Bucks prevail in overtime battle with Spruce Grove

Jack McMinn scored 17 seconds into overtime to lift the Cranbrook Bucks to a 2-1 win over the Spruce Grove Saints on Friday (Oct. 23) at Western Financial Place.

After a scoreless first period, Felix Haibock gave Spruce Grove the lead at 8:13 of the second.

With less than six minutes remaining in the third, Bucks forward Kaslo Ferner scored off a pass from James Larson to tie the game.

Bucks’ celebrate after Kaslo Ferner’s goal against Spruce Grove Saints on Oct. 23, 2026 at Western Financial Place. (Photo Credit: Simone Joseph)

McMinn, the Bucks captain, sealed the comeback in overtime.

Bucks’ goalie Keegan Carswell faced 32 shots and saved 31, while Saints’ netminder Alexander Levshyn stopped 29 of 31.

Bucks head coach Roshen Jaswal praised his team’s strong start and third-period comeback.

“We didn’t score in that first 10 minutes. I think the shots were 12 to one, and then we kind of almost felt the let off, and then they got back into the game,” said Jaswal.

“I think that we got back to how we wanted to play in the third period. Really took it to them.

“And then it’s a good lesson for us to just kind of know, like, you know, we’re not going to be perfect every night. But if we’re in the hunt, we’re close. Like, we have the ability to come back and win games.”

Cranbrook Bucks vs Spruce Grove Saints on Oct. 23, 2026 at Western Financial Place. (Photo Credit: Simone Joseph)

Jaswal said he was impressed with the team’s resilience after it rallied from a one-goal deficit to force overtime.

“I mean, we talk about resiliency all the time and, you know, going through adversity. And again, not every game you’re not going to win by four or five goals, right? There’s going to be tight games,” he added.

“There’s going to be games where you have to come back. So really good lesson for them and experience for them, mostly, for them to go through something like that. So yeah, hopefully that can keep building for us.”

Reviewing the overall game, Jaswal said the Bucks were not “crowding the net enough, getting screens” but commended their return to the net in the third period.

“I think originally we were doing a really good job of getting pucks low to high, finding our D, getting them active in the Ozone,” he said.

“And you saw we were getting opportunities and stuff. But I just think like our reloading is good. I think our forecheck was OK tonight.

“I think at times when we got back to it, it was good. So lots of things to clean up, obviously. But really, really happy with, again, just the ability to battle through adversity and show some resiliency.”

Cranbrook Bucks vs Spruce Grove Saints on Oct. 23, 2026 at Western Financial Place. (Photo Credit: Simone Joseph)

The Bucks return to the ice Saturday (Oct. 24), with players also spending time with family during parents’ weekend.

Cranbrook continues its weekend homestand against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks at Western Financial Place on Saturday (Oct. 24).

Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Bucks’ tickets are available at cranbrookbucks.ca/tickets/

Cranbrook Bucks vs Spruce Grove Saints on Oct. 23, 2026 at Western Financial Place. (Photo Credit: Simone Joseph)