BROOKS, AB (November 13, 2020) – Bandits forward TJ Hughes broke a 3-3 tie with 10 seconds left in the 3rd period, and forward Sean Chisholm added an empty netter as the Brooks Bandits (1-0) won 5-3 over the Camrose Kodiaks (0-1) on Friday night at the Centennial Regional Arena.
Goaltender Ethan Barwick (St. Albert, AB) made 14 saves for the win in front of 100 fans due to government restrictions.
The Bandits dominated the 1st period, outshooting Camrose 13-0 and getting two goals. Chisholm (Halifax, NS) fought off two defenders and scored on the powerplay just 2:45 into the game, and Bandits defenceman Corson Ceulemans (Beaumont, AB) took a Hughes corner pass and wristed a goal from the left circle to make it 2-0 Bandits with just over 7 minutes left in the period. Kodiaks captain Brennan Davis was given a game misconduct in the period for a check from behind on Bandits forward Brayden Krieger (Elora, ON).
The 2nd period was scoreless, seeing Brooks outshoot Camrose 14-7.
The 3rd period was a different story. The Bandits saw their lead cut to 2-1 when Kodiaks forward Cal Caragata scored on a rebound 5:21 into the frame. But Brooks would reclaim their two-goal cushion a minute later on the powerplay, as Krieger scored from the goal line on a puck that Kodiak goaltender Griffin Bowerman intially stopped, but deflected in the air, landing in the net.
However the Kodiaks didn’t go away, tying up the game with back-to-back goals from Dallon Melin with under 6 minutes to go, who knocked his own rebound in, and another from Caragata with 1:42 left in regulation on a one-timer from the left circle.
Tied 3-3, the Bandits forced a turnover in the neutral zone, and Hughes (Hamilton, ON) skated in and wristed home the game winner. Chisholm found the empty net with a second remaining to give Brooks the 5-3 win, outshooting the Kodiaks 36-17.
The rematch with the Kodiaks goes Sunday in Camrose, puck drop is at 2:00 PM from Encana Arena. Follow along on Real Country 105.7 FM or HockeyTV.com.
Photo: Bryan Wilson