Two Goals from Wallace and Four Points from Willick Lead to a Bulldogs Win
Photo credit: Xander Holcomb, Blackfalds Bulldogs
Article: Aidan Serra
The Blackfalds and Canmore Eagles embarked on their sixth and final meeting of the 2022-23 AJHL season Friday night, with both teams already set in their playoff spots; Blackfalds second and Canmore sixth.
Coming off of a 10-1 Bulldogs win in the two teams’ last meeting, Canmore came out of the gates determined to respond in kind, and their control of the first 12 minutes of play bore fruit, with Kai Billey opening up the scoring, firing a one-timer past Charlie Zolin’s blocker from the slot. Blackfalds needed a route back into the game, and their powerplay obliged. First, Tyler Wallace found space in front of the net and went between the legs to raise the puck over Andreai Proctor-Ramirez to make it 1-1. Jason Siedem scored on a one-timer less than a minute later, taking a pass from Tanner Willick and firing a bomb into the net. After two Bulldogs powerplay goals, Canmore would score one of their own, with Emanuel Hudson’s point shot finding its way past a screened Zolin to tie the game 2-2.
The game rapidly changed after 20, with Blackfalds coming out in the second period completely taking the game to the Canmore Eagles. The Bulldogs outshot the Eagles 18-3 in the second and 15-5 in the third, scoring three goals in the last 40 minutes, first with Brendan Ross tapping home a Jason Siedem backdoor pass. Tyler Wallace and Layne Loomer both scored one-timers to seal the victory, with Charlie Zolin’s 17 saves giving the Bulldogs the foundation needed to win. Blackfalds plays Calgary tonight, in a preview of the first round of the AJHL playoffs.