Blackfalds Bulldogs Bonnyville Pontiacs Brooks Bandits Calgary Canucks Camrose Kodiaks Canmore Eagles Drayton Valley Thunder Drumheller Dragons Fort McMurray Oil Barons Grande Prairie Storm Lloydminster Bobcats Okotoks Oilers Olds Grizzlys Sherwood Park Crusaders Spruce Grove Saints Whitecourt Wolverines

Bandits remain unbeaten in regulation through 21 games following 7-4 win in Calgary

CALGARY, AB (November 17, 2021) – Hughie Hooker scored twice, Jared Whale made 30 saves and the Brooks Bandits stayed undefeated in regulation through 21 games following a 7-4 win over the Canucks on Wednesday at Henry Viney Arena.

The win improves the Bandits record to 21-1-1, as they sit in first place in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, one point ahead of Spruce Grove with two games in hand.

Highlights:

Bandits forward TJ Hughes (Mercyhurst) opened the scoring his league-leading 22nd of the year 4:44 into the game, finishing off a left circle pass from Devin Phillips (Holy Cross) to make it 1-0. But the Canucks would respond, as defenceman Connor Bertamini turned and shot a left circle shot that snuck past Whale at 13:34 to tie the game. Brooks forward Aiden Fink (Wisconsin) received a corner pass from linemate Anthony Cipollone and fired in the go-ahead goal at 14:05 to give the Bandits a 2-1 lead. That was followed at 18:01 by a Ryan McAllister (Western Michigan) one-timer to increase the lead to 3-1. Shots were 19-9 Brooks.

Brooks extended their lead to 4-1 at 13:47 of the 2nd period as defenceman Hughie Hooker had a wrist shot from the right circle sneak through Canucks starter Ty Young. Hooker added another with a one-timer at 17:48 from a McAllister pass to give the Bandits a 5-1 lead. With 91 seconds left in the period, forward Nicholas DeGraves finished a behind-the-net pass from Liam Hughes to make it 6-1 Bandits, who outshot the Canucks 18-4 in the frame.

Calgary opened the 3rd period scoring three unanswered goals, the first coming from Matthew Brunton just 43 seconds into the game, followed by a Ben Kotylak breakaway goal at 1:17. Then with 5:04 left in the 3rd, Zach Whittaker waited out Whale on a backhand move to cut the Bandit lead to 6-4. However, Brooks would kill off a Hunter Wallace (RPI) double-minor for kneeing and get a powerplay goal from Dario Beljo, who tipped in a Ryan McAllister shot to give Brooks the 7-4 lead, which was the final. Shots were 13-11 Bandits in the 3rd, and 50-34 overall.

Postgame comments from defenceman Hughie Hooker:

The Bandits return home for two games this weekend. Friday (Nov 19) they host the Camrose Kodiaks at 7:00 pm, followed by a Saturday (Nov 20) home date with the Lloydminster Bobcats. Both games are at 7:00 pm at the Centennial Regional Arena.