The Brooks Bandits are 2022 Alberta Junior Hockey League Champions and winners of the Inter Pipeline Cup. The Bandits defeated the Spruce Grove Saints in Game 5 of the League Final on Saturday night in front of 2,200 fans at the Centennial Regional Arena in Brooks, AB.
AJHL Commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk awarded Bandits forward Ryan McAllister as the 2022 AJHL Playoff MVP in front of the home crowd. McAllister (Western Michigan University) was also the AJHL Scoring Champion and 2021-22 AJHL MVP.
This was the fifth meeting between the Bandits and Saints in the League Finals with each team seeking a sixth League Championship. Brooks has previously captured the AJHL Title in 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2019. The Inter Pipeline Cup was last awarded in 2019 when the Bandits defeated the Saints and went on to win the RBC Cup National Championship in Brooks, AB.
The Bandits advanced to the League Final for the seventh time in franchise history after winning the 2022 Viterra AJHL South Division Title. The journey began with Brooks capturing the Dave Duchak Trophy as the AJHL Regular Season Champions for the fifth time in franchise history and earning a first-round bye. Brooks then swept the Canmore Eagles in Round Two on their way to the South Division Final where they completed a series sweep of the Okotoks Oilers.
As the 2022 AJHL Champion, the Brooks Bandits will advance to the Centennial Cup presented by Tim Hortons in Estevan, SK from May 19th – 29th, 2022.