DRUMHELLER, AB (October 28, 2022) – The Brooks Bandits scored five powerplay goals, and had a five-goal 2nd period, rolling to a 6-1 victory at the Memorial Arena on Friday.
Goaltender Ethan Barwick (Lindenwood) made 34 saves, while Dario Beljo (AIC) had a four point game as the Bandits (15-1-2) have won three straight games, and haven’t lost in regulation in 13 consecutive outings.
Beljo opened the scoring 2:12 into the game on the powerplay, as he finished off an Elliot Dutil (Lindenwood) pass on the forehand to make it 1-0. Shots in the 1st were 14-10 Drumheller.
Rookie forward Nathan Free (Penn State) scored top shelf off an offensive zone face-off win by Caelan Fitzpatrick (Niagara) to make it 2-0 at 5:31. Following a Sam Simard major penalty for Check from Behind on Hughie Hooker, and a fight between Bandits defenceman Ethan O’Halloran and Ben Christian, the Bandits converted four straight times on the powerplay. Forward Hunter Wallace (RPI) tapped in a loose puck off an Aiden Fink (Wisconsin) drive to the crease at 11:47 to make it 3-0, followed by a Beljo five-hole goal at 13:29 to increase the lead to 4-0. Dutil scored on a backhander, five-hole, to make it 5-0 at 14:09, and Fink one-timed a Malinoski pass at 18:57 to give Brooks a 6-0 advantage.
Drumheller’s Garrett Fuller was pulled after the 2nd period, with Kaden Toussaint replacing him. There was another fight at 8:00 of the 3rd period, as Fitzpatrick squared off at centre ice with Tate Yule. The Dragons would spoil Barwick’s shutout bid at 13:37 on a Coy Pighin rebound goal to make it 6-1, Drumheller’s first goal of the season against Brooks. But that’s as close as it got. Final shots were 35-25 Dragons.
The Bandits return home on Saturday, October 29, for a rematch with the Dragons. Game time is 7:00 pm at the Centennial Regional Arena.