BROOKS, AB (October 23, 2021) – Ethan Barwick made 20 saves and the Bandits broke a scoreless tie early in the 2nd period en route to a 7-2 victory over the Fort McMurray Oil Barons Saturday night at the Centennial Regional Arena.
The win was the Bandits 12th straight, and improves their record to 13-1 as they sit in first place in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
Highlights presented by Days Inn & Suites:
Barwick made a big left pad save on the Oil Barons Ty Hipkin in the 1st period in what was the Barons best chance, but it remained scoreless after 1. Shots were 14-8 Brooks.
Bandits rookie forward Aiden Fink (Wisconsin) scored off the rush on a right circle shot just 1:45 into the 2nd period to give Brooks a 1-0 lead. But Fort McMurray would tie 1-1 as forward Brandon Sacchetti scored top right shelf at 4:11. Brooks reclaimed the lead as forward Hunter Wallace (RPI) scored on a net front scramble to make it 2-1 at 6:37. That was followed by a Nic DeGraves top shelf goal, his first of the season at 9:32 to make it 3-1. Barwick denied a Taige Harding breakaway attempt as Brooks outshot Fort McMurray 18-7 in the 2nd.
The Bandits poured on the offence in the 3rd, as forward TJ Hughes (Mercyhurst) one-timed a Devin Phillips (Holy Cross) pass at 3:39 to make it 4-1. Then at 9:44, captain Ethan Lund (Niagara) fired in a top shelf goal to increase the lead to 5-1, followed by a Boston Buckberger (Wisconsin) rush to the net which saw the rookie defenceman slide the puck into the net at 15:46 to increase the lead to 6-1. The Oil Barons got one back on a Tyler Wallace rush with under two minutes to play, but defenceman Zach Bookman (Merrimack) would cap off the night with goal from the right circle in the final minute to make it 7-2, the final. Shots in the 3rd were 12-7 Brooks and 44-22 overall.
Postgame comments from goaltender Ethan Barwick:
Postgame comments from defenceman Boston Buckberger:
Next up for the Bandits is a home and home series with the Okotoks Oilers. It starts Friday, October 29 in Okotoks at 7:00 pm. That’s followed by a Saturday, October 30 rematch at the Centennial Regional Arena at 7:00 pm.
Photo: Em Duncan