Sherwood Park Crusaders
| Sherwood Park Crusaders | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City | Sherwood Park, Alberta |
| League | Alberta Junior Hockey League |
| Division | North |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Home arena | Sherwood Park Arena |
| Colours | Black, green and white |
| General manager | Kyle Chase |
| Head coach | Adam Manah (2016-17) |
| Franchise history | |
| 1976–1978 | Edmonton Crusaders |
| 1978–present | Sherwood Park Crusaders |
The Sherwood Park Crusaders are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, at the Sherwood Park Arena, capacity 1800.
The Edmonton Crusaders joined the AJHL in 1976 playing out of the Jasper Place Arena. The AJHL franchise was revived from a dormant entry controlled by Jim McCaddie. The Edmonton Crusaders played two seasons in the AJHL.
In 1978, a group of Sherwood Park businessmen, headed by John Fisher, Frank Chase, and Al Bishop, moved the franchise to Sherwood Park. John Fisher, a Sherwood Park resident and former Edmonton Oiler, became the first coach of the Crusaders.
After a game on February 21, 1980, the AJHL was shaken by a tragedy. Twenty-year-old Trevor Elton, Captain of the Sherwood Park Crusaders was hit cleanly along the boards by a player on the St. Albert Saints in St. Albert, Alberta. Elton landed and went into convulsions and died later that night while in hospital.
During the 1985–86 season Brett Pearce suffered a major injury which left him paralyzed. During the same season, the Crusaders capture the AJHL North Division Championship. In 1986–87 the Crusaders capture the Regular Season Championship, followed by another North Division Championship in 1989–90. On July 2, 1996, Crusaders General Manager and part owner, Al McDonald passes away after a short battle with cancer.
Since the start of the Crusaders in Sherwood Park, there have been a great number of prominent business and sports personalities involved with making the franchise a success. Some, and by no means all, include Al McDonald, Bob Green, Bill Warwick, Harry Zuzak, Al Hamilton, Jim Crosson, Ross Perkins, George Buchan, Len McBride, Rollie Duplessis, Dennis O’Rourke, Bill McBride, Vern Schultz, Iris Evans, Peter Stiller, Vern Hartwell, the Strathcona County Council and many dedicated volunteers too numerous to mention, that have been the key to maintaining the franchise. Most importantly, the loyal support of our fans and the local business community who have stood with the team since the beginning are the major keys to our success.
At the conclusion of the 1998 season the team was purchased from Art Cox by a group of local businessmen headed by Tom Maxwell. The group has since turned the club into a non-profit society with a commitment to be in Sherwood Park for many years to come. The Crusaders have recently undergone a major restructuring with a commitment to being a positive force in the community and a supporter of the local minor hockey scene.
...
Wikipedia