The Brooks Bandits are League Champions for a second consecutive year after capturing the 2013 AJHL Gas Drive Cup tonight with a 6-5 OT victory over the Spruce Grove Saints. League Commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk and Gas Drive President Bradley Beebe awarded the Gas Drive Cup to AJHL Coach of the Year Ryan Papaioannou and the Brooks Bandits in front of a hometown crowd of 2,700.
The Brooks Bandits will now advance to the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup for a chance to represent the West at the 2013 RBC Cup National Junior A Championship.
Maddison Smiley of the Brooks Bandits was awarded the 2013 Gas Drive AJHL Playoff MVP Award by former Bandits Governor Byron Smith. The 19 year-old defenceman recorded 6 goals and 14 points in the post-season. Smiley scored the game winning goal in Game One of the championship series versus the Saints and was selected as the Pro Hockey Life Player of the Game. Smiley led all AJHL d-men in scoring and was 10th overall in playoff points. Smiley was also the recipient of the 2013 Stewy Stewart Memorial Trophy in recognition of his character, dedication, perseverance, integrity and sportsmanship.
2013 AJHL Gas Drive Cup Schedule and Results:
- Game 1 April 12, 2013 Spruce Grove 2 @ Brooks 3 (OT)
- Game 2 April 13, 2013 Spruce Grove 1 @ Brooks 5
- Game 3 April 15, 2013 Brooks 1 @ Spruce Grove 3
- Game 4 April 17, 2013 Brooks 3 @ Spruce Grove 1
- Game 5 April 19, 2013 Spruce Grove 5 @ Brooks 6 (OT)
The Bandits and Saints both finished the regular season on top of their division. The Bandits completed a record breaking regular season with a record of 53-4-3 and 109 points. The 2012-2013 Bandits set a new AJHL Record for Most Wins in a Single Season (53) and Most Points in a Single Season (109). Brooks also tied the League Record for Fewest Losses in a Single Season (4). The Canadian Junior Hockey League Top 20 Weekly Rankings posted the Brooks Bandits at number one for 21 consecutive weeks, beginning on October 1st, 2012.
Brooks earned a first round bye in the 2013 AJHL Gas Drive Playoffs for the second straight year as Regular Season Champions. Brooks was victorious over the Drumheller Dragons to earn their spot in the South Division Final. The Bandits battled the Okotoks Oilers in a seven game series to claim the South Division Title and advance to the League Final.
The Brooks Bandits are the defending AJHL Champions after claiming their first League Championship in 2012.
Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup
The 2013 Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup will be held from April 26 – May 5, 2013 at the Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo, BC and hosted by the Nanaimo Clippers and the BCHL. The champions of the British Columbia Hockey League, Alberta Junior Hockey League, Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, and Manitoba Junior Hockey League will participate in a five-team tournament with the host Nanaimo Clippers for the 2013 Western Canada Cup at the inaugural event. The Western Canada Cup Champion and the runner-up will both represent western Canada at the RBC Cup National Junior A Championship from May 11 – 19, 2013.
For more information about the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup, visit www.westerncanadacup.ca