OKOTOKS, AB (April 13, 2022) – For the seventh time in franchise history, the Brooks Bandits will play in the Alberta Junior Hockey League Championship Final after sweeping the Okotoks Oilers in four games in the South Final, punctuated by a 3-1 victory in Game 4 on Wednesday at Pason Centennial Arena.
Brooks has won seven South Division Championships (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022) and will face the North Division Champion Spruce Grove Saints for the fifth time in the AJHL Final. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday, April 29 in Brooks at the Centennial Regional Arena.
Game 4 had a scoreless 1st period, with Brooks outshooting Okotoks 12-9.
Bandits forward Devin Phillips (Holy Cross) opened the scoring 5:35 into the 2nd on a rebound off a Ryan McAllister (Western Michigan) shot to make it 1-0 Brooks. Brooks defenceman Zach Bookman (Merrimack) doubled the lead to 2-0 on a one-timer from the left circle, passed by Anthony Cipollone (Quinnipiac). Shots in the 2nd were 12-3 Brooks.
Okotoks got one back at 1:24 of the 3rd, as Logan Magowan scored on a point shot to cut the lead to 2-1. But 18 seconds later, Bandits defenceman Brendan Kennette (Sacred Heart) tapped in a McAllister pass to make it 3-1. Despite Okotoks pulling goaltender Jack McNaughton for the extra attacker in the final minutes, Bandits goaltender Ethan Barwick shut the door and Brooks held on for a 3-1 win. Shots were 11-7 Brooks, and 35-19 overall.
AJHL Final schedule and ticket information will be released in the coming days, follow the Bandits on social media and brooksbandits.ca for details.
Photo credit: Chad Goddard Photography