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Hughes plays overtime hero as Bandits win thriller in Okotoks

OKOTOKS, AB (October 10, 2020) – Another classic in the Brooks Bandits/Okotoks Oilers rivalry Saturday night at Pason Centennial Arena, thanks to a TJ Hughes overtime winner, sealing a 4-3 Bandits victory.

It’s the Bandits 2nd straight victory of this 6 game exhibition series. Brooks goaltender Jared Whale (Calgary, AB) made 23 saves for the win. 

The Bandits opened the scoring in the 1st with a powerplay goal from defenceman Corson Ceulemans (Beaumont, AB), who fired in a shot from the blue line on the powerplay (9:42) to make it 1-0. But Okotoks would respond, as forward Gibb Coady scored on a breakaway shorthanded in the final minute of the period to tie the game.

Brooks dominated in the 2nd period, outshooting Okotoks 14-6 and getting back to back goals to take a 3-1 lead. First, forward Sean Chisholm (Caledonia, ON) scored a breakaway (8:04) for his 2nd of the series, followed by a nifty move by forward Jack Seymour (Chelsea, QC), who deked through the Oiler defenceman and roofed a forehand shot past Okotoks goaltender Brayden McNaughton. 

The Oilers wouldn’t go away quietly in the 3rd period. Forward Jack Works was able to scored back to back goals (6:51, 10:49) to tie the game and force overtime.

Just over a minute into the frame, Hughes (Hamilton, ON) skated up the right wing and fired in a shot from the right circle that gave Brooks the win.

Shots were 35-26 favouring the Bandits.

Series:

Oct 9th: Oilers 2 @ Bandits 5

Oct 10th: Bandits 4 @ Oilers 3 OT

Oct 16th: Bandits @ Oilers

Oct 17th: Oilers @ Bandits

Oct 23rd: Bandits @ Oilers

Oct 24th: Oilers @ Bandits

The Bandits travel to Okotoks on Friday, Oct 16th for a rematch. Game time is at 7:00 PM, with live coverage starting at 6:45 PM on Real Country 105.7 FM, and also available on Hockey TV.

 

Photo: Bryan Wilson