The Blackfalds Bulldogs got off to a blazing start in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) Showcase this week.
On Wednesday in Calgary at the Max Bell Centre, the Bulldogs blew out the Bonnyville Pontiacs 8-1.
The Bulldogs opened the scoring just under a minute into the game when forward Hunter Brown fired one into the back of the net. He followed that up with another tally three minutes later to lead 2-0.
Blackfalds wasn’t done there when forward Alexander Dimitriadis scored at the midway point followed by Luke Dahlen five minutes after to head into the intermission up 4-0.
The Bulldogs notched another early in the second off the stick of forward Jack DesRuisseaux and a minute later, Dimitriadis notched his second of the game.
Bonnyville finally got on the scoresheet seven minutes into the frame notched by Tyler Blocha to break the shutout.
Defenceman Tanner Willick put the Bulldogs up 7-1 before Dimitriadis completed the hattrick in the final minutes of the second.
No one scored in the third period and Bulldogs’ goaltender Wilson Maxfield was solid between the pipes making 23 saves on 24 shots.
The win sets up Blackfalds’ final matchup of the Showcase on Saturday facing off with the Canmore Eagles. The AJHL Showcase is an annual event where all 16 teams play two games each in a central area to promote their talent in front of professional and college scouts.
The Bulldogs have started the season 4-2-0-0 and are in fifth place in the overall AJHL standings.
They won their season opener 5-2 in Olds followed by a 5-3 victory in the home opener over Drayton Valley on Saturday, Sept. 16.
That led to two straight losses including a 9-3 loss in Drumheller and a 5-2 setback in Okotoks on Sept. 19 and 22.
However, after a 4-2 win at home over Okotoks last Saturday and most recently, the blowout win at the showcase the Bulldogs seem to be back on track.