Red hot Bandits improve to 14-0
BRUCE PARKER
Brooks Bulletin
Brooks Bandits will take a 14-0 record into weekend AJHL home play against the Bonnyvile Pontiacs Friday night. The Bandits remain the only undefeated team following games against North Division squads this past weekend.
The Bandits began a three-game road trip with a convincing 8-3 victory last Tuesday evening against the Canmore Eagles. Both forwards Dakota Mason and Cam Maclise had big games. Mason had a four point evening while the Bandits captain chipped in with three points. Coach and general manager Ryan Papaioannou’s team took advantage of Canmore penalties by scoring on three of six power plays. The Eagles countered with one power play marker from five chances with the man advantage.
Forward Anthony Petruzzelli (assists Chris Muscoby and Brandon Tkachuk) set the tone of the game when he scored shorthanded at 1:45 of the first period. Maddison Smiley (Dakota Mason and Cam Maclise) put the Bandits up 2-0 on the power play at 8:46.
The Eagles stormed back to cut the deficit 11 seconds later on an unassisted goal by Riley Point. They then tied the game at 10:45 on a shot by Steven Phee.
The Bandits went into the dressing room with a 3-2 lead when Dakota Mason (RJ Reed and Taylor Makin) connected on the power play at 16:26. Canmore refused to play dead and once again tied the contest at 1:53 of the second period on a power play goal by Luke Simson.
From this point on, the game belonged to the Bandits.
Cam Maclise (Brandon Tkachuk) gave the visitors a 4-3 lead at 7:11. Alex Roberts (Mark Logan) increased the lead to 5-3 at 10:55 and Taylor Makin (Dakota Mason) closed out the period scoring with a power play goal at 13:38. Taylor Makin (Dakota Mason and Chris Muscoby) struck for his second goal of the game at 1:16 and Anthony Paskaruk (Cam Maclise and Brandon Tkachuk) closed out the period scoring with a short handed marker at 17:45. The Bandits out shot the Eagles 34-21 in a game played before 384 spectators.
Play Friday night had the Bandits edging the host Drayton Valley Thunder 2-1.
The Thunder came away with the only goal of the first period on a power play goal by Frederic Tanguay. Brooks evened the scored at 2:42 on the power play when Anthony Petruzzelli (Shane Pilling and Chris Muscoby) found the back of the net. Defenseman Shane Pilling (Maddison Smiley) potted the game winner at 16:39 with another power play goal.
Drayton Valley out shot Brooks 31-23 and were good on one of five power plays. The Bandits connected on two of six chances with the man advantage. Goaltender Michael Fredrick was named the game star for the Bandits.
The team then continued its northern swing with a game in Spruce Grove. Once again, the Bandits came up big with a 3-1 win. Spruce Grove wasted little time in jumping into the lead, scoring at the 59 second mark on a shot by Dylan Richard. The Bandits fought back with a goal by Shane Pilling (Mark Reners and Chris Muscoby) at 11:54 and scored the game winner at 12:52 on a shot from defenseman Chris Muscoby (Cam Maclise). Forward Dakota Mason (Taylor Makin and Mark Reners) added an insurance marker at 4:30 of the second period.
There was no scoring in the third period.
The Bandits out shot the Saints 30-19. Neither team could find the back of the net on three power play opportunities. Mark Reners was named the game star for the Bandits.
The Bandits will also take to the ice at home Saturday against the first place Saints. Game time for both weekend games is 7 p.m.