OLDS, AB (September 24, 2021) – Six different Bandits scored as Brooks kicked off their weekend of road games with a 6-1 victory over the Olds Grizzlys on Friday night at the Sportsplex.
The Bandits (2-1) outshot Olds (0-2-1) by a 45-17 margin, and gained the lead early and never looked back. Goaltender Ethan Barwick made 16 saves in the win.
Highlights from Days Inn & Suites Brooks
After winning a defensive zone faceoff 3:40 into the game, the Bandits charged down the ice with forward Ryan McAllister (Western Michigan) carrying the puck on a left-wing entry, finding linemate TJ Hughes (Mercyhurst) in front of the Grizzly net, who redirected the first goal of the game into the back of the net to make it 1-0.
Brooks increased their lead to 2-0 as defenceman Hughie Hooker scored on a forehand shot from the top of the right circle at 6:14. Then, the Bandits capitalized on the powerplay, as forward Devin Phillips (Holy Cross) got a rebound off a Zach Bookman (Merrimack) point shot to increase the lead to 3-0. The Grizzlys would get some chances in the second half of the period, but Barwick stopped all 11 shots he faced as the Bandits took the three-goal lead to the 2nd period.
The Bandits made it 4-0 as forward Aiden Fink (Wisconsin) burned past the Grizzlys defenders and fired in a shot from the right circle 4:42 into the 2nd. After a stretch with no goals, and a Bandit penalty kill, forward Dario Beljo fired in a shot from the right circle to increase the lead to 5-0. Shots were 16-5 in the period.
Olds scored their lone goal of the game 3:48 into the 3rd, as Lowie Vreys snuck one over the right shoulder of Barwick, but the Bandits would get it back. Bandits forward Heath Armstrong dropped the gloves with Brendan McBride in a spirit bout, and the third period saw Olds rack up 30 minutes of penalties. McAllister sniped a top left corner shot on the powerplay with under 10 minutes in the 3rd to give Brooks the 6-1 lead, the final.
Brooks outshot the Grizzlys 16-1 in the period, 45-17 overall.
The Bandits next game is Saturday, September 25 when they travel to Calgary to face the Canucks. Live coverage is available on Hockeytv.com and Real Country 105.7 FM. Puck drop is 7:00pm at the Henry Viney Arena.