Brooks, AB (December 21, 2019) – The Brooks Bandits (35-1-1) scored five powerplay goals, and picked up their 11th straight victory thanks to an 8-2 win over the Canmore Eagles on Saturday at the Centennial Regional Arena.
Goaltender Pierce Charleson made 12 saves for his league-leading 29th win of the year.
After a scoreless opening 10 minutes, the Bandits found the scoresheet first. Forward Brayden Krieger (Elora, ON) sped up the left wing taking a Jakob Lee (Owen Sound, ON) pass and fired in a wrist shot into the Canmore net to make it 1-0 at 10:05.
Brooks outshot Canmore 15-1 in the first period, the Eagles only shot was a clear from their own zone. Canmore goaltender Devin Chapman made 14 saves in the frame.
Just 1:05 into the second period, Eagle forward Max Giangualano shot the puck off a back checking Phip Waugh (McLean, VA) to tie the game 1-1. But Brooks would capitalize on back to back powerplays. First forward Trey Thomas (Williams Lake, BC) one-timed a Randy Hernandez (Miami, FL) pass at 3:51, followed by a Chris Pappas (Toronto, ON) wrist shot that beat Chapman at 4:36 to make it 3-1.
But the Eagles would get one back. Forward Connor Lyons slid the puck underneath Charleson at the 5:33 mark to make it 3-2. Later in the period, forward Marc-Antoine Benoit (Drummondville, QC) scored the third powerplay goal of the period for the Bandits to make it 4-2.
The third period saw the Bandits pull away. Pappas added an unassisted marker at 5:51 to make it 5-2. Then at the 13:35 mark, the Eagle’s Tristan Zandee was given a major for a blow to the head on Krieger, and another major for fighting Lee. Canmore’s Cameron Sterling was also given a major penalty for fighting Bandit defenceman Corson Ceulemans (Beaumont, AB).
The ensuing powerplay for Brooks saw Benoit and Ceulemans each score to make it 7-2, followed by a Hernandez goal batted in just after the 5 minute powerplay expired.
Final shots were 47-14 for the Bandits.
The Bandits are off until Monday, December 30, when the visit Canmore for a rematch with the Eagles. Listen to the game on Real Country 105.7 FM.
Photo: Em Duncan