The Sherwood Park Crusaders are moving on to the second round of the British Columbia Hockey League playoffs after defeating the Blackfalds Bulldogs 5-3 on April 12, 2026. This victory sets up a high-stakes series against the Brooks Bandits, the defending league champions, for the third postseason meeting in the BCHL.
The upcoming playoff series will begin with away games for the Sherwood Park Crusaders on April 17 and April 18. Local fans will have the opportunity to support the team during their first home game of this round, which takes place on April 21 at 7 p.m. at the Sherwood Park Arena Sports Centre. Tickets for the matchup are available through the team’s official website.
The Crusaders advanced to this stage following a hard-fought win against the Bulldogs, sealed by an empty-net goal from Ryan White. The team now faces a challenging matchup against the Bandits, who previously defeated the Crusaders in the league finals last season. The Brooks Bandits finished their most recent regular season series against the Crusaders with six wins in seven meetings.
Led by team captain and defenseman Stevie Grumley, the Crusaders are looking to build on their performance from the opening round. The organization, which has been a staple of the community since its founding in 1976, joined the British Columbia Hockey League in 2024 after years of competing in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Supporters can continue to follow the team’s progress as they pursue the league title throughout the remainder of the postseason, with additional games running through April 28 if necessary.
