PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, MB (May 15, 2023) – The Brooks Bandits continue their 2023 Centennial Cup journey on Monday as they face the Timmins Rock at Stride Place.
Brooks leads Group A with 6 points with two games remaining in their Preliminary Round schedule, including today’s game against the 2023 Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Champions. Live coverage on Real Country 105.7 FM and realcountrybrooks.ca begins at 3:15 pm. The game can be streamed at hockeycanada.ca.
The Bandits have outscored their opponents 12-3 through their first two games, beating the Yarmouth Mariners 7-2 on May 11th and Ottawa Jr Senators 5-1 on May 13th. The latter moved the Bandits into second all-time for most wins at the National Junior A Championship with 26.
The Rock began their Centennial Cup with a 4-3 overtime win over the Mariners on May 12th, and followed that with a 2-1 loss to the Terrebonne Cobras on May 14th.
Bandits goaltender Ethan Barwick:
“It’s been exciting, the team’s been playing really well. We’ve had it go our way through the first two games, excited for the next two to see what happens. It will be two tough games to end the round robin, especially when you want to finish first and be able to pick when you play in the semis.”
Bandits forward Brendan Poshak:
“It’s been an awesome experience, it’s always a great opportunity to win another National Championship, and the first two games were a good start for us. I think the biggest piece is sticking to our game and structure.”
Brooks has never faced an NOJHL team at the Centennial Cup. The other Monday Group A match has Ottawa facing Yarmouth at 11:30 am (Central).
The Bandits wrap up their Preliminary Round on Tuesday, May 16th, when they face the Quebec Junior Hockey League Champion Terrebonne Cobras at 3:30 pm.