OKOTOKS, AB (March 1, 2019) – The Brooks Bandits (56-3) got two goals from leading scorer William Lemay (Marieville, QC), and 32 saves from goaltender Pierce Charleson (Aurora, ON), downing the Okotoks Oilers 2-1 on the road on Friday night.
The win extended the team’s record-setting win streak to 32 games, eclipsing the 31-game overlapping win streak record set by the 2011-12 and 2012-13 Bandits. It put the team one game away from setting a new record for fewest losses in a single season in AJHL history as well.
Lemay opened the scoring just 15 seconds into the game when linemate Randy Hernandez (Miami, FL) corralled the puck behind the Oiler net, and fired a quick centering pass in front for the Bandit leading scorer to one-time home.
The lead held until the 13:04 mark of the second period when Kaleb Ergang scored for Okotoks on a shot off the rush. But it would be the only blemish on the night for Charleson. Lemay reclaimed the lead for Brooks at the 15:32 mark when a Brandon Scanlin (Hamilton, ON) point shot produced a rebound that he backhanded home for the eventual game-winning goal.
The Bandits were outshot 33-18 in the game, including 11-3 in the third period; but Charleson stopped all 11 he faced in the final frame, including a key breakaway stop on a shorthanded chance by Blake Wells of the Oilers to notch the 2-1 final score.
The Bandits will conclude their regular season on Saturday night, hosting the very same Oilers at 7 PM on Awards Night at the CRA. With a win, the Bandits would become the first team to go undefeated at home in an AJHL season. Tickets are available online at tickets.brooksbandits.ca.