LLOYDMINSTER, SK (February 12, 2022) – The Brooks Bandits erased a 2nd period 3-1 deficit, and blasted their way to a 10-5 win over the Lloydminster Bobcats on Saturday at the Centennial Civic Centre.
Brooks (47-5-2) have now scored a team combined 332 goals, and are three goals from breaking the Bandits record for most goals in one season, which was 334 by the 2018-19 National Champions.
Goaltender Ethan Barwick made 27 saves for the win.
The Bobcats opened the scoring just 34 seconds in, as forward Jordan Borysiuk fired in a right circle shot to make it 1-0. But Brooks would tie up at 3:40 as forward Ryan McAllister (Western Michigan) tapped in a net front chance set up by TJ Hughes (Mercyhurst) from the right circle. Brooks finished the 1st period on a five-on-three powerplay, but it stayed tied after 20 minutes. Shots were 13-8 Brooks in the period.
Lloydminster took a 2-1 lead 3:31 into the 2nd period as Connor Burke one-timed a left circle shot. The Bobcats extended the lead to 3-1 at 5:04 as Mack Stewart cleaned up a rebound in the slot.
But the Bandits would score six unanswered goals. First, Noach Hackett (Niagara) cleaned up a loose puck off a Nic DeGraves drive to the net at 7:06 to cut the deficit to 3-2. That was followed at 7:39 as the Bobcats failed to clear off the glass and had the loose puck bounce to defenceman Ethan Lund (Niagara), who shot a wrist shot through Lloydminster starter Kolby Thornton to tie the game 3-3. DeGraves made it 4-3 Bandits at 9:44, finishing off a behind-the-net pass from Brendan Mairs. Then, forward Devin Phillips (Holy Cross) tapped in a Zach Bookman (Merrimack) pass on the powerplay to make it 5-3 Bandits at 11:34. Bandits forward Aiden Fink (Wisconsin) then found an open Josh Zinger (Northern Michigan) in the right circle at 12:09, who then fired in a forehand shot to extend the Bandit lead to 6-3. Shots 19-11 Brooks in the period.
McAllister scored his second of the game at 3:25 of the 3rd period, picking off a Bobcat clearing attempt and scoring from the left circle to make it 7-3. However, the Bobcats got one back at 9:43 as Ethan Aucoin scored on a shorthanded breakaway to cut the Brooks lead to 7-4. But the Bandits responded on the powerplay, as forward Hunter Wallace (RPI) cleaned up a loose puck off a Zinger shot at 12:56 to make it 8-4. McAllister completed the hat trick at 14:02, one-timing a right circle shot to make it 9-4. Wallace scored again at 14:26, once again cleaning up a loose puck off a Brendan Poshak (Northern Michigan) left circle shot to make it 10-4. Mack Stewart of the Bobcats would clean up a puck on a scramble at 16:45 on the powerplay to make it 10-5, which was the final. Shots overall were 44-32 Bandits.
The Bandits are home for back to back games next week. They host the Olds Grizzlys on Wednesday, February 16 at 6:30 pm, followed by a Friday, February 18 home date with the Okotoks Oilers at 7:00 pm.