BROOKS, AB (April 23, 2021) – The Brooks Bandits look to keep their 5-game winning streak rolling as they head into a weekend that will see them host the Sherwood Park Crusaders twice.
The Bandits (11-1) host the Crusaders (6-6-2) on Friday and Saturday (April 23/24) at the Centennial Regional Arena. All games are at 7:00 pm and can be heard on Real Country 105.7 FM or watched on hockeytv.com. Spectators are not currently permitted at AJHL games due to provincial restrictions.
Brooks is 9-1 since returning to play, most recently picking up back-to-back road wins in Sherwood Park. The Bandits broke a 2-2 tie in the 2nd period on April 16, skating to a 9-3 win. That was followed by a dramatic come-from-behind 4-3 overtime triumph on April 17, in a game that saw the Bandits go 8/9 on the penalty kill.
Brooks has won 9 of their last 10 meetings with the Crusaders, who’ve never won at the CRA in 11 attempts.
Players to watch this weekend:
Captain Taylor Makar (UMass) had a goal and an assist in his return on April 17, while centre Owen Cole (UMass-Lowell) had a 2-goal game on April 16.
Forward TJ Hughes (Robert Morris) is 3rd in team scoring (7th in league scoring), with 16 points (7G, 9A) in 12 games and on a 5-game point streak.
Winger Brayden Krieger (Bowling Green) is also on a 5-game point streak, with 9 points in that stretch, coming off a weekend in Sherwood Park where he registered 5A.
Forward Chris Pappas (St. Lawrence) is 4th in league scoring with 18 points in 10 games (8G, 10A), and is on a 6-game point streak.
Rookie forward Heath Armstrong recorded his 1st point of the season on April 17.
Defenceman Brendan Kennette (Sacred Heart) is looking to build off registering his 1st AJHL goal on April 16, same with Zach Bookman (Merrimack), who recorded his first AJHL goal on April 17, which was the overtime winner, and has points in both games vs the Crusaders so far.
Goaltender Ethan Barwick is 2nd in the AJHL in wins (6) and made 18 saves on April 16 in the 9-3 win. Jared Whale has the league’s best goals against average at 1.80, and 3rd in wins with 5, making 21 saves in the 4-3 OT win.
Bandits Weekend Schedule:
Fri, Apr 23 vs Sherwood Park Crusaders (7:00 pm, CRA)
Sat, Apr 24 vs Sherwood Park Crusaders (7:00 PM, CRA)
Listen: Real Country 105.7 FM
Watch: Hockeytv.com
The Crusaders (6-6-2) have points in 7 of their last 9 games. Leading their team in scoring is defenceman Loeden Schauffler with 12 points. Forward Ty Mueller leads the team in goals with 8, while Vincent Scott is 2nd with 7.