ESTEVAN, SK (May 29, 2022) – For the third time in team history, the Brooks Bandits are National Champions following a 4-1 come-from-behind victory over the Pickering Panthers in the 2022 Centennial Cup Final, Sunday at Affinity Place.
The Bandits were held scoreless through the first two periods despite outshooting the Panthers 28-4, but rallied in the 3rd period with four straight goals to secure the team’s third National Championship in the last decade.
Postgame comments from forward Devin Phillips after winning the 2022 Centennial Cup in his final game as a Brooks Bandit!@TheAJHL @nathandcrosby pic.twitter.com/mWBYsxp70R
– Brooks Bandits (@BrooksBandits) May 30, 2022
Ethan Doyle opened the scoring at 10:47, and Panthers goaltender Zachary Roy refused to allow a goal through two periods of play despite dominant possession and pressure from the Bandits.
Bandits forward Aiden Fink (Wisconsin) got the equalizer at 6:54 of the 3rd period, tapping in a backdoor pass from Nic DeGraves that was initially stopped, but cleaned up to tie the game 1-1. Just 14 seconds later, forward Devin Phillips (Holy Cross) scored on a breakaway to make it 2-1. Forward Ryan McAllister (Western Michigan) blasted a one-timer from TJ Hughes (Michigan) at 13:10 to make it 3-1 Brooks. McAllister scored again at 17:49 on the powerplay from the left circle to make it 4-1. Final shots were 44-11 Brooks.
The @BrooksBandits are #CentennialCup champions! @TimHortons | @cjhlhockey pic.twitter.com/hQwvD4mSvI
– Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) May 30, 2022
The Bandits broke a Centennial Cup record for most goals in a tournament with 44, passing the 1990 New Westminster Royals who scored 43.
Brooks is now third all-time in National Championships with 3.
