BROOKS, AB (February 21, 2022) – Zach Bookman broke an AJHL record, tied another league record, and the Brooks Bandits shutout the Canmore Eagles 9-0 on Family Day at the Centennial Regional Arena.
Bookman (Merrimack) broke the AJHL record for most assists by a rookie in a season with his 77th of the year, and also tied the AJHL record for most points by a defenceman in a season with his 100th point, with two games remaining to break. Ryan McAllister added a hat trick, and Devin Phillips had a four assist game as the Brooks Bandits won their 27th straight at home.
Goaltender Max Beckford made 18 saves for the shutout, the Bandits second shutout in their last three games.
The 2021-22 Bandits also moved into third all-time in total goals scored with 362 goals on the season, one back of the 1981-82 Calgary Spurs for second all-time.
Forward Nic DeGraves opened the scoring, cleaning up a loose puck in front of Eagles starter Andreai Proctor-Ramirez to make it 1-0 Bandits just 1:28 into the game. Captain Ethan Lund (Niagara) scored on a wraparound at 3:04 to increase the lead to 2-0. Shots were 12-1 Brooks in the 1st.
It stayed 2-0 for much of the 2nd period until Eagles forward Maguire Smyth was given a five-minute major for kneeing DeGraves. Brooks capitalized on the powerplay with three goals, as Ryan McAllister (Western Michigan) . TJ Hughes made it 4-0 at 17:26, tucking a forehand shot on a Bookman pass, the 77th assist for Bookmand and record breaker. Shots were 19-9 Bandits in the period.
McAllister scored the third powerplay goal just 27 seconds into the 3rd period, tapping in a backhand backdoor pass to make it 5-0. Bookman made it 6-0 at 3:37, finishing off a behind-the net pass from Devin Phillips. Back on the powerplay at 10:05, McAllister fired in a forehand shot on a pass from Bookman, his fourth assist of the game. Bookman tied the AJHL record for most points in a season by a defenceman with his 100th point. He’ll have two games to break the record. The goal also completed McAllister’s hat trick. Forward Hunter Wallace (RPI) made a great individual rush into the Eagles, beating Proctor-Ramirez on a wraparound to make it 8-0 at 15:16. Just 20 seconds later, Wallace cleaned up a rebound on a Dominick Campione (Arizona State) shot to increase the lead to 9-0 at 15:36, the final. Shots were 19-8 Bandits in the period, and 50-18 overall.
Postgame comments from Zach Bookman and Ryan McAllister, who join @nathandcrosby for a Family Day chat!@TheAJHL pic.twitter.com/fkGH0Unv9s
– Brooks Bandits (@BrooksBandits) February 22, 2022
Zach Bookman @BrooksBandits has broke the League Record for Most Assists by an AJHL Rookie with 77 assists! The previous record of 76 was set in 1982-83. pic.twitter.com/5fz7zPNg2f
– TheAJHL (@TheAJHL) February 22, 2022
The Bandits wrap up the regular season this weekend with a road game in Drumheller on Friday (Feb 25) and home game vs the Dragons on Saturday (Feb 26), both start at 7:00 pm.