DRAYTON VALLEY, AB (November 12, 2021) – The Brooks Bandits jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the 1st period and never gave up the lead, beating the Drayton Valley Thunder 5-1 on Friday at the Omniplex.
Goaltender Ethan Barwick made 28 saves, as the Bandits (20-1) have yet to lose on the road this season and now have won 19 straight games.
Highlights:
Captain Ethan Lund (Niagara) opened the scoring 2:31 into the game on a point shot that got past Thunder goaltender Jackson Berry to make it 1-0 Brooks. The Bandits doubled the lead at 12:51 as forward Liam Hughes scored on a forehand shot from the slot thanks to a behind-the-net pass from Nicholas DeGraves to extend the lead to 2-0. The Bandits hit multiple posts in the 1st period, including a Zach Bookman (Merrimack) breakaway attempt, but led by two after 20 minutes. Shots were 22-10 Brooks in the 1st.
The Thunder got one back at 6:33 of the 2nd on the powerplay, as defenceman Brody Tallman scored on a point shot to cut the lead to 2-1. But Brooks would respond on their own powerplay, as forward Dario Beljo tapped in a TJ Hughes (Mercyhurst) pass to make it 3-1 Brooks at 11:22. Shots were 13-12 Drayton Valley in the period, which saw the Bandits on the kill five times.
TJ Hughes extended the lead to 4-1 at 12:40 as Bookman found him open in the left circle for a one-timer. With just over five minutes remaining, forward Jack Seymour (Holy Cross) scored on a breakaway to make it 5-1, the final. Shots in the 3rd were 21-5 Bandits, and 55-28 overall.
Postgame comments from Liam Hughes:
The Bandits road trip continues on Saturday, November 13, when they face the North Division leading Saints in Spruce Grove (18-3-2). Game time is 7:00 pm at the Grant Fuhr Arena, with live play by play on Real Country 105.7 FM.