BROOKS, AB (October 1, 2021) – The Brooks Bandits broke a 3-3 tie in the 3rd period and held on for a 6-4 win over the Spruce Grove Saints Friday night at the Centennial Regional Arena at the 2021 AJHL Showcase.
Photo: Em Duncan
Goaltender Ethan Barwick made 19 saves as the Bandits picked up their 3rd straight win, improving their record to 4-1.
The Bandits opened the scoring as defenceman Boston Buckberger (Wisconsin) scored top shelf 3:46 into the game on the powerplay to make it 1-0. But Saints forward Nikola Jovanovic tied the game on a forehand, left circle shot with 2:40 left in the 1st to tie the game 1-1. Shots were 12-10 Brooks in the period.
Just 12 seconds into the 2nd, Bandits forward TJ Hughes (Mercyhurst) took a Zach Bookman (Merrimack) pass off the faceoff and scored on a breakaway to give Brooks the 2-1 lead. They increased it to 3-1 on a Buckberger rebound shot at 7:26. Spruce Grove got one back at 11:03 as Hunter Brown knocked in a loose puck to cut the lead to 3-2. Shots were 13-4 Bandits in the frame.
Spruce Grove started the 3rd period on a 5-on-3 powerplay, and capitalized as forward Caiden Gault one-timed a low right circle shot to tie the game 3-3 just 37 seconds into the 3rd. The Bandits retook the lead at 3:46 as forward Devin Phillips (Holy Cross) finished off a breakaway chance to make it 4-3. That was followed by a tic-tac-toe TJ Hughes goal at 12:13 on the powerplay to increase the lead to 5-3. The Saints got another Gault goal at 12:57 as he finished off a left circle pass. But Bandits forward Hunter Wallace (RPI) scored on a rebound at 15:17 to seal the 6-4 win.
Day 2 Recap
Camrose 3, Grande Prairie 2
Players of the Game: Carson Brisson (CAM), Nathanial Bierd (GP)
Despite giving up a 2-0 lead to the Storm in the 3rd period, the Kodiaks got a Carson Brisson goal at 9:28 to give them a 3-2 lead, which was enough for the win.
Fort McMurray 7, Blackfalds 2
Players of the Game: Ty Hipkin (FTM), Carter Yarish (BLA)
The Bulldogs kept it close midway through the 2nd period, only down 3-2. But the Oil Barons pulled away with four straight goals, including two Ty Hipkin goals six seconds apart, the 3rd quickest pair of goals in AJHL history as the Barons skated to a 7-2 win.
Lloydminster 6, Olds 5 OT
Players of the Game: Zafir Rawji (LLO), Noah Hackett (OLDS)
Another wild game featuring the Bobcats as they found themselves down 5-2 to the Olds Grizzlys in the 3rd period. But goals from Chase Visser, Kolton Shindle and Matthew Swanson tied the game 5-5. In overtime, the former Grizzlys Zafir Rawji scored the winner to give Lloydminster the extra time win.
Day 3 of the 2021 AJHL Showcase starts with a 10:30am puck drop between the Blackfalds Bulldogs and Bonnyville Pontiacs. That’s followed by a 1:30pm start between the Okotoks Oilers and Whitecourt Wolverines, and a 4:30pm puck drop between the Canmore Eagles and Drayton Valley Thunder.
Tickets are available on brooksbandits.ca, and they will be live on hockeytv.com.
