DRUMHELLER, AB (November 5, 2021) – The Brooks Bandits scored four goals in the opening five minutes of the 2nd period and rolled to a 7-3 victory Friday night at the Memorial Arena, the team’s 16th consecutive win.
Ethan Barwick made 33 saves as the Bandits (17-1) remain unbeaten on the road and got revenge on the only team to beat them this year.
Highlights presented by Days Inn & Suites:
Drumheller scored the game’s first goal as forward Sam Simard tapped in a net front pass 4:23 into the game for a 1-0 lead. But the Bandits would tie, as defenceman Ethan O’Halloran scored on a blueline wrist shot for his first ever AJHL goal at 15:35. Shots were 10-9 Brooks in the first.
The Bandits offence exploded in the opening five minutes of the 2nd period. Defenceman Zach Bookman (Merrimack) completed an end-to-end rush in highlight fashion to give Brooks a 2-1 lead 1:37 into the period. That was followed by a Hunter Wallace (RPI) goal at 3:30, as he one-timed a corner pass from linemate Aiden Fink (Wisconsin) to increase the lead to 3-1. After the Dragons failed to clear a puck, forward Dario Beljo capitalized by shooting from the right circle and scoring to make it 4-1 at 4:03, chasing Drumheller goaltender Eric Ward from the net, who was replaced by Garrett Fuller. However the first shot he faced went in, as defenceman Brendan Kennette (Sacred Heart) scored from the point to make it 5-1 at 4:35.
The Dragons got one back at 7:17, as forward Adam Raesler fired a top shelf shot from the right circle to cut the lead to 5-2. But with 3:28 left in the period, Kennette finished a shot after taking a dangerous head hit from Dragons forward Grayson Dietrich, scoring to make it 6-2. Kennette would finish the game, Dietrich was given a five-minute major for Blow to the Head. Shots were 15-8 Brooks in the period.
The Bandits increased to 7-2 as forward Ryan McAllister (Western Michigan) tapped in a TJ Hughes (Mercyhurst) pass nearly four minutes into the 3rd period. The Dragons would get one back in the final two minutes as Alexey Trischuk banged in a shot from the high slot to make it 7-3, as close as they would get. Shots in the 3rd were 19-9 Dragons, who had three consecutive powerplays, final shots were 36-34 Drumheller, but it was the Bandits who picked up the 7-3 victory.
Postgame comments from Brendan Kennette:
Next game for Brooks is Saturday, November 6, when they host the Blackfalds Bulldogs and go for their 17th straight win. Game time is 7:00 pm at the Centennial Regional Arena.