BROOKS, AB (October 19, 2021) – Brooks Bandits forward Ryan McAllister and defenceman Zach Bookman have been named the AJHL Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the week, respectively, the league announced on Tuesday.
McAllister, 19, was named the Pizza 73 AJHL Player of the Week. The 19-year-old leads the AJHL in scoring with 30 points (13G, 17A) following a 12-point performance over four games last week with four goals and eight assists. The Western Michigan commit is enjoying a five-game goal streak and averaging 2.5 points per game.
All four wins for the Brooks Bandits came over South Division opponents. The division leading Bandits recorded a 7-3 win over Camrose on October 11th in which McAllister scored a goal and an assist. A double header in Canmore against the Eagles on October 14th and 15th opened with a 5-0 shutout for Brooks and a three-point (1G, 2A) game for Ryan McAllister. The second game in the series was a lopsided 9-1 victory for the road Bandits as McAllister extended his goal streak with a goal and an assist in the victory. Brooks picked up their 10th consecutive victory on October 17th beating the Olds Grizzlys 8-2 in a career high five-point (1G, 4A) game for McAllister.
Zach Bookman, 19, led all defencemen with six points (1G, 5A) from October 11th-17th, 2021 as the Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week. He is now tied for fourth in the AJHL Scoring Race with 20 points (2G, 18A).
The Merrimack College commit posted two assists in a 7-3 win on October 11th versus Camrose. Zach was held off the score sheet for the first time this season in a 5-0 win over Canmore, but bounced back with a goal and two assists in the second game of the double header and a 9-1 triumph for Brooks. Bookman’s sixth point of the week came as an assist in the 8-2 home win versus Olds.
Bookman is the 2nd Bandit to be named Defensive Player of the Week this season, joining Brendan Kennette (Sep 17-19).
McAllister, Bookman and the Bandits have a big home weekend coming up as they look to extend their 10-game winning streak. They host the Drayton Valley Thunder on Friday, October 22nd, followed by another home game on Saturday, October 23rd vs the Fort McMurray Oil Barons. Game time is 7:00 pm at the Centennial Regional Arena for both games.
Photos: Em Duncan