BROOKS, AB (October 20, 2017) – The Brooks Bandits (9-4-1) broke through with two third period power play goals on Friday night, taking down the Canmore Eagles (7-7-1) by a 5-2 final in front of 1,192 fans at the Centennial Regional Arena.
Matt Cassidy (Medford, NJ), Arnaud Vachon (Ajax, ON) and Simon Boyko (Mississauga, ON) led the way offensively with a goal and an assist each, while Mitch Benson (Windsor, ON) made 23 saves on 25 shots for the win.
After a scoreless first period, the Bandits broke through on the opening shift of the second when a Dennis Cesana (Providence, RI) shot produced a rebound goal for Simon Boyko to make it 1-0 Bandits. Canmore evened the game at 4:13 when Taden Rattie snapped a goal home from the slot, but a perfectly executed 2 on 1 by the Bandits at 12:05 saw Boyko set up Cassidy on a cross-slot pass; the Bandit newcomer hesitated, and fired a wrist shot over a sprawling Thomas Davis to give Brooks a 2-1 lead.
In the third, the Eagles again battled back to tie, this time in the first minute of the period on a Trevor Van Steinburg shot from the top of the crease.
The Brooks power play went to work next, with Arnaud Vachon (Ajax, ON) scoring the eventual game-winner off the rush on a breakaway pass from Cesana at 5:01. Then, at the 11:15 mark, Cassidy fired a perfect pass from the end wall to a waiting Conner Jean (Oakland, MI) in the slot for a one-timer goal and 4-2 advantage. Ryan Mahshie (Stoney Creek, ON) capped off the scoring with a rebound goal from the left side of the Canmore net on a backhander to notch the 5-2 final score.
The Bandits outshot the Eagles 35-25 in the game, going 2 for 5 on the power play and a perfect 5 for 5 on the penalty kill.
Brooks will hit the road to take on the Camrose Kodiaks for the first time this season on Saturday night, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 PM. Pre-game coverage starts at 6:45 PM on Real Country 105.7.