In the first game of the 2023 preseason, Carter Oakenfold (Calgary, AB) scored a buzzer-beater
to give the Spruce Grove Saints a 5-4 win over the Blackfalds Bulldogs.
Early into the first frame, Ashton Hutchinson (St.Albert, AB) opened the scoring to give the Saints a 1-0 lead. Then, just over halfway through the period, Jed Magarrell (Coaldale, AB) sent one home to put the Saints up by two.
Headed into the second period down by two goals, Ben Winklemann scored a minute into the middle frame to cut the score in half. Trey Fechko (Raritan, NJ) then returned the favor at the halfway mark to restore the Saints’ lead by two. Less than a minute later, Matthew Hanscom scored a powerplay goal to bring the Bulldogs back within one.
Entering the final frame with the Saints leading 3-2, Connor Dick scored early to tie the game at three-a-piece. Then, with less than three minutes left in the game, Ryder Matter (Beaumont, AB) put one home to restore the Saints’ one-goal lead. However, the Bulldogs were not about to give up that easily; Bobby Corkery scored soon after to tie the game once again. Afterwards, once everyone assumed that the game was headed to overtime, Oakenfold scored with thirteen seconds left to win the game for the Spruce Grove Saints!