OKOTOKS, AB (March 13, 2021) – Five different goal scorers found the back of the net as the Brooks Bandits broke a 2nd period 1-1 tie and pulled away to beat the Okotoks Oilers 5-1 on Saturday night at Pason Centennial Arena.
Goaltender Ethan Barwick (St. Albert, AB) made 26 saves for the win, as the Bandits improve to 4-0 on the season. Okotoks goaltender Brady Parker made 24 saves in the loss.
Asst. Coach Evan McFeeters joins Bandits broadcaster Nathan Crosby for the Honda Magic Coach’s Recap:
After a scoreless 19 minutes, the Bandits scored first as forward Devin Phillips (Raleigh, NC) finished off a TJ Hughes 2 on 1 rush which started thanks to a defensive zone clear off the glass by defenceman Zach Bookman with 61 seconds left in the 1st period. Shots were 10-8 Okotoks.
The 2nd period saw Okotoks tie the game with a shorthanded breakaway goal by Carson Dyck a the 4:41 mark. But Brooks retook the lead at the 7:56 mark after forward Dario Beljo (Sudbury, ON) fed the puck from the corner to a wide open Brendan Mairs (London, ON), who found the back of the net. Then at 17:08, defenceman Dominick Campione (Kolher, WI) took a hit in the neutral zone but fed the puck ahead to forward Owen Cole (Dunnville, ON), who passed to an open Ryan McAllister (London, ON) who buried the puck and made it 3-1 Bandits. Shots were 12-9 Brooks.
After a stellar sequence of saves from goaltender Ethan Barwick, the Bandits added to their lead in the 3rd period with two powerplay goals. The first came at the 4:41 mark as Taylor Makar (Calgary, AB) scored on a net-front scramble set up by Brayden Krieger and Corson Ceulemans. Then at 10:55, Ceulemans (Beaumont, AB) scored from the top of the left circle on a wrist shot to make it 5-1. Final shots were 29-27 Bandits.
The Bandits return home on Saturday, March 20th for the rematch against the Oilers. Game time is 7:00 PM, spectators are not allowed at AJHL games due to government restrictions.
Follow the game on Real Country 105.7 FM and Hockeytv.com.
Photo: Bryan Wilson