Four players from the Blackfalds Bulldogs have been honoured as some of the top performers in the British Columbia Hockey League following a successful 2025-26 season. The league announced its year-end All-Star and All-Rookie teams on April 16, 2026, recognizing the standout contributions of the local team despite their recent playoff elimination.
Forward Nikita Ivashchenko and defenseman Noah Mertz were named to the league’s First-Team All-Stars. Ivashchenko had a productive year, finishing the regular season tied for third in the league with 31 goals and ranking fourth in points with 69 over 53 games. Both Ivashchenko and Noah Mertz are moving on from junior hockey with commitments to play NCAA Division I hockey at Stonehill College and Army West Point, respectively.
The Bulldogs were also well-represented on the All-Rookie Team, with goaltender Carson Mertz and defenseman Krisjanis Sarts earning spots. Carson Mertz led all rookies with a .910 save percentage and a 2.34 goals-against average, ending the year with a 21-7-0 record. Sarts, who joined the team at the start of the season, was also recognized for his international play with an invitation to represent Team Latvia at the 2026 World Junior Championship.
This recognition follows a strong regular season where the Blackfalds Bulldogs finished with a 37-15-2-0 record. The team secured second place in the Interior East Division and fourth overall in the league, while leading the entire league with a +84 goal differential. Much of this turnaround from the previous year is credited to head coach Ryan Tobler, who was named a finalist for the league’s Coach of the Year award in his first full season at the helm.
The Bulldogs concluded their 2025-26 campaign on April 13, 2026, following a six-game playoff series against the Sherwood Park Crusaders.
