BROOKS, AB – The Brooks Bandits extended their win streak to four games following a hard fought 4-2 win over the Sherwood Park Crusaders at the 2021 AJHL Showcase in Brooks at the Centennial Regional on Saturday night.
Photo: Em Duncan
Goaltender Ethan Barwick made 15 saves in the win, as Brooks won both of their Showcase games.
After a scoreless 1st period where Brooks outshot Sherwood Park 8-4, Crusaders forward Logan Hauer won a net front battle and scored on the powerplay to make it 1-0 Crusaders just 61 seconds into the 2nd period. But Brooks tied it up at 8:06 as forward Jack Seymour (Holy Cross) backhanded in a Dario Beljo rebound to make it 1-1. The Bandits took the lead 2-1 as Ryan McAllister (Western Michigan) redirected a TJ Hughes (Mercyhurst) pass into the top right corner at 10:33. Sherwood Park tied the game 2-2 on a 2-on-1 finish by Evan Arnold with under seven minute to go in the period. Shots were 22-6 Brooks in the period. Prior to the Arnold goal, Bandits captain Ethan Lund (Niagara) left the game after taking a blindside hit.
Bandits forward Devin Phillips (Holy Cross) finished off a right circle shot 4:07 into the 3rd period on the powerplay to give the Bandits a 3-2 lead. That was followed by another McAllister goal at 6:49, as he finished off a pass off the rush from Hughes to make it 4-2. Final shots were 37-17 Brooks.
AJHL Showcase Day 3 Recap
Bonnyville 5, Blackfalds 3
Players of the Game: Michael Fairfax (BON), Nicholas Magis (BLK)
The Pontiacs broke a 2-2 tie in the 2nd period, as Michael Fairfax had a three point game in a win over the Bulldogs.
Whitecourt 6, Okotoks 3
Players of the Game: Carson Ironside (WHI), Tucker McRae (OKO)
The Wolverines built up a 3-0 lead in the 1st and never looked back. Ryan Duguay had a three point game, and Carson Ironside turned away 24 shots in a Whitecourt win.
Drayton Valley 4, Canmore 0
Players of the Game: Hunter Price (DRAY), Andreai Proctor-Ramirez (CAN)
Goaltender Jackson Berry made 24 saves for the shutout, and the Thunder built up a 3-0 lead in the 2nd period and cruised to the win.
The 2021 AJHL Showcase wraps up on Sunday, Oct 3 with four games. At 10:30am, the Whitecourt Wolverines battle the Canmore Eagles. Then at 1:30pm, the Bonnyville Pontiacs faceoff vs the Olds Grizzlys. At 4:30pm the Drumheller Dragons square off with the Crusaders, and at 7:30pm the event wraps up with the Calgary Canucks vs the Drayton Valley Thunder.
Tickets are available at brooksbandits.ca, and will be broadcast on Hockeytv.