Preview presented by Brooks Pharmasave
BROOKS, AB (April 16, 2021) – The Brooks Bandits head north this weekend to open a four-game cohort with the Sherwood Park Crusaders; and look to keep their three-game win streak alive.
The Bandits (9-1) will face the Crusaders (6-5-1) four times in the next two weeks, twice in Sherwood Park (April 16/17) and twice in Brooks (April 23/24). 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 7-1 since returning to play, going 6-0 vs the Calgary Canucks and 1-1 against the Okotoks Oilers.
The last time the Bandits and Crusaders faced off was Jan. 25, 2020 in Brooks. Goaltender Pierce Charleson made 28 saves on 29 shots in a 2-1 Bandits win. Brooks has won 7 of the last 8 meetings with Sherwood Park, dating back to Dec 4, 2016.
Players to watch this weekend:
Forward Chris Pappas (St. Lawrence) is 2nd in team scoring, and 4th in the league scoring entering this weekend. The AJHL’s Inter Pipeline Player of the Week (April 2-6) is riding a 4-game point streak with 9 points in that span.
Forward TJ Hughes (Robert Morris) is 7th in league scoring and on a 3-game point streak entering the week’s action. He, Pappas and centre Taylor Makar (UMass) are all tied for the team lead in assists (9).
Rookie forward Nic DeGraves is looking to extend his goal scoring streak to 3 games, while winger Brayden Krieger (Bowling Green) is riding a 3-game point streak.
Defenceman Dominick Campione (Arizona State) enters the weekend on a 2-game point streak, while Ethan Lund (Niagara) is 2nd in team defenceman scoring with 8 points through 10 games.
Goaltender Ethan Barwick started the Bandits last road game, making 16 saves in a 10-2 blowout of the Canucks on April 3rd.
Bandits Weekend Schedule:
Fri, Apr 16 @ Sherwood Park Crusaders (7:00 pm, Randy Rosen Rink)
Sat, Apr 17 @ Sherwood Park Crusaders (7:00 PM, Randy Rosen Rink)
Listen: Real Country 105.7 FM
Watch: Hockeytv.com
The Crusaders (6-5-1) have won 6 of their last 7 games, having just wrapped up a cohort with the Bonnyville Pontiacs. Leading their team in scoring is forward Vincent Scott and defenceman Loeden Schauffler, each with 10 points. Forward Ty Mueller was given a “˜C’ rating from NHL Central Scouting for its Players to Watch list for the 2021 NHL Draft in January.