BROOKS, AB – The Brooks Bandits will open their 2016 Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) playoff campaign at home this coming Friday, March 18th, the AJHL has announced.
The full schedule of the team’s second-round playoff matchup with the Canmore Eagles sees the teams meet for back-to-back games in Brooks at the Centennial Regional Arena on Friday and Saturday (the 19th), followed by Games 3 and 4 in Canmore at the Canmore Recreation Centre on Monday and Tuesday of next week. All of those game times are 7 PM.
If necessary, a fifth game in the best-of-seven series would be held at the CRA next Friday, March 25th, at 7 PM, with Game 6 in Canmore at 6:00 PM on Sunday the 27th, and a decisive Game 7 on Tuesday, March 29th at 7:00 PM in Brooks.
The Bandits received a bye through the first round of this year’s AJHL playoffs by virtue of finishing in first place in the league’s South division in the regular season, while the Eagles defeated the Drumheller Dragons in 4 games in a best-of-five first round matchup to punch their ticket to this divisional semi-final.
Fans are reminded that the best way to avoid the line at the Centennial Regional Arena is to pre-purchase playoff tickets, which can be done online at http://tickets.brooksbandits.ca, by phone at (403) 501-0122, and in person at the CRA from Tuesday to Thursday, 9 AM to 1 PM, at the Bandits’ office.
Playoff ticket packages are also on sale, guaranteeing a seat for all 12 potential home playoff games. Package holders should use tickets marked “Playoffs: Round 2, Home Game #1” and “Playoffs: Round 2, Home Game #2” for the games this coming weekend.
In addition, the Bandits invite fans to drop off their home-made signs and posters wishing the Bandits good luck in the playoffs, which will be put up in the team’s dressing room in the post-season. Posters can be brought to the CRA throughout the week, or brought to the games this weekend.
The Bandits will also be hosting a pre-game tailgate party prior to Game 1 on Friday night, in the parking lot of the CRA. From 5:00 until 6:30, a free barbecue and live music will be provided courtesy of Montana’s, Q105.7 and The ONE at 101.1. This is a free-to-enter, all-ages event, and the Bandits urge all fans to come down early for a great night to kick off the postseason.
This is the third time the Bandits and Eagles have met in the AJHL post-season, and Brooks has won both times. In 2006, the Bandits won a second round series in six games, and in 2011, the Bandits won a first round series with Canmore in 3 straight. The Bandits registered a 5-0-1 record against the Eagles in the regular season this year.