Simchuk picks up assist in Bandits debut in 4-1 road win over Canucks

CALGARY, AB (November 15, 2022) – The Bandits scored a pair of goals in the 1st and again in the 2nd period, and Mikhail Simchuk made his debut for Brooks, skating to a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Canucks on Tuesday at the Max Bell Centre.

Ethan Barwick (Lindenwood) made 17 saves for his 20th win of the season, as Brooks (22-1-2) has won 10 straight games, 7 straight on the road and haven’t lost in regulation in 20 consecutive games.

Brooks got off to a quick start, as forward Caelan Fitzpatrick (Niagara) sniped a forehand shot off the rush to make it 1-0 just 20 seconds into the contest. Brooks doubled the lead 5:14, as forward Tyler Blocha (Northern Michigan) roofed a pass on a two-on-one to make it 2-0.

The Bandits tripled the lead to 3-0 in the 2nd period at 5:16, as forward Mikhail Simchuk, in his Bandits debut, assisted his fellow countryman Danylo Korzhyletskyi, who drove to the Canucks net and tapped it behind Canucks starter Spencer Borsos for Simchuk’s first point. Bandits captain Dario Beljo (AIC) made it 4-0 at 7:54, thanks to a keep-in from defenceman Sam Court (New Hampshire) who rimmed a passed to forward Jordan Hughesman (Merrimack), who then did a reverse hit on a Calgary player and passed to Beljo in front, who wristed his 20th goal of the season to make it 4-0.

Calgary spoiled Barwick’s shutout bid with 92 seconds remaining, as rookie Connor Frost scored off the rush to cut the lead to 4-1, the closest they would get. Final shots were 28-18 Brooks.

The rematch with the Canucks goes Wednesday, November 16, at the Centennial Regional Arena. Game time is 6:30 pm.