BROOKS, AB (October 24, 2020) – The Brooks Bandits offensive power was on full display Saturday night at the Centennial Regional Arena, as six different goal scorers helped them to a 7-4 triumph over the Okotoks Oilers.
Goaltender Jared Whale (Calgary, AB) made 31 saves in the win, as the Bandits went 5-1 in the series.
Brooks got off to a great start as Thomas Cusson (Cowansville, QC) found a rebound off a Zach Bookman (Syracuse, NY) point shot and scored 86 seconds into the game. Two minutes later they doubled their lead to 2-0 thanks to an Anthony Cipollone (Purchase, NY) goal, who finished off behind-the-net pass from Taylor Makar (Calgary, AB).
But the Oilers would find the scoresheet later at the halfway point of the 1st. Defenceman Tucker McRae took a point shot that was tipped past Whale to cut the lead to 2-1, followed by a Jack Works shorthanded goal with just over 7 minutes left in the period.
The wild 1st period continued with Makar scoring on a wrist shot with one second left on a powerplay to reclaim the Brooks lead. But 12 seconds later, Oilers captain Louis Jamernik went top shelf on Whale to tie the game 3-3. With 4 minutes left in the frame, Bandits forward Owen Cole (Dunnville, ON) knocked in a puck in air to give Brooks a 4-3 lead that would hold until the 1st intermission.
Brooks increased their lead in the 2nd period. Forward Jack Seymour (Chelsea, QC) scored on a breakaway nearly 5 minutes into the frame to make it 5-3, followed by another Seymour breakaway with under 6 minutes to play that saw him hit the post, but was cleaned up by the trailing forward Sean Chisholm (Halifax, NS) to give the Bandits a 6-3 lead.
The 3rd period saw Okotoks get one back early. Forward Zane Kindrachuk finished off a 2 on 1 rush 92 seconds into the frame to cut the lead to 6-4. Oilers forward Blake Jacques would end up getting called for a Blow to the Head major penalty on Bookman and was given a game misconduct. The Oilers’ Gibb Coady was also given a game misconduct for fighting with the Bandits Brendan Mairs after Coady caught Bandits defenceman Brendan Kennette in the head.
Seymour would put the game on ice with his second goal with under 3 minutes to play, finishing off a Ryan McAllister (London, ON) pass, making the final 7-4. Shots were 35-30 Okotoks.
Series: Bandits win 5 games to 1
Oct 9th: Oilers 2 @ Bandits 5
Oct 10th: Bandits 4 @ Oilers 3 OT
Oct 16th: Bandits 6@ Oilers 5 OT
Oct 17th: Oilers 1 @ Bandits 3
Oct 23rd: Bandits 3 @ Oilers 5
Oct 24th: Oilers 4 @ Bandits 7
The Bandits will wait for an announcement from the Alberta Junior Hockey League on the next step in its return to play plan.
For the latest news and information, visit brooksbandits.ca.
Photo: Bryan Wilson