LLOYDMINSTER, SK (December 3, 2016) – The Brooks Bandits (21-3-3) recorded their largest margin of victory on the road of the 2016-17 AJHL season, and Parker Foo (Edmonton, AB) set a team record for fastest goal from the start of a period in the second, as the team cruised to a 7-0 win over the Lloydminster Bobcats in the third shutout of the season for goalie Mitch Benson (Windsor, ON).
The win keeps the Bandits tied with the Calgary Canucks in points in first in the AJHL South, but Brooks has five games in hand.
Nic Hamre (Ottawa, ON) continued his hot streak, opening the scoring at the 13:58 mark on a quick one-time shot from the slot set up by a centering pass from Josh McKechney (Calgary, AB). Just over three minutes later, a spinning shot by Hamre in the Lloydminster slot led to a Tyler Carangelo (Hamden, CT) rebound goal that doubled the Brooks lead. The two points extended Hamre’s personal point streak to 6 games, with 6 goals and 3 assists in that span.
In the second, the Bandits began the game on the penalty kill, but Foo chased down a puck at the Lloydminster line off the opening draw, sped into the Bobcat slot and roofed a quick shot past goalie Austin McGrath just six seconds in. The goal was the fastest from the start of a period in Bandits history, and missed the league record by just 1 second.
Josh McKechney made it 4-0 with a power play wrist shot from the right circle at the 6:11 mark, as the Bandits outshot the Bobcats 28-14 through the opening 40 minutes.
In the third, the Bandits added to their lead at the 9:05 mark when Parker Huebner (Leduc, AB) spun out from the right corner, cut in front of the Bobcat net, and tucked a point blank shot past McGrath for his first goal as a Bandit and a 5-0 advantage.
A second shorthanded goal for Brooks was next, as a penalty kill clearance bounced off the end boards of the Bobcat zone and was missed by goaltender McGrath, who had come out to play it. Ty Mappin (Big Valley, AB) was waiting, and one-timed the loose puck into a wide open net from the right circle for a 6-0 Brooks lead.
With just under five minutes to go, Bobcat forward Tre Doyon was ejected from the game after cross-checking Cale Makar (Calgary, AB) in the side of the head, putting Brooks on a 5-minute major power play. They converted once, as Oliver Chau fed a cross-crease pass to Arnaud Vachon (Ajax, ON), whose diving shot found the back of the net and notched the 7-0 final score.
The Bandits are next in action Sunday afternoon on short rest taking on the Sherwood Park Crusaders at 2:15 PM. Pre-game coverage begins at 2:00 on Real Country 105.7.