ESTEVAN, SK (May 24, 2022) – TJ Hughes scored a hat trick, the Brooks Bandits converted on the powerplay six times, trouncing the Pickering Panthers 9-1, clinching 1st overall in Group A at the 2022 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, Tuesday afternoon at Affinity Place.
The Bandits (3-0-0-0) have scored a combined 25 goals through three games (5-2 vs Longueuil, 11-4 vs Red Lake, and 9-1 vs Pickering), and now lead Group A with 9 points. Brooks has earned a bye through the quarter-finals and will play in the Semi-Final on Saturday, time and opponent to be determined.
Photo: Matt Murnaghan/Hockey Canada
Brooks opened the scoring 6:14 into the contest, as forward Brendan Poshak (Northern Michigan) tipped a Zach Bookman (Merrimack) point shot to make it 1-0, Bookman’s first game since April 29th in the AJHL Final. The Bandits doubled their lead to 2-0 at 9:18, as forward TJ Hughes (Michigan) one-timed a behind-the-net pass from defenceman Josh Zinger (Northern Michigan) to double the lead. Shots in the 1st were 11-5 Brooks.
Pickering’s penalty troubles continued in the 2nd, with back-to-back high sticking double minors. Hughes scored again on the powerplay at 3:23, scoring a forehand shot from the left circle to make it 3-0. He completed the hat trick at 6:02 on the powerplay, tucking a backhand shot on a left circle pass from Ryan McAllister (Western Michigan) to increase the lead to 4-0. Zinger scored on his off-wing from the left circle on the powerplay to make it 5-0, chasing Panthers goaltender Zachary Roy. Andrew Ballantyne came in to finish the game, and Pickering got one back at 14:43 from Dustin Hutton to cut the lead to 5-1. Shots in the 2nd were 12-9 Bandits.
Brooks kept their foot down with another powerplay goal at 13:16 of the 3rd, as Bookman sniped a top left shot from the right circle to make it 6-1. Forward Devin Phillips (Holy Cross) banged in a net-front attempt on the man advantage at 17:32 for a 7-1 advantage, followed by an Anthony Cipollone tipped shot on the powerplay at 17:47 to make it 8-1. Forward Noah Hackett put the final touches on the game at 19:29, knocking in a puck from the slot to make it 9-1, the final. Shots in the 3rd favoured Brooks 15-6, and were 38-20 overall. Bandits goaltender Ethan Barwick (Lindenwood) made 19 saves for his third win of the tournament.
WATCH: Postgame comments from #BrooksBandits defenceman Zach Bookman following the 9-1 win over Pickering on Tuesday at the #CentennialCup in Estevan!@MerrimackMIH @TheAJHL pic.twitter.com/GNnN48zoE3
– Brooks Bandits (@BrooksBandits) May 24, 2022
WATCH: Postgame comments from #BrooksBandits goaltender Ethan Barwick following the 9-1 victory over Pickering at the 2022 #CentennialCup in Estevan!@LULionsHockey @TheAJHL pic.twitter.com/fjzzVaeh6z
– Brooks Bandits (@BrooksBandits) May 24, 2022
The Bandits wrap up their preliminary round schedule on Wednesday, May 25 when they face the host-Estevan Bruins. Game is 7:30 pm, live coverage on Real Country 105.7 FM and hockeycanada.com/centennialcup.