After several seasons of struggling financially, the Calgary Mustangs of the AJHL commenced negotiations to relocate its franchise to Strathmore.[3] After the relocation deal fell through, the team requested a leave of absence from the AJHL for the 2019–20 season.[3] The AJHL approved the request in May 2019, allowing the Calgary Mustangs to explore either a more viable future in Calgary or a relocation.[4] A few months later, the AJHL approved the purchase of the Mustangs by Doug Quinn, a businessman from Red Deer, and the relocation of the franchise to Blackfalds to begin to play in the 2021–22 season.[5] The franchise announced its team name, the Blackfalds Bulldogs, in April 2020.[1]
On January 20, 2024, it was announced that the team, along with four other AJHL teams, would join the BCHL in the 2024-2025 season.[6] The AJHL responded to the announcement by cancelling most of the five teams' remaining scheduled matches except those between each other. It was then decided that the five Alberta-based teams would play out the rest of the 2023-24 season as a separate division under the aegis of the BCHL.[7][8]
Team firsts
The new arena in Blackfalds (the Eagle Builders Centre) was not completed in time for the start of the 2021-22 season. Instead games in the exhibition season and the first part of the regular season were held in alternate locations around Alberta.[9] These alternate Bulldogs’ home game locations included Bonnyville, Stettler, Lacombe, Penhold, and Red Deer.
The very first regular-season game for the Bulldogs was a 17-0 blowout at the hands of the Brooks Bandits on Sep. 17, 2021, in Brooks, AB. The first game at home in the Eagle Builders Centre for the Bulldogs was on Oct. 19, 2021, in a 4-2 win over the Calgary Canucks.
The first-ever AJHL goal scored by a member of the Blackfalds Bulldogs occurred in an exhibition game on Sep. 1, 2021, and was credited to Jayden Joly (2:08 of the 1st period, shorthanded, assisted by Ty McRuvie and Kai Matthew). The first regular-season goal scored for the Blackfalds Bulldogs was on Sep. 18, 2021, when Jayden Joly's shot found the back of the net (18:47 of the first period, powerplay goal, assists to Ethan Lund and Kyle Uganecz). The first home regular-season goal in the newly completed Eagle Builders Centre was on Nov 19, 2021, and was scored by Carter Yarish (shorthanded, assisted by Jace Benvie) at 5:56 of the first period.
On Dec 31, 2021, the Bulldogs debuted their alternate 3rd, a tan-colored “B” with a spiked collar underneath, at a home game against the Brooks Bandits. It was again worn in a Jan 21, 2022, home game against the Olds Grizzlys. On Feb 18, 2022, the Bulldogs debuted their 'Pink Power' jerseys, a pink version of their alternate 3rd jersey, at a home game against the Bonnyville Pontiacs. It was again worn on Feb. 23, 2022 in a home game against the Camrose Kodiaks.
Season-by-season record
For previous teams' records, see Calgary Mustangs. Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, Pts = Points
