BROOKS, AB (April 8, 2019) – The Brooks Bandits will begin the 2019 Alberta Junior Hockey League Final on Friday night at the Centennial Regional Arena against the North champion Spruce Grove Saints, it was announced today.
The series will begin with games 1 and 2 in Brooks on Friday and Saturday, before moving to Spruce Grove for Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Tuesday at the Grant Fuhr Arena. If necessary, Game 5 would be in Brooks next Friday, Game 6 in Spruce Grove next Sunday, and a decisive Game 7 in Brooks the following Tuesday. Puck drop for all games is scheduled for 7 PM.
The Bandits will be making their sixth appearance in the league final, and are aiming for their fifth championship win, after taking the series in 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2017.
It will be the eighth time in the last ten years that Spruce Grove will represent the league’s North division in the final, and the fourth time that the Bandits and Saints will be the teams vying for the title.
After finishing first overall with a league-record 57-3 campaign, the Bandits defeated the Canmore Eagles in five games and the Okotoks Oilers in a six-game South Division Final to earn their way to the final round, while Spruce Grove, after finishing third in the North, defeated Drayton Valley in four games, swept Bonnyville in four, and defeated first-seeded Sherwood Park in six games in the North final.
The teams split their regular season series, with Spruce Grove prevailing 4-3 on October 27th in their rink, and Brooks returning the favour with a 7-3 win at the CRA on November 16th.
Tickets for all Brooks home games are available online at tickets.brooksbandits.ca, with radio coverage of all games provided by Real Country 105.7 FM.
Bandit fans making the trip to Spruce Grove should purchase their seats at tickets.sprucegrovesaints.ca and use the promo code “bandits” to secure seats in the team’s allotment.