BROOKS, AB (November 10, 2021) – TJ Hughes scored twice and the Brooks Bandits powered their way to a 8-1 win over the Olds Grizzlys on Wednesday at the Centennial Regional Arena, their 18th straight victory.
Hughes (Mercyhurst) scored twice, and goaltender Jared Whale made 27 saves as Brooks (19-1) never trailed in the game, only surrendering one goal with under six minutes to play.
Highlights:
After Whale stopped Grizzlys leading scorer Noah Hackett on a breakaway attempt, and after the Bandits killed off two penalties, Brooks scored first. Defenceman Ethan O’Halloran scored from the slot on a left circle pass from Anthony Cipollone at 15:29. The Bandits increased their lead to 2-0 at 16:45 as Hughes tipped a Zach Bookman (Merrimack) point shot. Brooks outshot Olds 9-8 in the frame.
Hughes scored just 1:24 into the 2nd period as he waited out Grizzlys starter Tristan Martin and finished off a Ryan McAllister (Western Michigan) net-front pass to make it 3-0. Later on the powerplay at 11:18, McAllister broke a stick on a point shot attempt, but seconds later would get the puck back and he’d shoot top shelf to give Brooks a 4-0 lead. Shots were 14-9 Bandits in the period.
Brooks continued to score in the 3rd as Cipollone cleaned up a loose puck and backhanded in the 5-0 goal 4:23 into the 3rd period on the powerplay. Forward Devin Phillips (Holy Cross) scored on a forehand net-front shot at 11:21 to increase the lead to 6-0. Bookman one-timed a Cipollone corner pass at 13:40 to make the lead 7-0, and forward Dario Beljo stuffed in a net-front forehand shot at 14:13 to increase the lead to 8-0. Olds defenceman Joshua Zinger spoiled Whale’s shutout bid at 14:27 on a shot from the blueline to make it 8-1. Shots were 15-11 Brooks in the 3rd, and 38-28 overall.
Postgame comments from TJ Hughes, Ryan McAllister and Devin Phillips:
The Bandits head on a North Division road trip this weekend, visiting the Drayton Valley Thunder on Friday, November 12 at the Omniplex. That’s followed by a stop in Spruce Grove for a showdown with the Saints on Saturday, November 13 at the Grant Fuhr Arena. Both games start at 7:00 pm with live play-by-play coverage on Real Country 105.7 FM.