By Terry Martin
The Saints were up 3-0 heading into game 4 on Thursday night and looked to become the second team to complete the sweep in the semi-finals after the Brooks Bandits won 4 games in a row against the Canmore Eagles.
Spruce Grove would open the scoring in this game just 7 minutes into the opening frame. Nikola Jovanovic would slip the puck 5 hole after a great individual effort in the corner to give the Saints a 1-0 lead. The rest of the period each team would trade chances and Zac Onyskiw would make the save of the game late in the period to preserve the Saints lead. Spruce Grove would hold onto their 1-0 lead and jump out ahead in shots, 15-9, after 20 minutes of play.
Brett Pfoh would start the period off right, firing the puck top shelf from the slot to give the Saints a 2-0 lead 2 minutes into the 2nd period. Logan Acheson would then fire the puck glove side from the slot to put the Saints up by 3 halfway through the game. Luigi Benincasa would then deke out the Wolverines goalie from the slot all the way down to the goal line to put the Saints up 4-0. The Saints would double up the Wolverines in shots 32-14 after 2 periods of play.
Caiden Gault would then start the 3rd period off quickly, jamming home the puck in the slot to give the Saints a 5-0 lead. The Saints would keep up the great play throughout the rest of the game, and Onyskiw would make some great saves along the way for his first AJHL playoff shutout. Final shots in the game favoured the Saints 46-26 after 60 minutes of play.
The Saints are now going back to the AJHL North Division Final against either the Drayton Valley Thunder or the Fort McMurray Oil Barons in April.