DRUMHELLER, AB (November 6, 2020) ? Taylor Makar broke a 1-1 tie in the 2nd period, and the Brooks Bandits never relinquished the lead, skating to a 4-1 victory Friday night at the Memorial Arena over the Drumheller Dragons in the first of a home-and-home exhibition series.
Goaltender Ethan Barwick (St. Albert, AB) made 22 saves for the win, as the Bandits improve to 7-2 in the pre-season.
Brooks got off to a great start, thanks to a Jack Seymour (Chelsea, QC) goal 1:52 into the game. Seymour tucked a backhand shot underneath Dragons goaltender Ryley Osland to make it 1-0 Brooks. But the Dragons would tie the game on the powerplay nearly 4 minutes later, as forward Grayson Dietrich scored on a shot from the right circle. Brooks outshot Drumheller 12-8 in the 1st, but it was tied after 20 minutes.
With the Bandits on the powerplay 8 minutes into the 2nd period, defenceman Corson Ceulemans (Beaumont, AB) fired a shot from the blue line, and Makar (Calgary, AB) was there for the tip-in to give Brooks a 2-1 lead, as Brooks outshot Drumherller 14-8 in the frame.
The insurance marker came with just over 5 minutes left in the 3rd period. Forward Brayden Krieger (Elora, ON) got a rebound off a Thomas Cusson shot on a 2-on-1 rush to make it 3-1 Brooks. With the Dragon net empty and 12 seconds to play, Bandits forward Owen Cole (Dunnville, ON) sealed the 4-1 win with a empty net goal, scoring from the centre line. Final shots were 42-23 Brooks.
The Bandits wrap up their 2020 Exhibition Schedule with a rematch against the Dragons, but the scene shifts to the Centennial Regional Arena in Brooks on Sat, November 7th.
Due to government restrictions, the game is sold out. Fans can follow along by listening to Real Country 105.7 FM or watching online at HockeyTV.
Game time is 7:00 PM.
Photo: Bryan Wilson