CALGARY, AB (November 23, 2021) – The Brooks Bandits scored three powerplay goals and won their fourth straight game, beating the Calgary Canucks 5-2 at Henry Viney Arena on Tuesday.
Forward TJ Hughes (Mercyhurst) scored twice, forward Ryan McAllister (Western Michigan) had four assists and goaltender Jared Whale made 22 saves as the Bandits stay in 1st place in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with a 24-1-1 record. The Bandits have yet to lose on the road in regulation, and haven’t lost in regulation in 24 consecutive contests.
Highlights:
Brooks opened the scoring 3:49 into the game, as defenceman Dominick Campione (Arizona State) fired a point shot, crossbar and in to make it 1-0. The Bandits doubled their lead with 3:22 left in the period on the powerplay, as Hughes had a rebound come to him in the left circle off a Zach Bookman (Merrimack) shot to make it 2-0. Shots were 19-6 Bandits in the 1st.
Calgary cut the lead to 2-1 just 2:20 into the 2nd, as forward Matthew Brunton scored on a top shelf shot. Less than a minute later, Bandits forward Ethan Mercer found a loose puck in the Canucks crease and knocked in his first goal as a Bandit to increase the lead to 3-1. Shots in the period were 18-9 Brooks in the period.
The Canucks opened the 3rd period scoring with an Ethan Button unassisted goal just 2:52 into the frame on a two-on-one rush. One minute later, Hughes scored his second of the night on a powerplay goal as he was fed a blueline pass from McAllister and wristed a left circle shot to make it 4-2. With 5:25 left in the period, forward Dario Beljo knocked in a loose puck on a net scramble after it looked like had already crossed the goal line but came out, as the Bandits made it a 5-2 lead, which held for the final score. Shots in the 3rd were 13-9 Brooks, and 50-24 overall.
Postgame comments from Ethan Mercer:
The Bandits head on a North Division road trip this weekend, starting Saturday, November 27 in Grande Prairie vs the Storm at Bonnetts Energy Centre at 6:00 pm. That’s followed by a Sunday, November 28 stop in Whitecourt vs the Wolverines at Scott Safety Centre. Puck drop is 2:30 pm.
Live play by play for both games will be available on Real Country 105.7 FM.