DRAYTON VALLEY, AB (September 15, 2023) – Parker Lalonde and Caelan Fitzpatrick each scored, Johnny Hicks won his debut, and the Brooks Bandits skated to a 2-1 win over the Thunder at the Omniplex on Opening Night of the Regular Season.
Hicks (Kamloops. BC) made 12 saves for his first win in his first regular season start, while the Bandits peppered Thunder goaltender Chazz Nixon with 45 shots.
Parker Lalonde (Aberdeen, SK) opened the scoring at 2:28, tapping in a Mirko Buttazzoni (Langley, BC) pass for the first goal of the season to make it 1-0 Brooks. However, the Thunder tied on a shorthanded breakaway goal from Adam Grenier at 14:37. But Brooks retook the lead at even-strength with four minutes remaining, as Caelan Fitzpatrick (Moose Jaw, SK) cleaned up a Dakota MacIntosh (Winnipeg, MB) chance to make it 2-1 Bandits.
The 2nd period was scoreless, with Nixon holding the fort and being peppered by 37 Bandits shots after 40 minutes.
Brooks held the fort in the 3rd period, despite pressure from the Thunder emptying their net for the extra attacker, a cross-checking penalty against Drayton Valley with nine seconds remaining stopped their momentum, sealing the 2-1 Bandits win. Final shots were 45-13.
The Bandits next game is Saturday, September 16th when they visit the Whitecourt Wolverines. Game time is 7:00 pm, listen live on Real Country 105.7 FM.