them will be missed. The budding Sherwood Park traditions of The Ravenwood Music Festival, Highland Games and Terry Fox Run will continue to stay on my calendar. The hope the Club builds their new arena remains but the next visit will be wearing a Saint instead of a C.
The "un-hate" process
Between 2012-18 the common belief as a Crusader fan/volunteer was the playoffs would end when Spruce Grove became the opponent. Saints fans would always outnumber Crusader fans during those playoff encounters. The season the Crusaders looked to best not only the Saints but the entire CHL (the roster featured a NHL drafted goaltender, defenceman and three forwards) covid shut down the season.
Opinions did soften when news broke that the Saints and Crusaders were among the five Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) teams that were leaving for the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). Reminder, this was not a move to hurt the AJHL, this was a move to leave Hockey Canada. The final couple months of the 2023-24 season, the newly minted BCHL teams were left to just play against each other and unite in the goal of defeating the Brooks Bandits.
The desire to see the new Thompson Family Arena was satiated when the Saints and Edmonton Elks announced "Green and Goals" night earlier this calendar year on March 14th. What a gorgeous arena! Happenstance that a long time buddy went to the arena shortly after this game and made the following video which saves a lot of typing.
September 18, 2026
The first official game of the new Spruce Grove Saints fandom is the 2026-27 season and home opener on September 18th. The opponent being the Crusaders is bittersweet. Although in today's junior hockey world, gone are the days of players who stay for four or five years, so there will not be a lot of returning players for either side.
The earlier mentioned goal of defeating the Brooks Bandits, the playoffs last year for the Saints were undermined due to starting goaltender Ryan De Kok (now a NAIT Ook) being suspended for being a part of a second fight on the ice. Who mans the crease in 2027? Blackfalds rocketed up the standings last season in part to their dynamic duo of goaltenders and the three points back from third place can be attributed to some games stolen by the now Powell River King Filip Vavro.
Joseph Quintilio (27 career BCHL regular season games) and Finn Marshall (acquired at the trade deadline, now with 18 career BCHL regular season games) are the names leftover from last years roster. No official word if they are back for this season as well, it's the opening week of August. The Club did sign Colten Scott who last season finished top eight in the SJHL in goals against average and save percentage. Whomever takes the reigns in the crease, will become the initial favourite player of this new chapter.
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