BROOKS, AB (September 5, 2023) – Hughie Hooker scored the overtime winner, while Nic DeGraves had a two-goal game as the Brooks Bandits defeated the Okotoks Oilers 3-2 in Exhibition Play on Tuesday at the Centennial Regional Arena.
Hooker (Brandon, MB) scored just 31 seconds into the extra period, completing the comeback for Brooks after the Oilers scored back-to-back goals in the 2nd period to take a 2-1 lead. A late 2nd period marker from Nic DeGraves tied the game, followed by a scoreless 3rd period.
Goaltender Brendan Holahan (New Canaan, CT) made 19 saves for the win.
DeGraves (Edmonton, AB) opened the scoring at 13:05, cleaning up a loose puck in front of the Okotoks net off a Hunter Wallace (Oak Lake, MB) shot from the right side to make it 1-0. The Bandits ended the period having to kill two penalties.
Okotoks tied the game 3:37 into the 2nd on a one-timer from Tyson Murray. Then, the Oilers went ahead 2-1 on the powerplay after Braeden Veldhuizen deflected a puck into the Bandits net. However, with 38 seconds left in the frame, DeGraves grabbed a loose puck off a Nathan Free (Calgary, AB) shot on the powerplay and slid it into the net, similar to his first goal, to tie the game.
Hooker’s overtime winner came just 31 seconds in, skating away from pressure and shelving the puck over Oilers starter Christian Green to give Brooks the 3-2 win.
Final shots were 25-22 for the Bandits.
The rematch goes Friday, September 8th in Okotoks at 7:00 pm. The Bandits wrap up the Exhibition Season on Saturday, September 9th when they host the Oilers at 7:00 pm.