Brooks vs. Drumheller (Dragons win 4-1)
For the first time in franchise history the Drumheller Dragons are off to the AJHL Championship series (Gas Drive Cup) after a 3-2 win in game five over the Brooks Bandits on Thursday night.
The Bandits opened the scoring 2:03 into the opening period as Kyler Nachtigall (assists to Madison Dunn and Eric Chevrier) finished a cross crease pass and beat Dragons` goaltender Devin Buffalo to make it 1-0.
The Dragons would answer back at 9:25, as Christopher Rauckman (assists to Hunter Mills and Shayne Gwinner) tipped a shot behind Bandits` goaltender Michael Fredrick to tie the game at 1-1.
The Dragons would keep the pressure on and at 18:01, Jesse Zaharichuk (assists to Trent Ouellette and Mitchell Cook) banged the puck past Fredrick to make it 2-1 for Drumheller.
Late in the period the Bandits would get a power play, and Anthony Paskaruk (unassisted) would break in and beat Buffalo to tie the game 2-2 at 19:32 of the opening period.
Shots favored the Dragons 17-13 in the period.
The Bandits would get a penalty shot 2:48 into the second period.
Alex Roberts would be awarded the penalty shot but he hit the goal post and the game remained tied at 2-2.
The Dragons thought they had taken the lead at 16:17 but the referees waived it off, saying that it was knocked down with a high stick and the game remained tied at 2-2.
Neither team was able to score in the period.
Shots were 10-9 Bandits in the second period; but 26-23 Dragons after two.
The Dragons would take the lead early in the third period on the power play as Trent Ouellette (assists to Mitchell Cook and Jesse Zaharichuk) tipped a shot passed Fredrick to make it 3-2 Dragons at 1:29.
The Bandits would push late in the game but the Dragons wouldn`t allow game five to slip away and skated away with a 3-2 win and a 4-1 series victory.
Shots favored the Bandits in the third period 15-13; but the final shots were 39-38 in favor of the Dragons.
Drumheller will now wait for the winner of the Fort McMurray and Spruce Grove series.
Story by Chris Colwell