BROOKS, AB (December 16, 2022) – Despite a four-goal 3rd period, the Brooks Bandits 16-game home winning streak was snapped following a 7-5 setback to the Bonnyville Pontiacs on Friday at the Centennial Regional Arena.
Nathan Free (Calgary, AB) scored twice, with goals also from Heath Armstrong (Calgary, AB), Ethan Beyer (Centennial, CO) and Hughie Hooker (Brandon, MB). Ethan Barwick made 16 saves, while Wilson Maxfield made 18 saves in relief.
Jack Budd opened the scoring at 14:19 scoring on a forehand shot to make it 1-0 Bonnyville. The Pontiacs scored three straight goals in the 2nd period to increase the lead to 4-0. But Brooks didn’t go away, as Armstrong banged in a left circle shot off the glass to cut the lead to 4-1 at 8:54.
Chayce Schmidt made it 5-1 just 72 seconds into the 3rd period to make it 5-1 Pontiacs. However, Free sniped a left circle shot to cut the lead to 5-2. However, 22 seconds later, Ludovik Tardif scored to give Bonnyville a 6-2 lead, followed by another Schmidt goal at 5:52 to make it 7-2. But the Bandits wouldn’t go down without a fight, getting three straight goals to draw within two. Beyer scored on a long range shot through traffic on the powerplay at 12:35 to make it 7-3, Free scored again from the left circle at 15:47 on the powerplay to make it 7-4, and Hooker scored on a bottom right corner shot at 16:12 to make it 7-5, the final.
The Bandits final game of 2022 goes Saturday, December 17, when they host the Lloydminster Bobcats. Game time is 7:00 pm at the Centennial Regional Arena.