BLACKFALDS, AB (September 30, 2022) – The Brooks Bandits finished September on a 3 game winning streak, doubling the Fort McMurray Oil Barons 6-3 on Friday at the Eagles Builder’s Centre to wrap up their 2022 AJHL Showcase.
Goaltender Ethan Barwick (Lindenwood) made 25 saves, while Aiden Fink (Wisconsin) had 3 points (1G, 2A) as the Bandits improved to 6-1-1 on the season.
Fink opened the scoring 8:08 into the game on a breakaway following a Bandits successful penalty kill to make it 1-0. The Bandits doubled their lead to 2-0 with just 6 seconds left in the period, as centre Hudson Malinoski (Providence) won a faceoff to Hunter Wallace (RPI), who blasted his team-leading 6th goal of the season. Shots were 12-6 Bandits in the 1st.
Brooks forward Caelan Fitzpatrick (Niagara) scored off the rush on a forehand shot from the slot with 9:33 left in the 2nd to make it 3-0 Brooks. But the Oil Barons got one back at 17:22 from Ryder Matter to cut the Bandits lead to Bandits to 3-1. However, 25 seconds later, Malinoski one-timed a Wallace pass to give Brooks a 4-1 lead.
Fort McMurray pushed back in the 3rd, with back to back goals from Cade Meiklejohn at 7:00 and Austin Spiridakis at 11:14 on a 5 -on-3 powerplay to make it a 4-3 game. But the Bandits would pull away at even strength at 13:37, as rookie forward Braden Keeble (Yale) tipped a point shot for his first AJHL goal for an insurance goal, making it 5-3 Brooks. Then, Bandits forward Elliot Dutil (Lindenwood) would clean up a loose puck off a shot from Dario Beljo (AIC) that went off the left post, scoring his 3rd goal of the Showcase to give Brooks a 6-3 lead, the final. Shots were 31-28 Brooks.
The Bandits are back in action on Friday, October 7, when they host the Okotoks Oilers at the Centennial Regional Arena. Game time is 7:00 pm.